E-MU 0404 USB 2.0 Reviews

[brandondrury]

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E-MU 0404 USB 2.0 Description
E-MU audio quality is now portable and Mac compatible with USB 2.0!

E-Mu took their renowned 0404 PCI interface and put it into a USB 2.0 compatible audio and MIDI computer interface. The combination of premium 24-bit/192kHz digital audio converters, musical XTC mic/line/hi-Z preamps, and ultra low jitter clock deliver an extremely clean sounding and stable computer recording system.

The E-Mu 0404 interface offers true cross-platform support for Windows XP (standard or 64-bit) and Mac OS X, as well as compatibility with most popular audio recording and sequencer applications. The low-noise, Class-A XTC preamplifiers provide 48V phantom power and ground lift switches enabling you to plug microphones, keyboards, and guitars straight into the 0404. An analog soft-limiting circuit lets you record a hotter signal without fear of clipping. You also get optical and coaxial S/PDIF (switchable to AES/EBU) and MIDI I/O to easily connect digital studio gear and MIDI instruments or modules. Low latency USB 2.0 drivers offer accurate timing and playback of your recorded audio and software instruments. You also get zero-latency hardware monitoring and the Production Tools Software Bundle which includes music software to create, record, edit, and master your audio compositions.

[nevso]

Where available in Australia?

[Svencanz]

Quality: 9
This is a great little machine. Worked straight away, and I only upgraded because I needed more inputs for some live work and jamming.
As expected, a USB interface will cost a little on your CPU; and some heavy Reason songs that only just made it before now got the dreaded "computer too slow" message - but that was expected. (Used internal Realtek prior to the EMU); I also really enjoyed the Cubase LE and other bits, including Amplitube LE that came with this. Got into playing guitar and bass again on this little machine. Have sold it to a FRIEND. Which means I rate the EMU highly.

Reliability: 9
Worked all the time during the 14 months I used daily.

Overall Rating: 9
Although I have sold mine, I will actually still use it. On lighter gigs we will travel with a laptop and the EMU.
If it were stolen, I could see no reason to get a different type of product in this range. We would replace it.

[Geoff_Vane]

I have the Emu 0404 myself and I am not completely happy with it.

Features:
You have zero latency monitoring. This is it's main value along with the low noise AD and DA converters. It does work very well with powerfull computers. My 2008 PC dual core notebook, has some stutters when playing or recording but most of the time the stutter is not in the recorded file, it's just a playback problem. However, use a powerfull PC! It helps a lot. XLR in is nice to have, even the line jacks are balanced if you want to. S/PDIF is there but I have not used it yet. It seems S/PDIF out is not always available! Phantom power, which works. Has MIDI in and out but never tested it yet. The guitar input is crap! This is no real Hi-Z input! It should be done with a switch because you really need to change the impedance of the input for guitars. Emu claims it can be done with the stageless potmeters and it seems the 0404 tries to "measure" the input device and react accordingly. Just forget it. No high frequencies... You have sample frequencies up to 192kHz but not with Mac and S/PDIF also stops at 96kHz. This does not matter, it's over the top. For normal music stuff I use 48kHz at 24 bit. You can go to 32 bit. You can't do field recordings because it needs EXTERNAL 5 volt power. You could make a battery thing, but that won't last long because I feel a bit of heat which means quite some power use.

Quality:
I love-hate it. As said the converters and inputs are very high quality without any noise. If you hear noise, it's your gear. The adjustment of the recordings however, is very problematic. The knobs are too rough and the inputs too sensitive for DISTORTION. It is unbelievably difficult to prevent distortion. The LED meters are far too rough, use your PC. I'm a very precise person, so don't think it's me. The guitar option is total crap. No real Hi-Z The housing is made of flimsy plastic with flimsy knobs, but if you do not let your childeren operate it, it will last. The soft clipping option does NOT work. It's creates instant Jimi Hendrix distortion. I don't understand how it's design could have left the lab like this. The little knobs to lift ground level are also b*llsh*t. When I had a groundloop noise, those switches just turned the sound into maximum power 60Hz hum. I almost think it changed the sound of my guitar pickups a bit, after I tried the ground level lift.

Value:
200 euro is too much regarding the flaws it has. It would be worth 400 euro's if the distortion and the guitarport were fixed! And I would have payed for that!

Desirability:
I had a good nerdy appeal to it, but it does not completely do what is says. It's a photo model with false teeth and a wig.

Sound:
This device records in a scientific way. There is no coloring to the sound. Most devices sound a lot ****er than the Emu 0404, so don't be surprised by that. It's not a bad thing to have a raw recording without any character. You do have to **** it up yourself if you like such sounds. Almost no noise, I never found devices without such a low noise level. The sound is fantastic with mikes, but the device is EXTREMELY difficult to adjust when you want to prevent distortion. Especially with line and guitar recording. The potmeters are connected to electronics that mess with the value. Over a certain point, amplification is boosted beyond control, no matter how carefull you turn the knobs. Good headphone port quality. Never heard clearer playback of recordings, and I work at a TV station where they use pro stuff.

Ease of Use:
You must know a thing or two about the system menu of your PC configuration screen and how to adjust sound cards. If not, you'll need a nerd. The software is outdated but still very useable. Cubase LE works fine but you really need to read a lot about it. Wake the card up in the VST section and connect it to channels on the timeline or mixer. It took me one day to find that out but I'm no musician at all. The Amplitube software did not work but they gave me a free new product which works fine. It's not that great but good enough for what I payed for the entire set. I never tested the other software, that comes with it. Proteus looks like something nice but it's only a guess.

Support:
The support reacts within the day but they really can't do anything about the stupid design flaws anymore ofcourse. The design is done.

Overall:
I start to believe there is no ultimate USB audio device. All others have loads of noise and considerably worse microphone inputs. The Emu is the only one without these sound problems and it is the only one with zero latency. Tascam has no zero latency and clicks with guitars, Line6 devices have bad mike inputs, Edirol stutters all the time etc. etc. I'll have to live with the impossible recordlevel knobs and I'll have to build or buy a decent guitar input, with real impedance adjustment. I tried the thing before I bought it, but childish enthousiasm clouded my judgement.

[leckielou]

Hi all
This discussion is interesting. I need help please: I have been recommended this product. I am a solo singer and have downloaded all my music into my new laptop ASUS K400 series. I connected to my sound system which I use for my gigs and the sound was KRAP! I then connected to my home computer and the sound is great. So it has to be the sound card in e lappy.

So a techie tells me I need an external sound card and recommeds this product. I am not plugging guitars or anything else into it except the laptop which has my music in an external HD (my mic is into my sound system).
Is THIS the product I need? I know nothing, so help is appreciated.
I HAVE to have excellent quality music coming out my speakers
Looking forward to hearing from the experts!
Alexis

[Geoff_Vane]

Leckielou,

It is very difficult to have a good external audio interface for a laptop. The laptop itself, is the weakest link.

Most laptops do not have a powerful chipset for the connectors. So, most USB and Firewire ports are not as good as on a big desktop computer. There is a big risk that you can not record very well. Playback is not such a problem.

The playback of a EMU 0404 is very good on a laptop. The recording is not always good. You can hear ticks and hicks in the recording. Furthermore, the EMU 0404 distorts very easily, which is not good. It is very, very difficult to regulate the recording volume. That has nothing to do with the computer, but with the EMU 0404.

Some people can fix the bad ports in the laptop by buying a small extra Firewire port for their laptop from Texas Instruments. It is not expensive, but there is no guarantee, you must try it with the interface you want. If you must record yourself: Personally, I would buy an extra pcmia fire wire card and the Focusrite Saffire LE, just based on reviews, if you have a low budget ($300). If you have a high budget, I would buy the Apogee Ensemble ($2000).

So, some devices work best with Texas Instruments chipsets, other with LSI chipsets. You must research a little. For playback only, you don't need an extra pcmia card and the EMU 0404 wil do fine.

[leckielou]

Thanks Geoff
I am not recording, it is purely to play my songs on the laptop and have the sound come out my speakers for my gigs.
I have gone ahead and bought the 0404 after your input.
Let's hope it does what I need it to do....and that is - give great sound like my home computer does when connected to my sound system.

I will be waiting delivery with bated breath!
Regards Alexis

[newkid]

this is the way specs should be

why should we hve to buy the pokeypig instead of knowing what we get for our money


[enmu 0404 usb2 specs]

White Limited Edition Model
A fresh updated look to one of the most popular USB audio interfaces being sold on the market today. The new White “Limited Edition” 0404 USB 2.0 Audio/MIDI Interface for Mac and PC delivers the same great performance and spec’s as Emu's classic Gray 0404 USB unit along with a new updated Vista-compatible software bundle.

Features:
Premium 24-bit/192kHz A/D and D/A converters (A/D: 113dB SNR, D/A: 117dB SNR) deliver unmatched USB audio fidelity

E-MU XTC Class-A ultra-low noise Mic/Line/Hi-Z preamplifiers (-127dB EIN) with 48V phantom power and ground lift switches enable you to plug microphones, keyboards and guitars straight into your computer with professional results, while the built-in analog soft limiting circuit lets you record a hotter signal without fear of clipping

Comprehensive digital I/O with optical and coaxial S/PDIF (switchable to AES/EBU) and MIDI In/Out to easily connect all of your digital studio gear and instruments

Ultra-low latency Windows XP and x64 USB 2.0 drivers offer accurate timing and playback of your recorded audio and software instruments

Hardware zero-latency direct monitoring (mono/stereo) allows you to record and overdub with no annoying delay

Plug-and-play operation with hands-on control of all major functions like master level, direct monitoring, preamplifier controls and more

Compatibility with most popular audio/sequencer applications (ASIO2, WDM, MME - AC3 and DTS Passthru supported)

* Mac OS X drivers available right now

I/O Configuration:
2 E-MU XTC Ultra-low Noise Mic/Line/Hi-Z Preamps with Soft Limiter and 48V Phantom Power (-127dBu EIN)

2 x 1/4 in. Balanced Outputs (117dB SNR)
Stereo 1/8 in. Speaker Output (117dB SNR)

24-bit/96kHz S/PDIF Optical In/Out (Switchable to AES/EBU)

24-bit/96kHz S/PDIF Coaxial In/Out (Switchable to AES/EBU)

MIDI Input/Output

Stereo Headphone Output (114dB SNR)
Technical Description

Minimum System Requirements
Intel or AMD processor -- 1.2 GHz or faster

Intel, AMD or 100% compatible motherboard & chipset

Microsoft Windows XP (SP 2 or greater) or Windows XP x64

1 available (Hi-speed) USB 2.0 port*

256MB System RAM

900MB of free hard disk space for full installation

CD-ROM/CD-RW or DVD-ROM drive required for software installation

XVGA Video (1024 X 768)

* When using a USB 1.1 port, performance will be limited to 16-bit and 44.1/48kHz recording and playback

General
Sample Rates: 44.1, 48, 88.2, 96, 176.4, 192kHz from internal crystal (no sample rate conversion)

Bit Depth: 24-bit I/O, 32-bit processing

USB 2.0 Hi-Speed
- Full 24-bit resolution at all sample rates- 4in/4 out channels from 44.1-96kHz
- 2 in/2 out channels from 176.4-192kHz

Zero-latency direct hardware monitoring (disabled at 176.4-192kHz)

ASIO2, WDM, MME - AC3 and DTS Passthru supported

Anti-Pop speaker protection minimizes noise during power on/off

Ultra-low jitter clock subsystem: < 500ps RMS in PLL mode (48kHz, Coaxial S/PDIF Sync)

Combo Microphone Preamplifier/Hi-Z/Line Inputs (2)
Type: E-MU XTC combo mic preamplifier and Hi-Z/line input w/ Soft Limiter

A/D converter: AK5385A

Gain Range: +60dB

Frequency Response (min gain, 20Hz-20kHz): +0.0/-0.16dB

Stereo Crosstalk (1kHz min gain, -1dBFS): < -110dB

Hi-Z Line Input:
- Input Impedance: 1Mohm
- Max Level: +12dBV (14.2dBu)
- Dynamic Range (A-weighted, 1kHz, min gain): 113dB
- Signal-to-Noise Ratio (A-weighted, min gain): 113dB- THD+N (1kHz at -1dBFS, min gain): -101dB (.0009%)

Microphone Preamplifier:
- Input Impedance: 1.5Kohms
- Max Level: +6dBV (+8.2dBu)
- EIN (20Hz-20kHz, 150ohm, unweighted): -127dBu- Signal-to-Noise Ratio (A-weighted, min gain): 112.5dB
- THD+N (1kHz at -1dBFS, min gain): -101dB (.0009%)
- Phantom Power: 48V
- Soft Limiter: 5dB max compression (software selectable)

Analog Line Outputs (2)
Type: balanced, AC-coupled, 2-pole low-pass differential filter

D/A converter: AK4396

Level (auto detect):
- Professional: +12dBV max (balanced)
- Consumer: +6dBV max (unbalanced)

Frequency Response (20Hz - 20kHz): 0.06/-.035dB

Dynamic Range (1kHz, A-weighted): 117dB

Signal-to-Noise Ratio (A-weighted): 117dB

THD+N (1kHz at -1dBFS): -100dB (.001%)

Stereo Crosstalk (1kHz at -1dBFS): < -114.5dB

Headphone Amplifier
Type: Class-A power amplifier

D/A converter: AK4396 (shared with Line Out)

Gain Range: 60dB

Maximum Output Power: 20mW

Output impedance: 22ohms

Frequency Response (20Hz-20kHz): +0.06/-0.035dB

Dynamic Range (A-weighted): 114dB

Signal-to-Noise Ratio (A-weighted): 114dB

THD+N (1kHz, max gain): 600ohm load: -95.5dB (.0018%)

Stereo Crosstalk (1kHz at -1dBFS, 600 ohm load): < -85dB

Digital I/O
S/PDIF:
- 2 in/2 out coaxial (transformer coupled)
- 2 in/2 out optical
- AES/EBU or S/PDIF format (software selectable)

MIDI
- 1 in, 1 out

Synchronization
Internal crystal sync at 44.1, 48, 88.2, 96, 176.4, 192kHz

External sample rate sync via
- Optical S/PDIF (44.1 - 96kHz)
- Coaxial S/PDIF (44.1 - 96kHz)

Retail Box Contents
E-MU 0404 USB 2.0 AudioPod

USB cable

Universal power adaptor

Quick Start installation guide

E-MU Software/Manual CD-ROM
- Windows XP and x64 Drivers
- Owner's Manual and Tutorials

E-MU Production Tools Software Bundle CD-ROM
- Cakewalk SONAR LE
- Steinberg Cubase LE
- Ableton Live Lite 4 for E-MU
- Steinberg Wavelab Lite
- IK Multimedia AmpliTube LE
- SFX Machine LT
- Minnetonka diskWelder BRONZE (trial)
- E-MU Proteus® VX (over 1000 sounds included)

Cross-platform support (Windows XP/x64 and Mac OS X) and compatibility with most popular audio/sequencer applications (Windows: ASIO2, WDM, MME, AC-3 and DTS Passthru; Macintosh: Apple CoreAudio, CoreMIDI, AC-3 and DTS Passthru)

[leckielou]

Thanks newkid
It is all "greek" to me, but it looks very impressive.

[newkid]

Originally Posted by leckielou

Thanks newkid
It is all "greek" to me, but it looks very impressive.

Just the basic facts so you know what you are buying.

Compare with UA25ex. Very similar but has some 1/4 and rca connectors, but the quality specs are not as good. But it has a limiter and knob on the box which is a big plus.

Nothiing is perfect.
But if you dont know what you are getting they will give you what you got and you may not be happy with that.