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Hi Kris, > The only thing I don't like about the Indigo IO is that its input is >only > line level. > There is no mic vs. line level setting, so if you have a fairly low >output > device > going into it, then you have to boost the level in your software and thus > create > more noise. But the IO is indeed a robust little card. I have taken it a > step > further recently. I yanked the Indigo from my cardbus and tried the built > in > sound card of my ThinkPad...which interfaces directly with the Intel > integrated > High Definition audio (built into the mother board not a separate sound > card). > I installed the ASIO for All driver, and it works like a charm...less > latency than the > Indigo, can't tell any difference in quality, and I have a mic level > setting. But eventually > those little mini plugs will take a beating. It's true about the line level. I have a dual channel mic pre that is pretty quiet that I use. But I'm surprised that you find the internal sound of your ThinkPad to be on par with the Indigo-- my feeling is that the A/D and amps in the Indigo are far cleaner than anything you can find in a stock laptop. .. maybe your ThinkPad is an unusual creature? > Really? Is this because of the speed of firewire? I thought the newer > firewire was a lot faster than cardbus. Faster in terms of bandwidth, yes. More data can fly down that new firewire pipe. But as I recall, firewire sends things in packets, and there are interrupts and delivery mechanisms within the hardware and software that add a translation layer so that the data has to jump through more hoops before it reaches the audio application. So, more bandwidth but lower latency. CardBus is a more direct connection with the processor. > I'll have to check these out. Thanks. I like the fact that it comes with > xlr > connectors > that plug into the card, so no wear and tear on the card itself. Yeah, I like that too. All the best, -Mercury