Recommend an ADC for recording

[Ruediger]

I am looking to upgrade from my Asus Xonar Box.

Features needed:
- USB to PC for recording
- Playback/monitoring via the same USB from PC
- RCA stereo input
- Optical output
- 192/24

I would like something newer than the very old Cirrus 4398.

Was looking at the MiniDSP Adept, but couldn't reckon if it would do exactly these things.

Thanks!

 

[JamesYeomans]

Hard to go wrong with RME's products, especially if you're in the EU/UK where you can find many suppliers of their products.

 

[MaxwellsEq]

You didn't state a price. If you can afford it, the RME ADI2 Pro series are exceptionally good products with very good long-term support.

 

[Ruediger]

Nice device but a bit expensive.

I am looking for something up to 500 € or so.

 

[john61ct]

Black Lion Audio Revolution 2x2

MOTU M4/M6

Audient iD24

 

[Rainer Dynszis]

You didn't state a price. If you can afford it, the RME ADI2 Pro series are exceptionally good products with very good long-term support.

Unfortunately, the RME ADI-2 Pro series has been cancelled. The company makes vague noises that a successor is on the way, but currently you'd have to find a used one. Which in turn means, you'd have to find a person willing to part with it.

 

[john61ct]

RCA stereo input

Consider allowing 1/4" TS/TRS combo input for more choices and greater future flexibility. RCA to TS bullet adapters are cheap even for good transparent ones.

 

[john61ct]

Super bargain Topping E2x2 OTG

RME Babyface Pro FS?

MOTU UltraLite-MK5 in between those pro level, and the M4/M6 mentioned above

 

[Rainer Dynszis]

I am looking for something up to 500 € or so.

Focusrite seems to be quite popular in that price bracket, and the Focusrite Scarlett 16i16 seems to tick all your boxes, no?

 

[morillon]

A nice, cheap, old sound card with a coaxial ( or toslink ) digital input...and a simple miniDSP PocketADC...

 

[john61ct]

look at the OP requirements though

 

[DVDdoug]

If you can live without the optical, there are lots of USB audio interfaces with switchable mic/line inputs starting around $100USD. They usually have combination XLR (microphone) and TS/TRS (instrument or line) inputs. You'd need RCA to TS adapters.

Line level is rarely a problem so you don't need anything too expensive. As morillon says, a regular soundcard is often OK. Mic inputs are a bit more critical because they are high gain and you can get noise. But the mic inputs on these things are usually quite good.

I am looking to upgrade from my Asus Xonar Box

You're probably not going to get better sound from an "upgrade".

 

[john61ct]

Have a look at Allen & Heath hybrid GSPre ZEDi series, mixer AND USB interface functionalities

Not sure ticks all your boxes but great quality preamps for gain structuring both mic's and line level.

My "great value preamps" thread

Preamp for a single XLR measurement mic

I plan to use an Echo Audiofire 12 for REW and other measurement / filter design tools. It is I/O only, includes neither HPamp nor mic preamps. I have UMIK-2 but have decided to also get a calibrated XLR mic in order for both the signal output and the measurement precisely clock-sync'd by the...

www.audiosciencereview.com

 

[Ruediger]

Consider allowing 1/4" TS/TRS combo input for more choices and greater future flexibility. RCA to TS bullet adapters are cheap even for good transparent ones.

Yes, no problem with that. Also balanced in only and using adapter/cables to RCA would be OK. As long as unbalanced in works for the device in the end it's all good.

 

[Ruediger]

I had a look at the suggestions (not finished yet). Thanks for all recommendations!

Black Lion Audio Revolution 2x2
- has no optical

Motu M4/M6
- no digital out at all

Audient iD24
- only 24/96, but otherwise possibly a candidate. Have to check the inputs, it seems very instrument focused.

Topping E2x2 OTG
- Have to check the XLR inputs, I just guess they would be OK with unbalanced in.

RME Babyface Pro FS
- Out of budget, but looks good.

MOTU UltraLite-MK5
- Out of budget, but looks good.

Focusrite Scarlett 16i16 4th Gen
- Seems to have it all and is within budget. Gotta read more about it.

Allen & Heath hybrid GSPre ZEDi
- Nice solution for a small analog studio, but no digital out and as it seems no ADC to a PC.

Some devices make me think they provide a playback device to the PC and not just a recording source. But others do not mention anything of that sort in overviews. Have to look into manuals to make sure of that.

 

[Rainer Dynszis]

Topping E2x2 OTG
- Have to check the XLR inputs, I just guess they would be OK with unbalanced in.

I would suggest that you read this item's review here on ASR. It doesn't seem to be an outlier. It seems to me that Topping's general reputation does not make me want to buy any of their products. YMMV.

RME Babyface Pro FS
- Out of budget, but looks good.

You might want to reconsider your budget. When you divide the Babyface's price by that product's likely service life, you'll come out at a cost of about 10 cents per day.

 

[Roland68]

I had a look at the suggestions (not finished yet). Thanks for all recommendations!

Black Lion Audio Revolution 2x2
- has no optical

Motu M4/M6
- no digital out at all

Audient iD24
- only 24/96, but otherwise possibly a candidate. Have to check the inputs, it seems very instrument focused.

Topping E2x2 OTG
- Have to check the XLR inputs, I just guess they would be OK with unbalanced in.

RME Babyface Pro FS
- Out of budget, but looks good.

MOTU UltraLite-MK5
- Out of budget, but looks good.

Focusrite Scarlett 16i16 4th Gen
- Seems to have it all and is within budget. Gotta read more about it.

Allen & Heath hybrid GSPre ZEDi
- Nice solution for a small analog studio, but no digital out and as it seems no ADC to a PC.

Some devices make me think they provide a playback device to the PC and not just a recording source. But others do not mention anything of that sort in overviews. Have to look into manuals to make sure of that.

A used RME Babyface Pro FS should be just within your budget, and it will still last longer than most other devices.
Given your requirements, I would definitely recommend it.
You'll be hard-pressed to find a more sophisticated device or better support.

If you're truly using it as a work tool/productively, then the extra cost of a new device could be worthwhile, because wasting your time is far more expensive in the long run, and you can't get it back.

 

[Ruediger]

I would suggest that you read this item's review here on ASR. It doesn't seem to be an outlier. It seems to me that Topping's general reputation does not make me want to buy any of their products. YMMV.

These software things are a showstopper.

Already had my fair share of rather bad or unstable manufacturer apps over the years. Bad execution turns into bad aging too with operating system upgrades.

I get that they have to provide a solution when routing options and settings get more complicated.

 

[john61ct]

Allen & Heath hybrid GSPre ZEDi
- Nice solution for a small analog studio, but no digital out and as it seems no ADC to a PC.

Allen & Heath ZEDi series features a bidirectional (2-way) USB interface at 24-bit/96kHz, allowing for both simultaneous recording and playback between the mixer and a computer or iOS device.

the 8's is 2x2

The 10's is 4x4

Obviously the "in" has ADC by definition, and "out" is via DAC.

Also note that S/PDIF conversion between TOSlink and coax is trivial and cheap without any signal degratation.