
Inside
the magazine
Self-help message board
Article reprints
How to contact us
Web links directory
Software downloads
Tips and advice
Fire-wire campaign
Subscribe today
Help Me, I'm new!
Fair pricing petition
Home

In
Software Downloads:
Magix Video Deluxe Plus
Vegas 4.0
Tips
and Advice:
How to get started with
computer video editing
Fire-wire
Campaign:
Join our ongoing campaign
|
Terratec Aureon
7.1
With
interest in surround-sound increasing, a suitable multi-channel audio
device is becoming an essential PC add-on for creating DVD Video discs.
We put one of the latest breed of FireWire-based units to the test
With the rise and
rise of DVD authoring, surround-sound hardware is quickly becoming a
routine part of desktop video editing. Multi-channel PCI sound cards
have been around for a considerable while but, for ease of use and the
ability to move between a desktop and mobile laptop solution, an external
audio interface can have considerable advantages.
Many video editors are used to, and confident in, the reliability of
the IEEE 1394a FireWire standard. As multi-channel FireWire-based units
are becoming more widely available, we thought it was about time to
look at an example, and alighted on Terratec Aureon 7.1 FireWire package.
So how good is this mid-priced arrangement for surround-sound monitoring
within a desktop video editing setup?
Conclusion
It is certainly possible to get multi-channel output at a lower
price point than the Aureon, particularly in PCI and USB formats. While
the Terratec worked very much as advertised, it does face some serious
FireWire competition. Top of our alternatives-list would be M-Audio's
410 FireWire. Musicians, in particular, might feel that the 410 is a
more appropriate solution for their needs, as it not only provides all
the required multi-channel output for surround but also features four-channel
recording, Midi in/out and phantom power - at a street price of around
£290.
This said, multi-channel audio via FireWire certainly inspires us with
more confidence than some USB-based multi-channel audio devices. Throughout
our testing, Terratec's Aureon performed well. It doesn't go out at
a bargain price but, as an external multi-channel interface for a surround-sound
monitoring system (either on the desktop or on a laptop), the Terratec
Aureon is a functional solution that does its job with minimum of fuss.
John Walden
|
Recent features...
View
The Archive
Reviewed in this issue:
Elgato
EyeHome
Boris Continuum Complete 3.01
Snazzi DV.AVIO
Terratec Aureon 7.1
Sony Sound Forge 7 v Steinberg Wavelab 5
In November's news:
Ultra-slim
Apple G5 iMacs
Casablanca uses MainConcept
Sony TRV950 replacement
Apple Production Suite
Hitachi 400GByte HDD
MainConcept HD DVD encoder
Networkable Panasonic DVD recorder
Software assistance for DV filmmakers
Roxio sells software arm to Sonic
Miglia FireWire800 storage
|