View other reviews for this product:
Audiofanzine FR
Published on 12/14/08 at 03:23
Value For Money :
Excellent
(Originally written by Udun/translated from Audiofanzine FR)
Interesting features:
- PCI card + external rack
- 2 analog inputs (mic, instrument preamps, ...)
- 3 RCA analog outputs
- Midi In/Out
- Multiclient
I use it to produce demos, to record instruments (guitar, synth, etc.) and VSTi via Midi. Good-quality sound compared to basic sound cards, good-sounding preamp for guitar...
I have a small critique regarding the analog outs if you plan to use several audio applications at the same time (like Cubase, Reason, Windows Media Player, etc.)... The sound card doesn't have a monitoring output for headphones or monitors. You'll have to add a small mixer connected to the main sound card outputs. A guy from customer support recommended this setup.
UTILIZATION
No installation problems if you follow the indications in the user's manual: install the driver first, then the PCI card and then the rack.
No incompatibility. The setting is ultra easy. Everything worked fine from the start.
The user's manual is clear but not up to date anymore.
GETTING STARTED
Very reliable driver. I've had no crashes in 2 months of intensive use (Cubase, recording, music playback). You can find updated drivers on Echo's website. You can feel some latency (6 ms) with some VSTi but it is short enough for most applications.
OVERALL OPINION
My first sound card was a Presonus Firebox. I brought it back to the store to get a refund because it was not stable. The audio quality was good but I had lots of audio drop outs. (See review on Audiofanzine).
So I decided to get a PCI sound card instead of a firewire one. The stability is much better. And Echo's customer support answers immediately, unlike Presonus'.
In spite of the lack of a monitoring output this sound card has a very good value for money. I wouldn't hesitate to buy it again.
Interesting features:
- PCI card + external rack
- 2 analog inputs (mic, instrument preamps, ...)
- 3 RCA analog outputs
- Midi In/Out
- Multiclient
I use it to produce demos, to record instruments (guitar, synth, etc.) and VSTi via Midi. Good-quality sound compared to basic sound cards, good-sounding preamp for guitar...
I have a small critique regarding the analog outs if you plan to use several audio applications at the same time (like Cubase, Reason, Windows Media Player, etc.)... The sound card doesn't have a monitoring output for headphones or monitors. You'll have to add a small mixer connected to the main sound card outputs. A guy from customer support recommended this setup.
UTILIZATION
No installation problems if you follow the indications in the user's manual: install the driver first, then the PCI card and then the rack.
No incompatibility. The setting is ultra easy. Everything worked fine from the start.
The user's manual is clear but not up to date anymore.
GETTING STARTED
Very reliable driver. I've had no crashes in 2 months of intensive use (Cubase, recording, music playback). You can find updated drivers on Echo's website. You can feel some latency (6 ms) with some VSTi but it is short enough for most applications.
OVERALL OPINION
My first sound card was a Presonus Firebox. I brought it back to the store to get a refund because it was not stable. The audio quality was good but I had lots of audio drop outs. (See review on Audiofanzine).
So I decided to get a PCI sound card instead of a firewire one. The stability is much better. And Echo's customer support answers immediately, unlike Presonus'.
In spite of the lack of a monitoring output this sound card has a very good value for money. I wouldn't hesitate to buy it again.