Wicked news... another 8-in/out soundcard coming to the fray... This ones from Terratec, makers of the EWS64 serie and a few other items, and this looks like a massive winner for them - on the usual proviso that it interacts ok with proprietry s/w's ok - (we'll rule out vst shall we??) ha hah - no - sorry - chuckle - they say it has ASIO drivers - ok then....
ok.... it's a busmaster card... 24 bit/96k compatible... with switching for the 8 RCA phono in's/outs allowing you to select -10dBV /+4dBu... nice and compatible with any studio from a higher-end mixer to a small 8 channel jobbie for home... nice...
what else... well, it comes in 2 parts... The pci card busmaster card... which also has (praise the L-ord), midi In/Out... you also get a nice likkle 16bit/48k stereo monitor out from mini-jack that may be very useful to you in a mixer/multi setup it definitely would be a nice inclusion, despite the dreaded mini-jack connector....AND S/PDIF... !!... yip-fuckin-pee for that one - at the retail price it's almost like it's been added for free... and yup.. the s/pdif is also 24/96 compatible.....
Terratec claim this card as well as being a wicked product is more efficient for your system, relieving the host CPU, from having to do 24-32 bit conversions on the incoming audio as the drivers do it for you... they say that 32 bit data gets sent down the pc buss more smoothly than 24 bit, and this relieves cpu work ...
What else... well as it's 5.25" it's desined to either fit in a drive-bay where you connect and internal cable to the card... or.... it's stand outside, and they give you a nice long multicore cable too at 2.5 meters - that's good...cos often these connectors are a tad short, like on the Event cards...... there's lots more in fact, like hardware meters... and it being truely full-duplex... all the in's & outs can work at the same time, and you get a s/w mixer/utility with it too that allows you to set levels, change rates, and also allows you to save an entire setup for the card/system for later recal... nice touch that....
yup- there is lots more... i gotta get one tested !! ... Simon at Terratec did promise me a full EWS/microwave system to try out ... i'd better get back onto that now the DT site is finally finished -remake contact and get it sorted....... but suffice to say, at the listed RRP of a measly 399 in the UK, this will be a killer product for Terratec, cos despite the ever escalating PC power available, and the smarter s/w's that allow in-pc production, I don't think Terratec have left it too late.... the seperate out market will be around for a LONG time - it's so creative to work hands on with a mixer..... nice one Terratec.... here's the spec's....
SPEC'S
- 8 channel analog I/O with 24-bit, 96 kHz selectable between +4dBu and –10dBV
- Analog converters in a shielded 5.25" breakout box for internal or external use
- Stereo S/PDIF I/O with 24-bit 96kHz operation
- Separate stereo monitor output (16-bit 48 kHz)
- 2 internal connectors for CD-Audio input (16-bit 48 kHz)
- Driver support for Windows™ 95/98, Windows™ NT4 and ASIO
- S/PDIF co-axial digital input selectable between 32, 44.1, 48 and 96 kHz sample rates
- S/PDIF co-axial digital output selectable between 32, 44.1, 48 and 96 kHz sample rates
- Data transfer over the PCI bus in ‚4-byte‘ mode for reduced CPU overhead
- Manual control of SCMS (Serial Copy Management System) data
- All inputs and outputs accessable from standard Windows applications
- Separate drivers for inputs and outputs
- All settings can be saved and loaded from the bundled Control Panel application
- 2 meter long cable for connecting the breakout box
- Hard disc recording system for PCs
- PCI card and breakout box for internal or external use
- Busmaster transfer supporting ‚24-bit 4-byte mode‘ (32-bit)
- 10 inputs and outputs in total
- Simultaneous record and playback of 16 channels at up to 24-bit 96 kHz
- 8 analog inputs individually selectable between +4dBu and –10dBV
- 8 analog outputs globally selectable between +4dBu and –10dBV
- 24-bit/96kHz analog to digital converters with 100dB dynamic range and 64x oversampling*
- 24-bit/96kHz digital to analog converters with 110dB dynamic range and 128x oversampling*
- Input level adjustable with +18dB gain in 0.5dB steps
- Stereo digital input (S/PDIF co-axial up to 24-bit/96kHz)
- Stereo digital input (S/PDIF co-axial up to 24-bit/96kHz)
- 20 channel mixer with 36-bit internal headroom
- Hardware VU-meter for each channel
- Analog stereo monitor output, 16-bit/48kHz (3.5mm jack socket)
- 2 internal analog stereo inputs, 16-bit/48kHz (Molex)**
- MPU-401™ compatible MIDI port
- Shielded 5.25" module with 8 analog inputs and outputs (RCA Phono) and MIDI IN and OUT (5-pinDIN) for internal or external use.
well..... the Terratec EWS88 MT....Comments please....
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