Quote:
Originally Posted by alladir
Hi everyone! I've eventually (almost) decided on the M-Audio Audiophile 192. It seems perfect for me. However, I'm not totally sure on the difference between the 2 sets of outputs it has. The manual lists:
- Main Outputs 1 and 2: These are balanced/unbalanced 1/4" TRS output connectors, located on the breakout cable. Their output signals can be assigned only via your DAW application, however their overall level is affected by the WavOut 1/2 level faders in the software mixer panel. Connect these outputs to your headphone amplifier, auxiliary amplifier, or external recording device, if applicable.
- Monitor Outputs 1 and 2: These are balanced/unbalanced 1/4" TRS output connectors, located on the breakout cable. Their output signals are derived from the outputs of the Audiophile 192's internal direct monitoring mixer. Connect these outputs to your amplifier or powered monitors.
And the Sound on Sound reviewer says: "However, I can't help feeling that after fitting four D-A converters to feed the main and monitor stereo outputs, M Audio's designers have missed a trick in not letting you access all four from software, for true two-in/four-out analogue I/O — with the additional stereo digital I/O, this would give the 192 a distinct edge over similarly priced competitors"
I don't know what this means. What would you use the 2 outputs for, and what are their limitations? At the moment I'm considering getting a decent set of headphones to do most of my work (Sony's MDR7509 maybe) while regularly checking on monitors (probably something like Alesis M1 MkIIs). Do you think this soundcard would allow this?
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Usually when you are recording you have a seperate headphone mix for the performer. One way of doing this is having a seperate set of outputs controlled by the recording software, so you can have a totally separate mix, like an auxilary send from each channel in the software.
Rather than allowing you that option, the audiophile lets you to mix input signals with the output signal from the software via the soundcards monitor mixer. So you still have the same mix you are playing back, only you can mix in whatever is plugged into the audiophiles inputs with zero latency. This kind of limits what you can do with it a little.
It depends how you are recording, if you are doing it all yourself with headphones on, you wont need another mix. If you are recording other people playing and you want to hear a different mix from them then you could use the monitor mixer but it's not ideal, it wouldn't give you control over individual elements on playback, only the input volume. Use the headphones when you're recording by all means, but i'd suggest mixing on the monitors or you'll get a funny idea of phase and how much bass you're putting on things.
You mentioned mic's earlier in the thread. The soundcard you've chosen doesn't have mic pre's in it, you couldn't plug a mic into it unless you ran it through a mixer/preamp first.
You'd also need a headphone amplifier and some sort of master section. I really wouldn't recommend just plugging the monitor 1's into the audiophile, if something goes wrong and you get a spike through them/ something plays back full blast unexpectedly you'll see why. Everytime you turn your computer off its going to go BANG!!!!
You'll notice earlier in the thread i suggested looking at an interface like the motu 8 pre, this would do all these things just fine, perhaps a tad on the expensive side, there are other cheaper ones. but you're really looking for an interface with at least 2 mic pre's, line inputs, headphone output and an analog master volume control so you don't blow up your ears/monitors.