For the last 3/4 years I have been using a Focusrite Saffire USB 1.1 interface. Its been OK, and is good for DJing out, but having worked through college and now Uni, doing sound design, mixing etc. I decided it was time to get a new set of toys.
I was gonna go for the Motu Ultralite, and then I realised since I work in the box mostly, I dont need many in outs, just a few on top of the Speaker outs, in case I want to use some outboard on occasion. So I was on Studio Xchange and decided to have a chat, dude called Dale was there. After a quick chat about what I wanted, he quickly suggested the Crimson.
Quickly, I HIGHLY recommend studio xchange. As Im new here, you could all already know this, but just in case you don't, I would say that from start to finish was the best service I have had, anywhere, ever.
So I ordered my Crimson yesterday at 3 in the afternoon and it arrived here about 7 hours ago, almost exactly 24 hours after I ordered it. I felt like a little kid opening it.
Im going to get my gripes out the way first. No USB cable, no disk with drivers and the plastic buttons feel very slightly rushed. Thats it.
Other than that, it is one of the best looking, feeling and of course SOUNDING products I have seen & heard. I cant get over it for 400 odd quid tbh.
I have Event 20/20V3 and Im running Overclockers Win7x64/i7/16ram. I use Maschine & and a virus. A lot of the time I spend listening to music is in the studio, I am very conscious of good and bad sound. Im not going to use lots of spraff to describe this. Ill also so say that having spent my time at college and Uni in studios with converters worth thousands and thousands, I know what REALLY good audio sounds like.
However, what I have never experienced up until now, was exactly what the true effect of all the acoustic treatment, monitor pads etc had actually done.
I have retyped this bit so many times now trying to think of a way to describe the difference, and I think I have found it.
Though I dont have 3 ways at my project studio, but I work on Questeds at Uni. It feels like by changing to this card from the cheapy focusrite, I have actually replace my 2 way monitors to a set of 3 ways.
Im exaggerating slightly perhaps, but thats how im trying to say separation. Everything, if it mixed right, feels separated, in a way up till now I have only heard coming from the Prism/SSL system at Uni. It is certainly getting up into that bracket, where people are going to be arguing over small small things, and it comes down to preference.
The build quality is insane, the sound quality is beautiful and I am one EXTREMELY happy customer.
I'm sure someone here will say there is better. And Im sure there is. But at that money, Im damn sure you ain't gonna find it!! THANK YOU SPL, BEST BIRTHDAY EVER!