OK, after an exhaustive chat with M-audio tech support it sounds like I have already tried all their normal fixes and the 2496 is therefore going back from whence it came.

A kind soul on another forum suggested another option. My use for the 2496 was going to be the digitisation of a stereo line input from my (very high class) turntable and pre-amp to FLAC files to play through my Squeezebox Duet.

He therefore suggested getting the best external DAC I could afford as replay is not an issue, just recording.

So, what would kind folks suggest I get?

All suggestions gratefully received.

A DAC is Digital to Analogue, which is playback of existing digital data. Won't do you any good.

While there are many stand-alone DACs, there are far fewer stand-alone ADCs. However, every soundcard has both (unless one wants to argue that a simple digital pass-through device is a "soundcard" too.) While there is an occasional fatal conflict between a particular computer and some particular soundcard, many good choices exist, both PCI and external.

You are unlikley to save money by insisting on something with only one half of the normal circuit; most converters are a single chip with both ADC and DAC aboard. You just need to decide whether you want PCI, firewire, or USB, then pick from the many offerings available almost everywhere. Just stay away from gaming and multi-media cards if high quality, non-resampling, audio is your only goal.

There are a wide range of possible options here at various price points. You could do quite well in the $150 range or exceedingly well in the $1500 range (and well beyond), so I think any solid suggestion would require that we know more about your budget.

So, the question: what can you afford?

You might want to let us know what about the 2496 failed you, since it is generally considered to be a pretty good piece of equipment.

Thanks for the replies, folks. Some answers

Leto:
See here

Basically it just locks up the PC after around 15 seconds of recording - even if it is the only PCI device working in the machine!

Ron
I could probably get up to £100 ($200) past "the boss" but the closer to £50 ($100) the better. Not much to play with, I know.

Andy
Sorry, a typo, yes I did mean ADC not DAC.

The reviews of the 2496 are generally very positive, which is why it is so frustrating that I cannot get it to work. If it did work it would be exactly what I need. Someone else has warned me not to go for another PCI device from the same maker as if I get a conflict with one device then I would probably get the same from another as they probably share driver code.

So my choices are either a PCI sound card from another brand or a USB sound card from the same or another maker with a budget of £50 - £100 ($100 - $200).

Any suggestions?

That was me on the Slim Devices forum, right?
I didn't mean to imply there was a *good* chance that the drivers might have common code, just that it's a possibility. And given the availability of other non-M-Audio cards that are just as good (eg. Echo Mia, EMU 0404), then it would make sense to jump brands.

As for using an external ADC: given your budget this is a non-starter. Decent ADCs cost several hundred (unless you can find a secondhand Midiman Flying Calf). And you'd still need a soundcard with non-resampling SPDIF input. Pretty much all such soundcards also include good quality onboard ADCs anyway, so there'd be little point buying the external ADC.


Since you're in the UK, I recommend you take a look at the Digital Village website. They've got a lot of possibilities in your budget, both PCI and USB. They even have a store in Acton, which I think isn't too far from you.

Oh, hi Clive! Small world!



Point taken and indeed good sense. It is a risk I would rather avoid. I have already spent the best part of 6 hours trying to sort this and don't want the same grief again.



A problem with the definition of "external ADC" here. I was not necessarily talking about a standalone studio grade ADC (I wish!), I was more thinking of a USB sound card that did not require a PCI slot.



Thanks for the tip, will check them out.

It will also be useful if anyone has a product that they have had a good experience with and could recommend as an alternative - bearing in mind the quality of the source.

I've got a couple good purchases from this shop in UK.

I agree that you could try another brand of soundcards: My M-Audio 2496 produced clicks in one computer but worked fine in another. At the same time an E-MU 0404 performs fine in both, even simultaneously with a clicking M-Audio. 0404 is finally in stock in that shop.

I have a friend who is selling Presonus equipment and has let me demo a few units. One of the cheaper ones, the Firebox, is a very competent external ADC & DAC. However, it works through firewire and is more expensive than your budget by about double.

I have finally got the 2496 working see here.

Still, I am aware that the 2496 is a cheap-n-cheerful solution and that in time a better external ADC/DAC might be a better fit with my hi-fi, so I will bear the Presonus Firebox in mind. I have no problem with firewire and the budget is not way out of order.

Thanks for the tip.