DSP2000 C-Port

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The DSP2000 C-Port system is a high quality 24bit/96kHz multi-channel recording package representing the latest technological advances in digital recording for the home/studio PC. The unit ships as a complete audio/MIDI, hardware/software solution in one package. The system delivers outstanding performance never seen before at such an affordable price.

The DSP2000 C-Port system is no longer available and has been replaced by the ESI ESP1010.

The package comprises of an ultra high quality 24bit/96kHz PCI host card (DSP24), the XG-DB I digital expansion daughter board bracket, the ADC&DAC2000 external converter unit (19 inch standard format), and a powerful recording software application developed by Emagic (Logic SoundTrack 24).

By housing all converters externally in the full size rackmountable chassis, your recordings are captured with absolute pristine transparency. Full 24bit/96kHz bandwidth with full duplex operation is available over 10 simultaneous inputs and outputs.

The kit comes packed with all the I/O options you need right out of the box - eight analog inputs, eight analog outputs, two optical & coaxial S/PDIF + AES/EBU I/O channels all at 24bit resolution. It also comes with a one in - two out (32 channels) - MIDI interface and a headphone output with separate volume control. Two of the eight analog inputs on the ADC&DAC2000 include XLR balanced connectors and feature independant quality microphone pre-amplifiers with gain controls and switchable phantom power. This eliminates the need to incorporate a separate mixer in many situations. You can plug in an instrument or microphone, set the gain levels and start recording immediately! This makes the package a completely self-contained, fully featured hardware interface for all aspects of home studio recording. With the included Logic SoundTrack 24 software package from Emagic, this solution is the perfect place to begin building your studio.

Because the DSP24 with ADC&DAC2000 is an integrated system featuring both hardware and software, there is no need for concern over compatibility issues. Everything has been designed and tested as a complete solution.

Excellent driver support is available including Windows 9x/Me, 2000/XP, ASIO 2.0 and multiclient-GSIF. The included ASIO 2.0 drivers of the DSP24 card support 2ms latency at 96kHz and 5ms at 44.1kHz with recomended buffer sizes (or even lower values under Windows 2000/XP on fast systems). This means for users of modern software synthesizers (such as GigaStudio or VST-/DXi-Plugins) that you can play your sounds now in realtime, even using realtime effects (like DirectX- or VST-plugins).

The DSP24 card is of course compatible with all today's latest applications including Logic Audio, Cubase VST, Cubase SX, Nuendo, Cakewalk SONAR, Samplitude, Cool Edit, Acid, Vegas, etc. - It's very simple to install and use and makes a great choice for you to build a home studio around.

The main PCI host card (DSP24) can be connected to multiple external interface boxes simultaneously allowing other options for ADC & DAC conversion, ADAT & T/DIF connections, or multiple input digital connectivity. In addition to all this flexability, up to three additional DSP24 PCI host cards (4 in total) can be installed in the same system! This allows for an amazing 40 channel I/O!

As you can see, unlike other systems, this package is extremely flexible and can expand to meet the needs of your future requirements.

Specifications

Features: 10 x 10 24-bit/96kHz 100% Full-Duplex recording path support 2 x balanced (XLR) inputs with built in pre-amps (-24dB to +50dB) & switchable phantom power (48V) 2 x balanced (XLR) outputs 8 x 1/4" unbalanced inputs 8 x 1/4" unbalanced outputs coaxial and optical & AES/EBU I/O connections as standard stereo headphone output with volume control (1/4" connector) 2 x 16 channel (32 channels) MIDI interface ports provided (2 outputs, 1 input) peak LED for channel 1&2 up to four PCI cards can be sample accurate sync linked (40 channel I/O) internal or external sync supported (external can be set via the S/PDIF input) 44pin H-BUS interface connector available 22kHz~99kHz frequency rates supported direct monitoring for input signals (zero latency, by hardware) internal mixing, routing and monitoring software provided Logic Soundtrack 24 (24bit/96kHz powerful recording software from Emagic) drivers for Windows 9x/Me/NT/2000/XP, ASIO 2.0 (typical latency can be lowered to 2ms or lower), multiclient-GSIF (GigaSampler/-Studio) Controller Chip & Converters: ADC&DAC2000 external rack uses AKM AK4524 ADC/DAC (24bit/96kHz, 100dB S/N ratio a-weighted) converters on all stereo inputs and outputs DSP24 host card uses the IC Ensemble Envy24 I/O controller chip (ICE1712) DSP24 internal I/O for standard windows system sounds (mini-jacks on card) uses SigmaTel STAC97xx 18bit AC-97 Codec (ADC & DAC) 95dB output S/N ratio (a-weighted) Download the complete manual: DSP2000.PDF (2.6MB)

Additional Options

ADC III, 8ch (24bit/96kHz ADC, rackmountable, 8ch XLR balanced analog inputs, 8 mic-preamps, phantom power, S/PDIF 8ch outputs, 120dB dynamic range) DAC III, 8ch (24bit/96kHz DAC, rackmountable, 8ch XLR balanced analog outputs) DM III, 8ch (8kHz ~ 100KHz 24bit/120dB modulation, 4 S/PDIF and AES/EBU inputs, rackmountable) DS2000 (ADAT- & TDIF-I/O interface, rackmountable) optional 5m H-BUS cable (44pin D-SUB to 44pin D-SUB) to replace the default 2m cable

Reviews

The well known Electronic Musician magazine has published the first ST Audio DSP2000 C-Port review in a US print magazine (june 2002): "The C-Port is certainly one of the best digital-audio interface values today." / "Sound quality is superb: quiet, with clear highs and quick transients (...) " / "I wouldn't be surprised to see this product quickly become one of the most popular audio systems in the Windows music world." - you can read the complete article here. The unit received 4.5 out of 5 points in the final result. The german c't magazine writes about our DSP2000 C-Port system in their issue 11/2002: "With a Signal-to-Noise-Ratio of -110dB and a dynamic range of -99.6dB, the combination of the DSP24 and the ADC&DAC2000 is the leader in these areas." In early 2001, Shannon O'neil reviewed the ST Audio DSP2000 C-Port in the australian Next Music magazine: "The C-Port is by far the best value for money sound card I've yet seen. " / "I'm so impressed with C-Port that I'm planning to buy one." - you can check the text here. The unit was rated with 95% (Overall Rating). In july 2001, the british Sound On Sound magazine (John Walden) reviewed the ST Audio DSP2000 C-Port: "There is no doubt that Hoontech's Soundtrack Audio DSP 24 and ADC/DAC2000 system provides a very flexible range of I/O configurations. The drivers appear to be very suitable for use with software synths and samplers." The international online magazine pcrecording.com has tested the ST Audio DSP2000 C-Port: "Hoontech has put together a winning combination with the AudioDSP24 and the ADC/DAC 2000" - you can read the complete article here. Please note that a new revised manual is available in the meantime (check the PDF-file on the download page) - also the knobs used for tightening the D-SUB cable connectors have been improved. The DSP2000 C-Port was rated as best card in the test (soundcards over 300 DM) in issue 10 / 2001 of germany largest and most popular computer two-weekly magazine ComputerBILD. The huge number of special features of the products outweighted all other cards in the test. The german magazine KEYBOARDS has tested the DSP2000 C-Port in their issue 07/2000 with very good results: "Hoontech's SoundTrack Audio DSP 2000 is a very uncomplicated card with simple routing and stable software." The Dutch magazine Interface did test the DSP2000 C-Port system in their issue 46 (oct / nov 2000). Especially the soundquality but also the very stable drivers and the microphone preamps have been rated as big plus by the editor. The german magazine PC Direkt rated the DSP2000 C-Port system as very good (issue 04/2000) - giving it it the highest score of all recording cards in the test! They especially liked the high flexibility of the system.