ESI Wami Rack 192X

CHARACTERISTICS The main card is to provide 4 pr-amp microphone with phantom power supply and to allow recordings in 24/192 (Nuendo and WaveLab 4.0)
This is to eliminate the use of a mixer. It works well.

I tested on a small machine in the first place: PIII 500 Mhz, 512 RAM and SCSI HDD U2W, the motherboard is an ABIT, Intel. Worry-free installation and configuration.
I used the XLR outputs (Genelec 1029), and in between XLR SHURE SM 58 with a base. The dynamic input-output is good

UTILIZATION

Windows XP Home / Pro and no problem of installation and config.
My computer is being ddi computer music, no incompatibility has appeared, no conflict.
The configuration is quite comfortable as the panel of the card is rather easy, there is even a virtual patch for managing the internal cabling flexible enough.

GETTING STARTED

The drivers appear to be stable, I have RALIS test records and I have not any dcrochement.
However, they are not flexible trs (as opposed to patch virtual), but the bottom line is that we can trust them in matters of stability which is of course VITAL.
The latency test is 128 buffer (3 ms) for recording and 64 (1.5) for playback.
With PIII 500, read pure can do 24 tracks at 32 bits / 96 kHz while maintaining the fluid in the edition. (CPU 20% and 15% in HDD CUBASE SX)

OVERALL OPINION

I have been using a small couple of weeks and I find that the four pre-amp microphone are
a very practical apprciable!
The report price is very good quality, although the boxes are fairly easy to assemble and the finish could be more caring ...... we can not have everything!
I would recommend this card to users who need a versatile interface (MIDI I / O, headphone and pre-amp has a budget ....) very very cool.

In dpart j'tais interested by the Wami Rack 24 but as it had disappeared from the catalog and saw the CHARACTERISTICS of 192 X, trs j'tais excited about this card.
My config is a 1.8GHz Pentium 4 on a motherboard abit BD7II Raid and the card was running on Logic Audio 5.0.
Unfortunately no test possible because of refusal to move the map.
Having contacted EgoSys France, I was told that a card of 8 works properly only what I find outrageous especially considering the price of the product.

UTILIZATION

Refusal to settle.

GETTING STARTED

Refusal to move

OVERALL OPINION

If the dpart gosys had prvenu resellers franais this problem I would never have bought.
I went then to the RME HDSP Multiface and I regret not even if it is a little more CHRE.
I find qu'gosys (now esi) really a problem of communication.
Fortunately, the sale does APRS service excellent.

One of the few audio cards-numriques offering 24-bit / 192 kHz that price.

I use it mainly with GigaSampler and Cubase SX, of the o intrt of ASIO and GSIF drivers and especially the patch "ReWire" which allows for the audio internally and directly numrique GigaSampler (or other software) Cubase (or whatever) without going through the analog audio inputs and outputs of the card.

Design and construction simple, effective and strong.

4 XLR (or Jack the rear) with phantom power supplies and micro pramplis of good quality if you do not grow back (a little out of breath).

8 audio outputs (6.1 ready!) And in / out MIDI.

IN / OUT Coaxial S / PDIF.
Default:

- No IN / OUT optics, it is necessary to add a converter for this Casing (+ / - 50 euros)
- No Time Code (SMPTE. ..)

UTILIZATION

Quick and easy installation.

I have a problem with the control software of the card that does not load always dmarage, but a simple click on a shortcut to activate it.

Manuel trs "cheap", not really full ...

GETTING STARTED

Using simple trs.
Trs low latency.
Drivers rev stable.

The sound!! Extremely clear and prcis: clear.

Almost no wind.

Dynamics dcorner the horse! I use my amp with a volume at least SETTING THE not to m'exploser the eardrums!

OVERALL OPINION

I use this card for 4 months and I am satisfied trs!

It is my opinion plutt production-oriented musical numrique using little analog audio because of limits on the number 4, but what it does, it does trs well!

Too bad the pub (almost nonexistent) for this brand, which other models of excellent and inexpensive, is not the level of sales.

What motivated my choice: I wanted an interface that is rack mountable with the ability to record at least two condenser microphones along with converters and above suspicion (which is why the 192 kHz is important).
I have this interface for several years, and my computer configuration has changed considerably: I went from first-generation Pentium IV core duo two today and this interface has always been perfectly integrated.

UTILIZATION

The installation interface has always proceeded smoothly.
I never had to undergo any inconsistency. As motherboards will provide a PCI slot, this interface will continue (it happens now at retirement because of it).
The manual that comes with the machine is ridiculously flawed, but the machine will let fly with ease.

GETTING STARTED

Drivers: three generations of drivers have been available since I have this interface. The first was very stable, but the software interface was ugly, and the second is the most successful and still use it, and the third was written when ESI no longer sells this machine, I have never managed to install without major instability problems. It must be said that over time it turns ESI appears to be a company that makes good interfaces but is not very responsive in tracking software (drivers), when compared, for example, M-Audio ...

Latency I get in 24/44.1 is 6 ms (256 samples of buffer). latency is a cushy me but it provides stability in all circumstances and it allows me to pass out 24/96 free Cubase to adjust latency.

OVERALL OPINION

As mentioned above, I use it for several years without worry.
The pros: quality converters, connecting the microphones in front, stable drivers.

The -: documentation really too succinct, too reactive monitoring software, good build quality and finish but look quelquonque, phantom power for two microphone inputs.

At the time, I got it in promo on guitars in Mulhouse and I paid € 750 instead of € 1000. I do not regret this purchase at all and if you do the math over time, so far it cost me less than € 150 a year and I intend to keep it until my computer set to become obsolete (I think in two or three years). And when that comes I will change to an EMR solution that seems to be the most serious market today.