ProScan M-Audio or Focusrite Audio Interfaces?

[w2lie]

Hi All,
I'm in the middle of building a new PC and bringing all my live feeds and recording scanners over from the old machine.

The old machine had a PCI card that interfaces with an M-Audio Delta 1010 LT. This is a great card which allows for 10 inputs and 10 output. The beauty of it is I can call each one of those ten inputs as separate inputs in ProScan.

Since PCI is pretty much obsolete on today's motherboards, I'm searching for an external interface to replace the 1010LT. I know I could pickup a handful of cheap USB Soundcards for a few dollars each and run them into a hub. I've done this before with other live feeds, but I'm looking for something a little more 'professional' and a cleaner install.

Has anyone setup a Focusrite or M-Audio USB Audio interface? They are geared towards musicians and are upwards of $200 each.
On the flip side, has anyone used a USB mixer that allows you to monitor each 'track' via a sound card interface that I could map to ProScan?

I'm trying to find the best solution to my old 1010LT. I loved that card so much I bought a backup unit in case it failed.

Thanks in advance for the feedback.

 

[prcguy]

I've used a number of M-Audio USB interfaces and a Focusrite Scarlet 2i2 series. They all work similar on line inputs and the thing that separates them all is the mic preamps. The mic preamps in my Focusrite is a bit better than the M-Audio versions I've used but not good enough to be world class. If your only dealing with line inputs then choose by features and ease of setup.

 

[w2lie]

Thanks @pcrguy. Both the M-Audio and Focusright will give you separate inputs to pick from in ProScan, correct? This is how my 1010LT works.

If you are saying that each output on the Focusrite becomes a selectable input on the computer, I may have to spend some coin on the Focusrite Scarlet 18i20

 

[wowologist]

Well cost effective and works quite well is the USB sound cards and vb audio Voicemeter mixer. I mean the quality of a stream being sent certainly isnt orchestra quality digital audio for a reason... there's no need. But again it's up to you.

 

[w2lie]

Just an update to this thread. After almost a full year after asking my initial question, I finally pulled the trigger and purchased a Focusrite Scarlett 8i6. The device showed up this afternoon and only took a few minutes to install.

After toggling the "Expose/Hide Windows Channels" in the Focusrite software, I was able to access all 6 inputs via Proscan.

It's a bit more expensive than 6 Amazon USB sticks, but I had to keep resetting those almost weekly after they kept locking up. I'm hoping this HW lasts a lot longer.

 

[blogan52]

Just an update to this thread. After almost a full year after asking my initial question, I finally pulled the trigger and purchased a Focusrite Scarlett 8i6. The device showed up this afternoon and only took a few minutes to install.

After toggling the "Expose/Hide Windows Channels" in the Focusrite software, I was able to access all 6 inputs via Proscan.

It's a bit more expensive than 6 Amazon USB sticks, but I had to keep resetting those almost weekly after they kept locking up. I'm hoping this HW lasts a lot longer.

sorry for the reply to an old thread......how do you connect the scanner to the focusrite? what kind of cable is needed?

 

[prcguy]

sorry for the reply to an old thread......how do you connect the scanner to the focusrite? what kind of cable is needed?

If the scanner has a line output you can use a 1/4" mono plug into the line input. If its speaker level you want to knock than down a good 30-40dB with an attenuator then do the same as above making sure the speaker minus is ground on the 1/4" plug. You can make an attenuator with a 10 ohm load resistor across the speaker output then put 10K ohm pot across the load resistor with the center wiper to the 1/4" plug tip.

 

[bharvey2]

If you aren't a DIYer then you might look for a DI (direct box) with variable attenuator to place between the line level output of the scanner and the input of the Focusrite USB interface. I've used a number of Rolls DB25b DI boxes for similar applications. Unfortunately, Rolls discontinued that model but you might find a used one or a company that still has one in stock.