Steinberg MR816 CSX

I had the opportunity to test this interface, which technically met my expectations (8 inputs / 8 analog outputs, 1 ADAT I / O, headphone output 1) for studio use and live "service" my Metric Halo ULN-2. I must say that I am completely spoiled by the high-end audio that gives me my Metric Halo preamps, its converters, the MIO console and summing 80 bits, its quality DSP effects ... So I tend to quickly to the mouth as soon as it's a bit below: D You get used quickly to luxury, I guess!
One DI, shame I think.

UTILIZATION

With my MacBook Pro i7 retina, and Mac OS X 10.8.5, I have no desire for stability. I work with Pro Tools 10 and 11, and Ableton Live 9. Rolls Everything as it should and so far, not a single bug, latency and stability copy (buffer 64 to the registration, the total latency of around 4ms memory).

GETTING STARTED

The installation was smooth, the interface is clockée via ADAT to my Metric Halo, and everything is done in a relatively intuitive ... the MR Editor software is fairly easy to access, routing is very basic, but for what I intended to do, I found what I needed without wasting time, so nothing to say.

OVERALL OPINION

Well I will not go around the bush: it sounds great. With always refer to my Metric Halo ULN-2, I first tested the D / A converters with tunes wave I know ultra well. Steinberg has a warmer sound less precise, less subs, a little more "velvet" in acute ... Very pleasant but still far less revealing than the ULN-2 (which is also very pleasant, by the way) . But it is not colored in a Apogee point, for example.

Then I tested acoustic and electric guitars and bass DI and several dynamic and condenser microphones. The preamps are very good, again we find this "warm, less accurate" side as the ULN-2, plus high medium well ahead (even listening preamps Steinberg through the monitoring of ULN-2). I preferred the ULN-2 on all sources except an active guitar that sounded surprisingly much better through the Steinberg. The DI input, it is just ok, not great for my taste.

Regarding DSP effects, I confess that I have not greatly increased. The reverb has not seemed to me extra, and the channel strip looks a little rough ... Again I'm used to ChannelStrip Metric Halo is really deadly, and I should spend a little more time with to make me a stronger opinion.

So basically: not as good as the ULN-2, but still very good! I clearly preferred Steinberg to Apogee Duet and Ensemble. So it is widely used professionally without worry.

There is a very noticeable difference in synchronizing the Metric Halo, it sounds frankly better, punchy, accurate, clear. So if you buy the interface only I recommend you invest in an external wordclock.

For what I want to do I do not really have to complain: I 8 channels of very good preamp / converters for a truly unbeatable price!

1U rackmount sound card (can connect up to 3 cards in a daisy chain, so the inputs and outputs are X3)
8 XLR / Jack
8 Output Jack
1 I / O ADAT
2 I / O Firewire

from 44.1 to 96 kHz

Integrated DSP effects: EQ 3-band parametric, reverb, compression

Phantom power and 20dB pad

UTILIZATION

Simple setup especially if you use Cubase 5, it is automatically recognized and sessions are configured specifically for her.

The manual is well explained and complete.



GETTING STARTED

The preamps are of high quality, the sound is transparent, the effects of EQ, reverb and compression are very effective, with preset programmed by the greater.

No breath.

OVERALL OPINION

I use it for 3 months and I am totally satisfied.
Before I had a presonus firebox and before an E-MU 1820m (which was very well already) but there is really going 3 notches above it, both for routing capabilities that the sound quality.

What I like most is the ability to create and manage 8 different returns, very useful for the group in which I play, it works with headphones and each of the coup has its own mix, and it's great .
In addition, it can be used stand alone without cubase but no stand alone computer and that's huge.

What I like least ... euhh, nothing pleases me everything.

So I use it in homestudio and repeat, live soon ...

The value for money is very good given the quality and scope.

If it all over again but with eyes closed I would do this election, I intend to also buy a second to double my entries and exits ... and dsp

What motivated me for this purchase:

- 8 preamp. Micro
- Integrated DSP (for direct monitoring, a little less for the effects in the mix)
- Full integration with Cubase (parameterization of the card, its inputs, DSP ,...)
- Évolutibilité being able to add the I / O cards MR816CS 3 / X

Cons:

- A single I / O Adat (2 would have been better as the RME)
- Routing less complete than the RME (with TotalMix) (eg: can not route an output signal from cubase to 2 or more physical output analog or digital TotalMix whereas with the RME and the matrix, anything is possible)
- Unable to put the window cubase plugins DSP physical inputs always in the foreground ("ever before").

PS: I already had the RME HDSP9652 (which I sold)

UTILIZATION

The card is based on my Studio (www.studiocasma.be).

8 analog inputs for studio, Adat inputs can also be used via my digital mixer.
The analog outputs are used for monitoring the shipments headphone, sending to an external reverb.
ADAT outputs go to my laptop with a level analyzer, spectral ... (Pinguin audio meter).

I have already made some fairly complex projects without worry. Latency between 3 and 6 ms without problems.

GETTING STARTED

Being professional, the greater part of the basic features I have already learned and I had no desire to install, use, ...

OVERALL OPINION

I use it since mid-2009 and it has never disappointed.

I've used an RME HDSP9652 (which I currently sells because it is PCI and I have only PCIe) (very good card but only digital converter except Supp. Daughterboard in that I also sold)

I also have an M-Audio Firewire 1814, which I use for my laptop (analyzer recording studio or outside the studio if the config is not too large)

I also have a Tascam US-144 which I use also my laptop to play music sample or in concert, ... or simple stereo miking

I REFERRED surely this choice and even more considering the price is down since my purchase!
In addition, to increase the potential of the studio, I also buy one or two more for double or triple the I / O.

1U rackmount sound card (can connect up to 3 cards in a daisy chain, so the inputs and outputs are X3)
8 XLR / Jack
8 Output Jack
1 I / O ADAT
2 I / O Firewire

from 44.1 to 96 kHz

Integrated DSP effects: EQ 3-band parametric, reverb, compression

Phantom power and 20dB pad

UTILIZATION

configuration very simple especially if you use Cubase 5, it is automatically recognized and sessions are set up specially for her.

The manual is well explained and complete.

GETTING STARTED

The preamps are of high quality, the sound is transparent, the effects of EQ, reverb and compression are very effective, with preset programmed by the greater.

No breath.

OVERALL OPINION

I use it for 3 months and I am totally satisfied.
Before I had a presonus firebox and before an E-MU 1820m (which was very well already) but there is really going 3 notches above it, both for routing capabilities that the sound quality.

What I like most is the ability to create and manage 8 different returns, very useful for the group in which I play, it works with headphones and each of the coup has its own mix, and it's great .
In addition, it can be used stand alone without cubase but no stand alone computer and that's huge.

What I like least ... euhh, nothing pleases me everything.

So I use it in homestudio and repeat, live soon ...

The value for money is very good given the quality and scope.

If it all over again but with eyes closed I would do this election, I intend to also buy a second to double my entries and exits ... and dsp