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Author Topic: Sound card for RTA Marco Giustini Film God Posts: 2713 From: Reading, UK Registered: Nov 2007 posted 05-15-2008 09:09 AM                     I need to replace my external sound card that I use as pre-amplifier for my two measurements microphones I use for Screen setup. I need a very flat sound card, with excellent performances. USB or Firewire. On the web I can read all kind of reviews, so I'm not able to understand which is good and which is not. I was even thinking about the USBPre, used on D2 RTA, but read some issues for that too! I saw some good devices from Edirol, EMU, Tascam... Can someone give me some suggestions? Thanks and regards Marco  |  IP: Logged Mark Gulbrandsen Resident Trollmaster Posts: 16657 From: Music City Registered: Jun 99 posted 05-15-2008 10:35 AM                     What about considering a real 1/3 octave analyzer instead. The new Ivie is not all that expensive and it also does a bunch of other neato stuff. About $1500.00 USD. I didn't care at all for the last Ivie pocket PC gestation of a 1/3 octave analyzer but this time around there are more sensible options available. I guess they learned the hard way. This time they did it right. Mark  |  IP: Logged Robert Minichino Master Film Handler Posts: 350 From: Haskell, NJ, USA Registered: Dec 2005 posted 05-15-2008 12:03 PM                        The M-Audio MobilePre USB is pretty good. I'm not terribly thrilled with its noise performance, but it has very flat frequency response, 48V phantom power, and is fully powered by the USB connection.  |  IP: Logged Gordon McLeod Film God Posts: 9532 From: Toronto Ontario Canada Registered: Jun 99 posted 05-15-2008 09:22 PM                     I am very pleased with the USB Pre that was supplied with the D2 and had no issues with it  |  IP: Logged Marco Giustini Film God Posts: 2713 From: Reading, UK Registered: Nov 2007 posted 05-15-2008 09:41 PM                     Robert I own an M-Audio USB and it's far from perfection... Perhaps it's my particular model, but I really want to try another brand! Gordon Read a review on Internet that says that USBPre has some 1000Hz noise on playback. It's a 500$ piece of equipment and I really like to read only positive review! Mark Good point. I'll check Ivie web and see what they offer. However, I'm used to use two microphones at the time to have a real time average of the two, by software. However, my actual system seems to have very poor HF accuracy, despite the microphones has been both calibrated. Thanks Marco  |  IP: Logged Gordon McLeod Film God Posts: 9532 From: Toronto Ontario Canada Registered: Jun 99 posted 05-15-2008 10:54 PM                     Funny the whine issue is a complaint on all the usb audio devices he reviewed The level of whine is well below the noise floor that a room analyzer is worried about and in the case of the usb pre it is only in playback which is not used as an rta you could also check out http://www.gold-line.com/tef/t-tefpre.htm  |  IP: Logged Marin Zorica Jedi Master Film Handler Posts: 671 From: Biograd na Moru, Croatia Registered: May 2003 posted 05-16-2008 08:18 AM                     Use E-MU 0404 USB card, it have two mike input, balanced with phantom power!  |  IP: Logged Marco Giustini Film God Posts: 2713 From: Reading, UK Registered: Nov 2007 posted 05-16-2008 08:00 PM                     EMU 0404 is one of the device I'm watching. There are lot of devices with two mic input with phantom. My concerns are if these devices are suitable for my needs. For example, I saw a device from Mackie. Asked to the tech support they told me that it would not be good for me, since it is a device for live recordings and they added a slight raise in high frequencies. This is why I'm asking. Thanks Marco  |  IP: Logged Tristan Lane Master Film Handler Posts: 444 From: Nampa, Idaho Registered: Feb 2002 posted 05-17-2008 01:39 AM                     Marco, What program are you using in conjunction with the USB input device?  |  IP: Logged Marin Zorica Jedi Master Film Handler Posts: 671 From: Biograd na Moru, Croatia Registered: May 2003 posted 05-17-2008 02:40 PM                     quote: Marco Giustini For example, I saw a device from Mackie. Asked to the tech support they told me that it would not be good for me, since it is a device for live recordings and they added a slight raise in high frequencies. mhmm....kinda stupid thing, why boost up? I think all cards like 0404 and other are flat!  |  IP: Logged Ron Funderburg Jedi Master Film Handler Posts: 814 From: Chickasha, Oklahoma, USA Registered: Nov 2007 posted 05-17-2008 02:52 PM                        I'm with mark I use an RTA stand alone and it works fine they are not all that expensive. I also still use an Oscilloscope rather than software. It is a bit to lug around but the computer based hardware and software cost are so high and the both these units work so well I see no reason to switch.  |  IP: Logged Marco Giustini Film God Posts: 2713 From: Reading, UK Registered: Nov 2007 posted 05-17-2008 06:34 PM                     Marin Seems stupid to me too. But that's what Mackie's support said. And that's why I'm asking everywhere for reviews and comments. I'm asking to manufacturers too of course. I was wrong about the HF raise, they just told me that it has a "distinct colorization" and that it has not "the linear frequency range you are looking for". Tristan I use many: Spectra, Smaart, TrueRTA... Marco  |  IP: Logged Tristan Lane Master Film Handler Posts: 444 From: Nampa, Idaho Registered: Feb 2002 posted 05-18-2008 02:04 AM                     SpectraRTA allows you to make a microphone compensation file based on the response curve of the microphone used. I've never used the other two you mentioned. I use SpectraRTA exclusively now in conjunction with a USL mmp-10 4 mic. My personal preference for RTA's has been a laptop based system. Whether it is an R2, D2, or other program. The input devices I used were always high quality, and I preferred to work with a 4 mic setup rather than a single. The laptop based programs can also average the response on the readout so you get a much better idea of overall room response when cycling through microphones. Overall I think much of what someone uses depends on what they are comfortable with. I've heard about many techs that still swear by the Abacus / O-scope. If that tool provides them with the best results, then why change I guess. It all comes down to listening to the room when you are done. I packed an IE-30 as well for quick checks or to use in a pinch. Mark, remember: All Ivies past the IE-30 are essentially the same as a laptop based system. All of the analyzing is done within the software running on windows. The hardware portion is providing a clean input for their mic. It's gotten even closer to that with the IE-45, which is just a Samsung Q1 UMPC. But, their software is top-notch and provides all the bells and whistles needed for a cinema tech.  |  IP: Logged Monte L Fullmer Film God Posts: 8367 From: Nampa, Idaho, USA Registered: Nov 2004 posted 05-18-2008 02:59 AM                     True, SpectraRTA is a pretty nifty program to use...very easy to to work with and it does the job needed.  |  IP: Logged Marco Giustini Film God Posts: 2713 From: Reading, UK Registered: Nov 2007 posted 05-18-2008 06:52 AM                     Hi tristan Yes, Spectra has compensation. I have my microphones checked and I have a compensation files for them but seems that my sound card has trouble so I have to replace it. And I want to start with a flat one, to reduce the software compensation at minimum. Sound check with a known reel at the end is a must, don't worry! I would buy a D2 for sure, I will do when/if my business activity will justify it. Thanks Marco  |  IP: Logged

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