Right Mark

xo · Post by xo » 01/04/2005 - 18:08

Benchmarks.

http://www.rightmark.org/

In particular audio benchmarks. Sweet. In fact, outrageously cool.

http://audio.rightmark.org/test_results.shtml

Lagerfeldt · Post by **Lagerfeldt** » 03/04/2005 - 21:02

Thanks for the tip!

It's an interesting read.

RME usually comes out on top against any other soundcard in the market regarding measurements. The quality is undoubtedly superb, and I am indeed the happy owner of an RME 96/52 + ADI 8 DS external converter setup (not tested here).

However, measurements of the Apogee Rosetta 800 would show numbers slightly less good than the RME, but still the Apogee has a subtle quality improvement over the RME ADI 8 DS in the very low freqs and general sound quality. However the additional cost can be discussed in terms of value for money vs. RME.

The Apogee Rosetta 800 isn't in the Right Mark tests, but I did a shootout between the ADI 8 DS and the Rosetta 800 about a month ago.

So while measurements are interesting and goes some way towards revealing the quality of a product, they can only inform you some of the way.

madfiddler · Post by **madfiddler** » 03/04/2005 - 23:29

I'm certainly really happy with my RME Hammerfall...

Romeo Knight · Post by **Romeo Knight** » 04/04/2005 - 7:53

<becoming a "Pledge your allegiance to RME"-Thread>

double happy with two RME Digi96....

xo · Post by xo » 04/04/2005 - 9:30

I too have seen positive things written about RME. Short term I chose ESI Juli@ though, it seems to have a great price/performance ratio. Further out I simply must attain an external quality DAC as part of the stereo setup, preferably true multi bit. I think you're probably right, Lagerfeldt, that you need to listen to it yourself to judge the true qualities of a unit; but before that I go after: multi bit, oversampling factor, dynamic range etc. Last it should be said that there are probably more benchmarks in the forum along with great discussions.

Lagerfeldt · Post by **Lagerfeldt** » 04/04/2005 - 16:26

The Juli@ is great value/price.

Nothing beats the RME for superb quality at a reasonable price though. I also like the fact that there's input/output switches for +4dBu/-10dBv on the ADI 8 DS, nice when you want to clip the converter and you're going out from true tube amplified output drivers and you don't want too much output saturation from the tubes (as opposed to just saturating the input and using solid state for output into the ADC). Fortunately I'm soon getting my SSL Type 4000 compressor which will be next in chain after my Gyratec X Vari Mu, so I can use the SSL output which is solid state of course and still keep the signal +4dBu.

sumppi · Post by **sumppi** » 04/04/2005 - 19:42

I'll join the RME cult too, happy owner of Fireface here

Sumppi

tom · Post by **tom** » 05/04/2005 - 6:56

I am on two MotU 828 MK II Firewire Interfaces

Great Interfaces as well !!!

cheers,
Thomas

http://www.motu.com/products/motuaudio/828/body.html/en

Lagerfeldt · Post by **Lagerfeldt** » 05/04/2005 - 8:29

Yeah, MOTU is also very popular in the US.

tom · Post by **tom** » 05/04/2005 - 17:48

Lagerfeldt wrote:Yeah, MOTU is also very popular in the US.

....yes indeed, and my API 2500 ,too

cheers,
TOM:::..

Lagerfeldt · Post by **Lagerfeldt** » 05/04/2005 - 22:04

Ah, I've never tried one myself.. do you know the SSL-sound, how does it compare?

analoq · Post by **analoq** » 05/04/2005 - 23:07

I own a motu828 as well -- the original, not the mkII.
I was interested in trying RME products, but the 828 worked so well when I brought it home that I decided to just keep it.
but maybe there will be some RME in my future.

cheers.

tom · Post by **tom** » 06/04/2005 - 7:03

Lagerfeldt wrote:Ah, I've never tried one myself.. do you know the SSL-sound, how does it compare?

No, i never compared both.
But what i like about the API is the NEW and OLD MODE.
In NEW MODE the API works like most never types of VCA compressors.
It's the so called FEED-FORWARD compression, where the RMS detector sends a signal to the VCA
that is an exact ratio of the desired compression, set by the RATIO control of your compressor!

The OLD MODE works different, it's called FEEDBACK compression, where the
RMS detector gets the signal from the output of the VCA and then feeds the
VCA a signal based on a set ratio of that signal.
I prefer the OLD MODE with THRUSTMODE set to MEDIUM and SOFt KNEE

This sounds really phatt

Lagerfeldt · Post by **Lagerfeldt** » 06/04/2005 - 17:41

Aha, does it work slightly as an autogain then? Pulling up the signal?

Anyway, the SSL has got to be the best comp I've heard, combined with a Gyraf Gyratec X Vari Mu (tube based old skool Fairchild 670 comp build) you get both the phatt & punch. I recently mastered a double cd of Yuzo Koshiro's soundtracks for Wangan Midnight Maximum Tune 2 (Namco) using this baby.

tom · Post by **tom** » 06/04/2005 - 17:53

Lagerfeldt wrote:Aha, does it work slightly as an autogain then? Pulling up the signal?

The unit has an autogain button of course

The old mode is like the FAIRCHILD 670 and the new mode works like
a Crancesong ST8 or ALAn SMART etc

But you can't go wrong with the SSL !

http://www.apiaudio.com/2500.html