 |
|
|
RME Hammerfall
DSP Digiface
This purely digital laptop/desktop
interface affords the exciting flexibility of being
desktop and laptop compatible; with the PCI adapter,
you can connect the small I/O box to your desktop
computer; with the Cardbus adapter, you can connect
it to your laptop. Not simultaneously, of course,
but such compatibility offers great flexibility
for many users. Because the Digiface I/O is only
digital data, use of this device for recording and
analog playback requires AD-DA converters. I was
happy to see the included option of monitoring through
a stereo 1/4" line-out jack on the front (only monitoring
from the box does not require a DA converter); this
output was acceptable for plugging my high-impedance
Beyerdynamic headphones, though I could not monitor
at high level, and better suited for use with my
lower-impedance Sony headphones. Notably, the Digiface
has both Word Clock I/O and two MIDI I/O which enables
both sample-accurate audio sync and machine/controller
synchronization.
Hardware
- Components:
Cardbus, half-rackspace (8
1/2" x 4 1/2") breakout box,
proprietary connector cable.
- Resolution:
24-bit/96kHz.
- Analog
I/O: 1 Line Out stereo 1/4" jack
on front panel of breakout
box.
- Digital
I/O: 3 ADAT/litepipe I/O
= 24 channels 48kHz or 12
channels 96kHz; coaxial/RCA
SP/DIF I/O .
- Monitoring:
1 Line Out stereo 1/4" jack
on front panel of breakout
box.
- Sync:
Word Clock I/O; ADAT SYNC.
- MIDI:
2 MIDI I/O
- LED
Indicators: Input State -
WC or SP/DIF lock; ADAT 1,
2, 3; Host Error.
- Power:
Line-lump external power
adapter via 2-prong AC cable.
Software
- Drivers:
Mac: ASIO 2.0, no Sound Manager
support.
- Control
Panel: Hammerfall DSP TotalMix;
flexible control of multiple
I/O; did not open from my
software applications and
was controllable simultaneously
with only certain programs.
For use on Mac, TotalMix
requires Apple Carbon Library
1.1 or higher (system Extension).
- Manual:
PDF; extensive.
Conclusions
My conclusion: of the three
interfaces, the Digiface offers the most complete
feature set and flexibility, though only when paired
with an external ADDA converter. For many people,
this will be significant enough an expense to warrant
choosing another interface with built-in ADDA over
the Digiface. For the music producer with a larger
budget, the Digiface and a converter will be the
option having best sound quality.
PROs: quality, quantity,
LED Indicators, small size.
CON's: no built-in AD,
no headphone amp, no volume control on monitor output.
Becomes pricey with the addition of external converter.
ECHO Layla24
LapTop
This interface boasts an exciting
variety of I/O options, including 8 channels of
analog I/O, 10 channels of digital I/O, and both
Word Clock I/O and MIDI I/O & Thru for synchronization
purposes, plus a volume-controllable headphone monitor
output on the front of the one-rackspace I/O box.
While this looked like a viable
option for my system, I discovered after two unsuccessful
attempts at installation and playback that this
interface may only work with the newest Apple Powerbooks.
The Echo Laptop Adapter PDF manual contains a note
indicating "there is a known incompatibility with
the LapTop adapter and the older 'Lombard' Powerbooks
(G3, 300-400MHz) from Apple. Unfortunately this
is a problem that cannot be resolved. The adapter
should work properly in newer Powerbooks and has
been used successfully in the G4 Titanium."
This may explain my difficulty
in getting the Layla24 LapTop Adapter to work with
my older 'Wallstreet' Powerbook G3 266MHz.
On first installation, the adapter
was recognized but all playback created extreme
stuttering and attempting to record resulted in
the machine crashing. I was able to adjust buffer
size, but even on the most generous settings, the
audio was only a stream of stuttering and digital
noise.
Hardware
- Components:
Cardbus, one-rackspace rackmount
breakout box, proprietary
connector cable.
- Resolution:
24-bit/96kHz.
- Analog
I/O: 8 on TRS 1/4" jacks
- accepts balanced or unbalanced
signal.
- Digital
I/O: 8 ADAT/optical
- Monitoring:
Headphone monitor jack with
volume pot.
- Sync:
Word Clock
- MIDI:
1 MIDI I/O & Thru.
- LED
Indicators: On.
- Power:
Internal via standard 3-prong
AC cable.
Software
- Drivers:
Mac: ASIO, no Sound Manager
support.
- Control
Panel: Echo24 Console; does
not open from software applications.
- Manual:
PDF; extensive.
Conclusions
My conclusion: the Layla24
would be my choice if only it were compatible with
my laptop, because for the price, it offers the
best value in terms of features. It can be used
with an external ADDA converter, for best sound
quality, but it also has internal ADDA so there's
no added expense to get analog audio in and out
as with the Digiface. Before purchasing, I would
contact Echo's tech support to check on compatibility
with your computer and software.
PRO's: 24-bit/96kHz high-resolution
capability, digital and analog I/O, headphone amp
with volume knob.
CON's: Comparably large
size (one-rackspace), incompatibility with older
Mac laptops.
Note: A cardbus verision
of the Echo
Mona is also available, as well as cardbus kits
for converting your older Layla 24 or Mona.
Digigram VX
Pocket V2
Digigram VX Pocket V2 has been
around longer than the other two interfaces, and
has the distinction among users of having two main
cons: no headphone output, and high audio latency
despite its ASIO drivers. With the newest driver,
I have found that latency can be minimized for recording
stereo audio and this is not a significant issue.
The lack of headphone monitor output does create
an issue for portable recording setups, since to
monitor properly, it requires an external headphone
amp.
Notably, the VX Pocket V2 includes
SMPTE sync via an RCA input; this makes the card
useful for certain setups requiring sync.
Hardware
- Components:
PCMCIA type II card, proprietary
breakout connector cable.
- Resolution:
24-bit/48kHz
- Analog
I/O: 2 channels on balanced
XLR connectors.
- Digital
I/O: 2 channels SP/DIF on
RCA/coaxial connectors.
- Monitoring:
None separate from main outs;
must used line-level balanced
analog outputs.
- Sync:
SMPTE input on RCA connector.
- MIDI:
None.
- LED
Indicators: None.
- Power:
From computer bus.
Software
- Drivers:
Mac: ASIO, with ASIO Sound
Manager support.
- Control
Panel: Excellent integration
of control panel with all
audio applications I tested
- opens seemlessly from inside
the host applications.
- Manual:
Quick start guide in box.
Conclusion
I've been using the VX Pocket
V2 for over a year, and it has been stable and reliable,
pending the state of my Powerbook disk. It is only
a 2-channel interface, but the drivers are totally
solid and the interface seamlessly integrates with
any software application; this is a usable, affordable,
professional-quality interface.
PRO's: Excellent drivers,
control-panel/application integration; powered off
the computer.
CON's: No headphone amp/monitoring
aside from line outputs. Only two channels. "Older" technology.
THE LAPTOP
AUDIO INTERFACE WRAPUP
These
are three viable options for
good to excellent quality laptop
computer audio. Several things
will make a difference in the
usability of these interfaces.
First, check the manufacturer's
websites for compatibility
information and notes, and
even contact their tech support
to make sure the interface
you're considering is fully
compatible with your computer
and software. Also, performance
with ASIO drivers is excellent,
but the laptop's processor,
the type and speed of your
hard drive and the amount of
RAM you have will also affect
performance. (Not to mention
things like conflicting applications,
extensions, etc. that will
depend entirely on the configuration
of your particular computer!)
If you are using digital I/O,
remember that clocking can
affect the integrity of the
signal. SP/DIF carries its
own clock, but ADAT/litepipe
transfers will need to be Word-Clocked.
Usually the clock on the converter
will be the master, but if
you have an external, more
stable clocking unit, all the
better. Audio latency can be
adjusted via buffer settings
in both hardware control panels
and most software applications.
There are a variety of ways
to make your laptop audio system
functional, and the best place
to start is to outline your
needs, and check compatibility
with the interface manufacturer
|
|
