🚀 go-pugleaf

In article <wfFC_ma00XQU4gkU94@andrew.cmu.edu> wipeout+@CMU.EDU (Sean Michael Goller) writes:
>I'm considering purchasing a Pro Audio Spectrum 16 sound card and I've
>got a couple of questions.
>
>
>It's got a SCSI interface on it for connecting a CD-ROM drive. Is this
>connection external, internal or does it have both? Can other SCSI
>devices be connected to this as well? Could someone who has had
>experience with this comment on it?
>
>Also, are there any other TRUE 16-bit sound cards out there ith CD-ROM?
>I've seen the Soundblaster pro with its "proprietary" interface (really
>great selling point. NOT) but as far as I can tell it's just two
>Soundblasters stuck together, and still 8-bit.
>
>Any information would be much appreciated. 
>
>Thanks,
>    Sean.
>wipeout+@cmu.edu



You should visit the pc.soundcard newsgroup.

The SB16 is just released.  Apparently it still has the proprietary cd-rom
port. Since the Panasonic cd-roms seem fine, it is a pretty good deal in the
bundles.

The Gravis Ultrasound is scheduled to have 16-bit sampling and SCSI support,
both as future add-ons.

I believe the DAK/BSR card has similar options.

As far as I know, the PAS16 is about the only 16bit record-play card that has
a true SCSI port.  I am told by others that they connect both cdrom and SCSI
harddrives to the port.  But to do that you much buy a driver.

And you must also buy the SCSI kit from Mediavision.  The connector on the
card is apparently not ready to connect to anything.  So they sell you
special cables and a software driver.  $40 for an internal drive and $80 for
external (comes with a bracket to hold the external socket, along with the
audio connectors -- but uses up an additional card slot that must be next to
the PAS card).  Advice: if you are interested in the PAS card, look into the
bundles including the cdrom drive.

Bit disadvantage of the PAS card is that it has that crummy Yamaha FM synth
chip.  I have the PAS+ and a Roland LAPC-1.  I have the mixer volume (I like
the mixer on the PAS) turned all the way down on the PAS (Yamaha) synth.
The Roland has much better sound.  As far as I know, the Yamaha chips provide
the worse sound of all soundcards, but are the most widely used.  They must
give them away.  If all you want are the 16 bit DAC/ADCs on the card, the PAS
is a good choice.  If you have any interest in music (or games), other cards
(especially Roland) are better.  Or you can get them both, since they coexist
well.

Cheers,

Dave