All user reviews for the Echo Layla3G

This rack brings together everything I needed for my installation:
- 8 analog inputs (2 Mic / Line Combo XLR-front, 6 rear jack 6'35)
- Inserts (rear) for Mic-Line 1-2
- 8 analog output jacks on the rear 6'35
- 2 x TosLink (optical, so ...) can transmit knew SPDIF (stereo) or ADAT (8 channels at 44.1/48 kHz)
- The BNC for word clock sync for digital

I use a microphone input for plugging my (modest) AT-2020 in case of need, and I use the other analog inputs / outputs to be connected (depending on the desires of the moment) subgroups of my mixing desk, live synths or effects racks (for use in "External FX" from Cubase).

I'm on PC, with a Core2Duo E8400 (@ 3.0 GHz), 8 GB of RAM with Windows 7/64bits and Cubase 5.

Any small downside (for some): Enabling phantom power (48 volts) is global for the two preamps. It is therefore advisable to simultaneously connect a condenser microphone and a dynamic microphone ...

UTILIZATION

Drivers, as usual with the hardware EchoAudio are stable enough to be forgotten.
Routing program is simple, unadorned and unnecessary functions but it works perfectly with efficiency: each output has its own tab in which the volume is adjusted the volume of physical input and output software.
Being more musician statistician, I've never fun to count the number of tracks in my songs or to measure the number of samples latency depending on the sampling frequency, but in any case, I could always work peacefully without having to worry about my sound card.

GETTING STARTED

From the moment that we follow the procedure outlined in the manual, installation is almost alone: ​​simple, clear, quick, concise.
I have not encountered any problem, it worked nickel the first time.
And it has not always been the case for other models from other manufacturers ...

OVERALL OPINION

I Layla3G this for 2 years now. It replaced a Gina24 which, despite all its qualities, was only 2 inputs and no preamp.

What I like most is that it has this quality increasingly rare: she knows how to forget.
You turn on the computer, it starts the sequencer and make music without worrying about IT. We play it converts the computer records. Point.
What more?

What I like least: you can connect only one rack I / O on the PCI card. I dream of interfaces for Echo, as their cards with MOTU 324/424, to combine multiple racks on a single card ...
Ah yes ... There is also the fact of not being able to ADAT and SPDIF at the same time ... But for me, this is a detail ...

I was looking for 8 tracks between a card that can be suitably mixes to avoid a mixer.
I also wanted my card runs Linux
I was looking for something with a max of connectors even if I have no use for now.
A friend of his had deprecated ingnieur the edirol 2496 and Delta 1010.
In short one day I broke down and I bought it for a few 400

UTILIZATION

I only talk about Linux because I spent time matriser Ardour / Jack jamin and I think that is less monolithic solutions that Cubase since all these apps communicate with each other.
In Linux it took me understand several things:
there was a bug in the ALSA version 1.8 that I had to install drivers over the 1.08 of Gentoo taient incomplete
I had to switch to ALSA 1.09rc2 in knowing that there is no RC3 drivers 3G
ALSA is in the map in two devices dcompose hdw: 1.0 analog outputs for inputs and hdw: 1.1 numriques for inputs and outputs. So to start throwing the jack device hdw: 1.0 (or hdw: 0.0 if you have no other sound card)

GETTING STARTED

Linux no crash no problem Jack turns for several days without flinching
I use Ardour and jackd not test with MIDI
Latency is low, but Linux is normal fawn all I hear the sound live and I can mix from echomixer so I will install the patches not even low latency kernel
I have not tried 8 but a friend does it without problem

OVERALL OPINION

I use it for a week
The best: from a Delta 1010 is the mix that is echomixer gnial MAUDIO from the mix is ​​a stew has cotbr /> The best: the headphone jack
The least: the plastic buttons for me I would have put the rglage mtallique but hey

Map 8 outputs, 8 inputs with a choice: the 2 preamps or insert entry (not the one used)
What motivated my choice: the report qualitprix since everyone hailed the qualities of convertos Echo ... If I took Layla to plug my synths on inputs; the ca gina would have been too limited on this side l. ..

UTILIZATION

Installation trouble-free ... I used the uninstaller of the old card (Hoontech DSP2000) to transfer the drivers properly and no problems g
I have not read the manual ... I'd have to do it but the truth was quite the config point I think I did not need to use the manual once ... clean and simple interface of the console .... Royal at the bar ... what

GETTING STARTED

Drivers in the hair until now: I need to reboot the machine as with each crash Hoontech: ca Sometimes it crashes but rather the sequencer that shit I think .... In any case, if ca bug: we raise and it's good. I appreciate and ca ...
The convertos of this card being very good, more than enough for me anyway, I can now save me Ssynth without losing too much momentum: a quick equalo and it's perfect, the results seem good when taking its is made with care ... my mackie is a little more from now, the difference is obvious ...
and then level N / A, the day is the night from the Hoonetech: bcp the sound is clearer, dynamic, ca breathe, it's really a nice difference! Mmmm convos reverbs, as they are prettier now ...! I tried the preamp but with little gain: very neutral, and finally for this price of course .... with gain I really know what it gave, I think through

OVERALL OPINION

I would prefer the inputs on the front like the old card: good is not dramatic, I put the card upside down in the rack because I have to plug / Input debracher the easy ... the back it would be too gualere ...
I would do this choice if you want to know, coconut ...

EDIT: yeah I forgot one thing a little boring on Layla: holes jacks are so close together that some cables may not be plugger in pairs because it affects between the head of jacks ... Personal and suddenly I have to transfer the cable ends and the plugger was naked ave some ... I have others or going ac ca m'enfin it sucks, they could have done a little more detail what a blunder ...

What characteristics have motivated your choice?

Features, connectivity, robustness, etc.. all.

For what purpose?

Guitar, vocals, synths, effects, etc.. all.

What is your config (Motherboard / CPU / Ram / Hard ,...)?

p4 1.5ghz 120 640rambus go

With which instruments or systems (console, preamp, DTD ...) you use it and how connections? ...

I ask everyone because for me, which is enrgistré with this card is top but then, with what apps, dtd, further tools for achieving a pro?

UTILIZATION

No worries everything is perfect.
updating of drivers nickel

GETTING STARTED

Drivers nickels
previously I used cubase but I am a bit disappointed with the treatment of soft internal audio on the final mix of my tracks on a stereo track.
It is frustrating to have a good sound recording not to know which tool to use next! the software supplied with the card I plant the computer!
If the latency is small
and the number of tracks proportional to the power of ordinary nothing to see here.
The card itself is excellent

OVERALL OPINION

The map is superb
remains to find an environment DTD to its height!

I was looking for a card with a rack, with at least 8 inputs and 4 analog outputs + inputs RCA and optical digital outputs and I / O noon. I also wanted to make this card work under Linux. Finally, I had a budget of around € 500 ...

Initially I planned to use it in order to make multi-track recording of instruments (and group). Finally, since I, unfortunately I have not had the chance to do so. I therefore only used in my "home studio".
I use it on PC (Athlon64 3500 +, Gigabyte motherboard with nvidia chipset Gforce4) and Linux (Ubuntu for some time and Mandrake before ...).

UTILIZATION

The installation and use in Windoze did not pose any particular problem.
I stumbled over Linux (drivers not included in the kernel or alsa, or the need to recompile everything). Since then, Linux distributions include the drivers and it works without recompiling. on the other hand I still have some problems with jackd. I can not use the 8 analog I / O and 8 digital I / O simultaneously (either analog or digital).

GETTING STARTED

No complaints at the drivers ...

- What software do you use most often?
Ardour, Jack, hydrogen etc. ...

OVERALL OPINION

I bought it 1 year there is a 1 / 2 area.
I use it regularly, but unfortunately not too much to register.

- What is so special that you like most and least?

I find this card very pleasant to use.
A few remarks however:
- I find the virtual mixing console in windoze is not very intuitive.
- The knobs for adjusting the input gain for the first 2 entries are a little hard.
- The connectors on the back are pretty close. It is not possible to use any type of jack if you want to connect all the inputs / outputs.
- The optical connector is not easy to plug (I do not think it comes from my cable because I had no problems with the device that was in front ...).
- Have you tried many other models before buying it?

I had a series of sound Maxi, the latest being an ISIS studio max, but it did not work with Linux or XP.
With Layla, you change the world squarely in the quality ...

- How would you rate the quality / price?

The Layla3G is an excellent choice and has a very good price / quality ratio.

- With experience, you do again this choice? ...

For the perspective that I had, yes, no problem. My view (and my budget) have changed somewhat, I plan to buy a console 24 / 8 and replace my layla by RME Hammerfall DSP HDSP 9652 + converters for better use Linux ...

Jai was motivated by the number of entries and exits in order to make the sound as well as its convenient two inserts
I used to record groups and especially at this time to play at night and to compose
jai a pc p4 3.2GHz 2GB RAM 128 mb grafik card 500 GB of disk
I used mostly in composition in the record in cubase and samplitude and I use it in pci

UTILIZATION

The installation is done it without problems?
The installation is very good no conflicts
- The general configuration is easy?
the console could not be simpler kan I see the console of some sound cards it seems to return to NASA at least the c easily be sympathetic with everything needed jai
against by manual level there is nothing in French and can therefore sometimes a boring c but hey ....

GETTING STARTED

- The drivers are stable?
nai I never saw the driver planted in more than a year of use
- Are they often updated?
every 6 months in large
- What you get lag?
cubase 2 ms latency
samplitude: 2 ms latency
fruity loops: 12 ms latency
- How many tracks you get to record / play time? ...
8 and 8 parcontre jai a problem to link two outings last I needed to do this once and I never managed nai ke I should try again with the new driver

OVERALL OPINION

- How long have you use it?
more than one year
- What is so special that you like most and least?
ke jaime this is mostly convenience and easy dutilistaion ago after a peti ki flat on the cards are too close together and this requires a force on the connectors that Lorqui lon uses jack type neutrik this problem but I do not mind because jai pacth behind a plate and I are neither affects more
- Have you tried many other models before buying it?
yes, ten and it was for me the best buy for this type of card especially since I bought a lai € 400 on ebay then kel was a € 650 next door to me
the Installation is bit faster and I narrete not move with nothing and have damaged and yes I definitely do it again the same choice

CHARACTERISTICS:

The reputable Echo Audio converters. They are probably lgrement below those of a Fireface, which is I believe in the same range, but I have not had the opportunity to do a blind test subject. They are nanmoins plutt good, especially if we Whereas the price of the interface.

Two pramplis of good quality, as it has no budget for the purchase of external pramps.

Complte connectivity, with adat, unlike the Audiofire the same manufacturer, which only has spdif in numrique.

I use this card in home studio, to compose and make my prmix.

My config is a C2D E6750, 2GB Gskill RAM, 500GB HD SATAII.

No gear in parallle (console or otherwise).

UTILIZATION

RAS. Pure plug and play. Note that the map is self powered from the PCI slot. A power supply less, it's always has been.

No need for manual, using the Echo Console is instinctive trs. The possibility of routing shoots are less than the Fireface, but whatever, I do most of my routing in my DAW.

GETTING STARTED

The driver is unbeatable, never had a crash in four months. No set days yet, but the card has some age, and there is no reason particulire that they are updated.

I work on Ableton Live for the composition, and I mix in Samplitude. Intgration The card is great. As for latency, I work 6ms.

It is not really multi client (aussitt operates by application, impossible to reproduce any signal that it is in another), which can be Gnant in some cases.

The image is stro trs prcise and wide. The color is fairly neutral, the dynamics plutt tense.

OVERALL OPINION

I had a Tascam FW1884 before. I bought this card for a mere $ 280. At that price I would do what the choice without any hsitation, waiting for the opportunity to compare it with a Fireface, and may be to purchase it.

I mix on costs BlueSky Mediadesk, and to be honnte, my mix pass on all costs that I may have available (mini chains, hifi Systmes medium and high end).

To be honest, I reference the opinion of this website and the rates and I figured report quality / price was the best stuff for the semi-pros.
That star, has a rate of 570euros in nov2006.
Usage: I do a bit of hip-hop, so I wanted to see what I do with a good listener.
Config: p4 pc motherboard MSI 865PE NEO2, 1GB RAM, 80GB SATA 2 dd, a pre-amp, turntable, jack adapters.

UTILIZATION

The installation is done in a specific order, explained in the small manual in ENGLISH.
Ie: install the drivers on the CD and the card and the rest of the connections.
Yes I malheureusemnt encountered an incompatibility with my card integrated network, it disappears chque a reboot, you must have me do "Add Record new material" to find a network connection. (Small IRQ conflict apparammnt)
The config is super fast, since y 'is not really a tt is from the console echo parameters and especially forget the sound of windows ... they no longer serve nothing.
Traktion comes with but I did not even test.
The manual is obviously in English, the official site too, but it can be translated automatically to a Google search ...

GETTING STARTED

The drivers are "stable" set aside the problem with my network card, the maj exist on the site of Echo.
I use SoundForge 6.0 and Cubase, no worries for now.
Almost zero latency.
I have not pushed the card has its maximum, and it is not ready to arrive saw its possibilities.
http://www.echoaudio.com/Products/PCI/Layla3G/index.php

OVERALL OPINION

The use of 1 month since I do not think I have enough perspective to really judge this card compared to another. By looking against the paper (technical characteristics) can hardly be disappointed with this gem.
I can just point out that output in the headphones, the grain of the sound reminds me of a 3000 Mpc. And the sound is so clean, pure and slamming that I am still bleufl, yes on my first listen I heard no breath (compared to my old card rotten) and I even thought for a moment that it did not work, you say how the sound is clean.
In opposition are serious enough can be highlighted, but it deserves as an even 10/10.

(Originally written by Seith/translated from Audiofanzine FR)
I just received it.

I've had many sound cards over the last years. I will use it in my home studio.

My computer: Dual Core CPU and 4 GB Ram, Windows Vista 32

Connected instruments: Kurzweil K2600RS, Triton rack, DR880, Joemeek TwinQ, bass, guitar.

UTILIZATION

Very easy installation. I first downloaded the latest driver. I installed it, turned off the computer and installed the PCI card (the Layla's cable is very long: 6.6'). I then restarted the computer, the card was installed within 20 seconds and everything worked immediately, without bugs, it's incredible!!!! The setup is very easy unlike with the RME Total Mix, which offers more possibilities but is very complicated (I installed a Fireface 400 and the card was not detected. I had a lot of problems with it and once it worked I noticed that the famous RME sound is nothing special... I also had a Motu 828 MKIII and I didn't hear any difference when compared to the RME)...

GETTING STARTED

Ultra stable drivers (pretty normal for a PCI)

I just don't get the current update madness. Updates are made to correct bugs, so the more updates the more problems you might have.

I use Cubase SX3 and I recently bought Samplitude 10, which I find great...

The latency (factory) setting is 60 ms and I didn't change it because it works fine

with 8 recording tracks and 26 playback tracks. It's ultra reliable...

OVERALL OPINION

I tested it a very short time but considering that I had lots of problems with other brands (stay away from M-audio, RME is overrated, Motu is for Mac users) this Echo sound card was the right choice and it offers an unbeatable value for money.

I don't understand people who buy Firewire cards for desktop computers. Most people use their sound cards only in their studio so the PCI bus is the best solution.

Perfect value for money.

I would definitely buy it again and I'm very satisfied with this purchase... I first wanted a much more expensive Fireface or a Studiokonnekt, but with this Echo I had enough money left to buy an Avalon U5 DI box and a DBX166 compressor....