Echo Mia

[DKeenum]

I looking to purchase an audio interface for a Dell 2.4/533 system. I mainly work in ACID (3.0 & 4.0b). I've been looking at the Echo Mia and the M-Audio Audiophile 2496 as audio interfaces. I like that the the Mia has balanced inputs, but I see people recomending the 2496. I know the MIDI benifits of the 2496, but the RCA inputs bother me. Should I be bothered?

Also, I looked at these interfaces because they support asio. I hear the asio is wonderful. Is it all that? If not, then I might look at usb interfaces.

:confused:

[TimOBrien]

I have an Echo Mia and an SBLive coexisting in my aging Gateway PC (pure Intel chipset and soon to be replaced by a faster PC) very happily. Great card, I've had NO problems at all....

#1 with any card - check the manufacturers website and see if they have any problem with your motherboard/chipset. Echo has a page devoted to motherboards they have issues with and you should research and respect their experience with any motherboard known to have issues.

Yes, ASIO is great. Low latency and smooth operation. If you ever plan to run Gigastudio the Mia is compliant with their GSIF drivers, too.

Bottom line, research any purchase you plan to make and make sure the return policies are good 'cause not everything works well in every PC.

[DKeenum]

Hey, how's the weather down in South Florida? Wish I were there.

Anyway, I'm leaning toward the Mia. I checked the web site and it said that they support all Intel Chips and motherboards. And I'm really attracted to balanced inputs. So I would think that I should be ok.

There is the 8 virtual outputs. Do they cause any problems? I'll mix in acid.

Anyway, thanks for the help.

[TimOBrien]

The 8 virtual outputs are a great reason to get the Mia if you work with more than one audio program at a time. Many programs will "grab" the audio channel and not let another app make any sound.

With the Mia, you can tell each app to use a separate set (i.e. 1/2 for you main sequencer, 3/4 for you editor, 5/6 for Fruityloops, etc.) and all your apps will work happily together. I often have Acid, SoundForge, FruityLoops and N-Track Studio all open at the same time and have no problems.

South Florida's not all that warm at the moment (for down here anyway)... we're getting down to 40 at night and only mid-60s in the day. Far better than where I'm going to next week (Ohio) but sucky for down here where it's normally 20degrees warmer.

[DKeenum]

Thanks Tim. You've convinced me.

I hope to take a weekend trip down to the panhandle of Fla this weekend. At least it will be a few degrees warmer and I get to smell/feel the ocean.