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cool.

Hi KronosSoundDesigns,

The ZXR card is the one I got: http://au.creative.com/p/sound-blaster/ ... laster-zxr

I paid about $310 from Amazon about 5 months ago.

The Creative Sound Blaster Z which I think you are referring to @ $85 doesn't have Burr Brown DACs. But,I found a very nice Review on the Creative Sound Blaster Z.
http://www.custompcreview.com/reviews/c ... iew/16668/

The DAC's in this card are Cirrus Logic CS4398-CZZ DAC. This is labeled by Cirrus Logic as their flagship DAC, supporting a 24 bit resolution, a 192 kHz sample rate and a dynamic range of 120dB. Which you can read about in the review.

The Creative Sound Blaster Z sounds not bad for the money.

Cheers,

There's a lot more to it then just thenDAC though. Doesn't matter how good they are if the supporting circuitry around it is garbage. I'm not saying it is but specs provided for devices companies make are provided to make them look good. I would be asking of their tech support about the rest of their circuit or try it out first, is that possible. Sadly your ears can lie to you as well.

Thanks Ian26,

Well let me say that I successfully recorded multiple instances of Omnisphere with a creative card before the newer Z line was even out, and these recordings came out very nice, to the extent that they received some nice compliments here on KF. You can check them out here http://www.reverbnation.com/thedarkestvoid I would say for windows 7 env, creative cards have excellent ASIO drivers and the sound overall can sound professional if you know how to use them.

Here is a question on Sample rates and distribution

Why does 24bit 96khz or even 192khz sampling matter when CD's are still 16bit 44khz, and don't mp3's have a lower maximum bit rate and freq? also, Doesn't places like Souncloud and RevNation sample down if you submit a hi rez file? So on distribution, it seems like how good a sample rate your card or interface can do doesn't really matter in terms of distribution. Lets say though I mix my mixdown to 24bit 96khz WAV, how would I distribute that in order for companies to hear it in its fully glory?

Idin't read the entire thread but I do recommend using right angle cables, at least tat the Kronos end. They put a lot less strain on the output jacks of the Kronos just because they don't transfer as much weight.

You know that's a good idea Jeremy! If I ever do live perf....I will do that. For recording im gonna go with optical cables.

Hi KronosSoundDesigns,

I listened to the Recordings and those recording came out very nicely. So, I'm sure you are going to enjoy your new "Z" Card.

About the 24bit 96khz Etc... I've always been told to record at the highest level to get the best quality you can. Yes it does get sampled down to 16bit 44khz to CD. But with CD, it may be phased out in the future with all this Digital Media around that can play hi rez files. So if someone likes your recording, you can give them the best quality.

Cheers,

yeah I think your right Ian, CD is going to phased out soon, and recording at the higher rate would be nice for submissions.....I got my Z yesterday, not the ZxR. I just couldn't afford it and since im doing Optical into the card I didn't think the DAC's Burr Brown vs. Cirrus Logic mattered right now. This will leave me a nice chunk of cash to put towards Presonus Studio One Pro. Anyone know if Studio One can print your sheet music from your midi files? I hope so for $400

I noticed with the optical in on the card under the creative mixer I had to click listen to device in order to hear it....but wow what a difference from the onboard audio and crap cables....lol....

I had a slight problem getting my DAW to register sound in the meters and out to my headphones, right now im using Reaper as a DAW and noticed that I have to turn record monitoring on in order to hear the Kronos. If record monitoring is left off on reapers audio track, I do not get meter activity unless I, unclick listen in the creative mixer. Then it has activity but I couldn't hear it until after it was recorded.

Anyhow problem solved....I just have to keep the monitoring on in reaper.....something that in the past had terrible/loud/noisy results that almost blew my speakers.

Cheers

Hi KronosSoundDesigns,

I'm so glad you are happy with your Z card. Optical really does make a differance.
I also had to put Monitor on in Cubase. I got round it buy Adding an Audio Track routed to the Optical Input to my Project with the Monitor turned ON, on that Audio Track. I can hear my VST's and Kronos at the sametime when Playing and Recording.
Before I got the ZXR I had a Steinberg CI2 USB-powered audio interface. I listened to an old recording using that, it was half the volume and lacked detail. I'm so glad I got my ZXR and that the Kronos has the Optical output.

You must be enjoying your Kronos now

Cheers,

Hi KSD. I was wondering what kid of monitors you are using?

@Ian,

Yes enjoying my Kronos very much, I synced the editor and got up to page 24 of the PDF for the editor....Since they are synced, I have a large screen to look at now when working, and like the pdf says, whatever you do in the editor when synced is reflected instantly on the Kronos, so I have decided the editor documents are just as valuable as the operation guide, and parameter guide, and quick start. The editor makes learning a lot simpler. Don't get me wrong the touchscreen the Kronos has is beautiful, but I don't know of any zoom feature and some parameters are real small, a stylus is also in the works.

@JermeyKeys

If you mean speakers, right now I just have some good headphones, the Audio Technica ATH-M40fs'. I am divided on whether I want to go with a nice receiver with optical in (Yamaha Rx-v375), and the Jbl Control 5's C5's passive studio monitors and a powered sub, or two powered studio monitors and a powered sub, that will connect to my cards analog outs. I am leaning to the first idea. I used to have the Behringer 2030p's (pawned those). I got a feeling that the JBL's would sound a lot better than the 2030p's. I am open to recommendations....don't know how long the $300 rebate on a Kronos x88 takes from korg, but I was going to use that towards the purchase, the post office said they got the forms Jan13th.