Audio Setup
 

I'm considering a low cost upgrade (under $500) to my editing computer for audio...what I'm considering is:
M-Audio 192 card
M-Audio LX-4 monitors
...and Mopads :-)
Thoughts...

I started out with the m-audio usb b/o box for i/o ... poor results.

Since then, I have added the M-audio pci based card with the b/o box with 1/4" rts jacks. I suppose it's now legacy gear but this delta unit has been quite nice. Superb! Low noise and nice pro inputs.

I too am biased towards pro interface, meaning balanced in and out and +4 line levels. I guess the question for you is do you have or do you plan to purchase any more pro audio gear? If so, you'll be happier if it all works together on standard ins and outs.

The least expensive way to get this when I was equipping a new PC almost a couple years ago was the Echo Audio Mia. TRS in and out, plus s/pdif, plus the current model has MIDI as well. It's been great.

I've recently added an M-Audio Delta 1010 to that system and it is also very good indeed.

Can't comment on the M-Audio monitors, but yes, if you've not been using reference level monitoring this will be a very good move!

One thing you've not mentioned is a mixer. VERY handy in getting sound in and out of your computer. If everything comes in on digital video tape or CD and goes out on DVD or something I suppose it's not as important, but I use mine all the time. Say, to lay down scratch narration, dub to VHS, or put my laptop audio over the good speakers, or dub to/from minidisc, or listen to my MP3 player or whatever. I use a Mackie 1202 VLZ Pro, it's great. So are any number of small mixers, such as the Soundcraft Spirit Folio Notepad and ???. Even a Behringer, I suppose. If you go this way, look for a mixer that has separate monitor and line outputs, and at least one mic preamp is handy.

Depending on your audio recording source, you might want to consider the M-audio 1818. If has optical inputs that lets you capture multiple tracks simultaneously. I use an 8 track ADAT digital recorder for audio so it's a nice feature to be able to use light pipe to capture audio.

Barry Oppenheim