Audio 10 vs. Audio 8

[Stan]

Hi folks,

So I've recently got myself 2 turntables, and I'm really liking it. Have been running traktor with a XoneB2 and Xone:K2 up untill now. The only downside to the turntables is that my vinyl collection is significantly smaller than my Mp3 collection. So the next order of business: timecode. Unfortunately the XoneB2 built-in soundcard, still isn't scratch certified. I kinda wanna switch over to a mixer + separate soundcard option (also for more mobility). So I plan on getting rid of the DB2 and getting another 4 channel mixer and separate soundcard instead (why won't I just keep the DB2? I think im toying with effects to much and also can't live with the fact of having 2 soundcards and one being kinda useless). Because I do still like toying around with 4 decks on my K2, a traktor certified soundcard with four channels is what I'm looking for. I can get an Audio 8 for about 50 euro's whereas a secondhand A10 will cost me 200. I'm trying to keep this solution as cheap as possible (E100,- max, really), so that's why I'm asking if theres any reason to go for a costly A10, if (as far as I can tell) the A8 would suit my needs perfectly.

Looking forward to reading some of your input!

Thanks

[SirReal]

An A8 would suit just fine, (I use one myself at times) BUT I don't believe NI are still updating drivers for it as it's discontinued. Maybe Karlos or somebody else more "in the know" can confirm or deny this.

[Stan]

I've long been pondering about going turntables, or going full digital and adding a Maschine. The latter option would benefit from the 5th audio out on the A10, but I am now 100% sure that I'm not going to go that way (never say never, but it would be in such distant future, that I would just get a simple extra soundcard probably). But the A8 would be suited for TC and 4 decks digital, right?

Is there a big difference in audio quality if you compare the A8 and A10? The other thing im curious about is the support for this card. I would be bummed out if I get a second hand card and it won't get any further support. Although I can't imagine how it would suddenly 'stop' working. I'm not sure how no driver updates would influence the overall performance/use of the card.

If I do get a A8 (or A10 for that matter), it would be possible to upgrade my Traktor Pro 2 tot Traktor Scratch Pro 2 right (100 euro's for the upgrade, plus costs for TC vinyl?). Kinda leaning to the A8 atm, so I'm hoping for some more input to get a better view on the situation.

[mostapha]

AFAIK, the $100 upgrade includes the timecode records/CDs and possibly cables as well.

I don't know if they're still releasing updates for it or not, but if they're not....there's already an incompatibility issue involving OS X Yosemite and Avid's core audio drivers that (AFAIK) has not been fixed yet. If they're not releasing updates, it won't ever be fixed for the A8. So....it may or may not be here already, but there will come a time when you can't upgrade your computer without buying a new sound card. That's the only real reason to not buy the older one that I'm aware of.

Also, I'm pretty sure that the newer sound card probably sounds better. Whether you or anyone else will ever notice, I don't know.

However....if it were me, I'd just buy the nicest of the current cards and not worry about it. I've had the sound cards I use for years. If you just plain can't afford it, that's one thing. But if you can and you're just trying to save a little money....I think over the life of the card, it'll probably wind up not being that big of a deal. Personally, I'm going to get an A10 at some point just because my current card only has 8 outputs, and I kind of want to run 4 decks and a loop in/out of the computer. Frankly, I kind of wish they made an A12 or A14 just in case I wanted to run timecode, 4 decks, a master loop, and Maschine eventually, or even just at home so I wouldn't have to use another sound card or re-wire things depending on how I want to spin that day.

[the_bastet]

Ge the A10. Ive had both. While the A8 sounded warmer, the A10 had a cleaner sound. I was also able to run on lower latency with the audio 10.

[Panotaker]

Keep in mind that there are two A10's, and they look identical. The new one is called The A10mk2 and the only way you can tell by looking at them is to turn them over and look at the sticker on the bottom. The newer one will be marked A10mk2. The difference is that the mk2 is a little louder, it plays with just USB power, but it does come with the wall transformer, and it also works with Traktor DJ.