Chaps -
Has anyone A/Bed these? I would like the flexibility that optical offers too, whereas the Lexicon is just limited to USB and thus may be jitter prone 🙁.
I have a Macbook Pro (13" Unibody) and intend to use the external devices for audio playback and vinyl ripping...the former more often than the latter though.
L
Has anyone A/Bed these? I would like the flexibility that optical offers too, whereas the Lexicon is just limited to USB and thus may be jitter prone 🙁.
I have a Macbook Pro (13" Unibody) and intend to use the external devices for audio playback and vinyl ripping...the former more often than the latter though.
L
Hi,
I might be a bit biased, because I have the Lexicon Alpha, but of the two I'd take Lexicon - it has good quality 1/4" balanced ins and outs (as well as RCA outs and 1/8" headphone jack), whereas M-Audio has only 1/8" unbalanced connectors). It also has hardware analog volume control that enables it to be used straight into a power amp - a big plus in my opinion (my system is a simple PC based affair - FLAC in Foobar2000 with ASIO out and some corrective VST EQ, Lexicon Alpha and 10 meters of balanced cables to power amp which drives passively X-overed 3-way speakers). And it's colour goes well with Funktion-One speakers if you happen to have some of these 🙂
As for sound quality, I don't think there's much difference between the two, though Alpha does "only" 24/48 (but does it full-duplex). I wouldn't worry too much about jitter.
As build quality goes, Alpha is well-built and sturdy, I have dropped mine several times, tossed it around in a bag among several other pieces of hardware (stands, mics, cables, tools etc), used it outdoors in sub-zero temperatures and in 36 ¤C heat and have no problems. I strongly suggest to update the drivers from their home page, though - I had some strange random bluescreen problems using Foobar2000 and ASIO out but since clean installing Windows + updating drivers (due to changing the HDD in my laptop) I have no anomalies. Or, if you'd like to use a measuring mic with your soundcard, you could choose Lambda or Omega which have +48V phantom power (the only thing I miss sometimes on Alpha).
Another option to consider: EMU 0202
I might be a bit biased, because I have the Lexicon Alpha, but of the two I'd take Lexicon - it has good quality 1/4" balanced ins and outs (as well as RCA outs and 1/8" headphone jack), whereas M-Audio has only 1/8" unbalanced connectors). It also has hardware analog volume control that enables it to be used straight into a power amp - a big plus in my opinion (my system is a simple PC based affair - FLAC in Foobar2000 with ASIO out and some corrective VST EQ, Lexicon Alpha and 10 meters of balanced cables to power amp which drives passively X-overed 3-way speakers). And it's colour goes well with Funktion-One speakers if you happen to have some of these 🙂
As for sound quality, I don't think there's much difference between the two, though Alpha does "only" 24/48 (but does it full-duplex). I wouldn't worry too much about jitter.
As build quality goes, Alpha is well-built and sturdy, I have dropped mine several times, tossed it around in a bag among several other pieces of hardware (stands, mics, cables, tools etc), used it outdoors in sub-zero temperatures and in 36 ¤C heat and have no problems. I strongly suggest to update the drivers from their home page, though - I had some strange random bluescreen problems using Foobar2000 and ASIO out but since clean installing Windows + updating drivers (due to changing the HDD in my laptop) I have no anomalies. Or, if you'd like to use a measuring mic with your soundcard, you could choose Lambda or Omega which have +48V phantom power (the only thing I miss sometimes on Alpha).
Another option to consider: EMU 0202
I also suppose I should follow up with a 'why' - my phone rang at the time of posting and so I just posted and shot off.
It seems to have solid reviews and is well known for solid ASIO drivers - not ASIO4ALL... actual compatible hardware with Linux, OSX and Windows. The Jury is still out on what OS I'm going to build my media center with but it's looking like XBMC.
It seems to have solid reviews and is well known for solid ASIO drivers - not ASIO4ALL... actual compatible hardware with Linux, OSX and Windows. The Jury is still out on what OS I'm going to build my media center with but it's looking like XBMC.
Take a look at SageTV 7. There's a public beta and the community is very strong. The core software isn't free, but it has a very open ApI and a huge number of great extensions and modules are available for it.
It can import xbmc skins too..
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