Hello David,
In answer also to your email to us on this:
I have 6 Klipsch RP280F speakers I would like to use in an instrument I am planning: 4 manuals with the full surround Laurenskirk sampleset. I have not yet bought a soundcard for my PC (running Windows 10 Pro) with 64G Ram. I am lost. Can someone recommend a soundcard (and amplifier, although I am prepared to use the two Pioneer 5.1 HTPs that I have) that is at least the quality of the MAudiophile 1010LT, and hopefullly just as easy to use? It is, obviously, imperative that the card support the Windows10 OS. Thank you.
We have some general guidance on types/makes of audio interfaces hardware in these documents (linked to from the 'Support | Prerequisites' part of the website):
https://www.hauptwerk.com/clientuploads/documentation/PDF/HauptwerkBackgroundTechnicalInfoOnComputerHardware.pdfhttps://www.hauptwerk.com/clientuploads/documentation/PDF/HauptwerkPrerequisites.pdfWe can only really provide meaningful advice based on hardware that we've actually used and tested here (and to some extent on feedback on, and issues with, audio interfaces that we hear from Hauptwerk users). Since there's a lot of hardware available, and it changes frequently, we can't realistically buy much of it, so Hauptwerk users might be in a better position to pass on their recommendations/experiences than we are.
However, the audio interfaces that we currently use are from RME (Fireface UFX in my case, Fireface 800 in Brett's case), and we'd have no hesitation at all in recommending RME's products for quality of drivers, hardware, and support. They're aimed mainly at the fully professional recording/studio/media market, so they aren't the cheapest and their control software might not be the most intuitive for non-technical people, but for Hauptwerk purposes you wouldn't normally need to access their control software anyway. Certainly my Fireface UFX works very well on Windows 10.
Some of RME's models that might be worth considering for the number of output channels that you're currently using:
- Fireface UCX (FireWire + USB 2.0, with 8 analogue output channels):
http://www.rme-audio.de/en/products/fireface_ucx.php and
http://www.soundonsound.com/reviews/rme-fireface-ucx- Babyface Pro (USB 2.0, would need to used in combination with an additional 8-channel ADAT DAC to give a total of 12 analogue output channels):
http://www.rme-audio.de/en/products/babyface_pro.php and
http://www.soundonsound.com/reviews/rme-babyface-proPersonally, for up to 8 outputs, I think I would go with the UCX, given that it has both FireWire and USB and 8 output channels (without requiring additional hardware).
At a lower price-point, M-Audio models continue to be popular with Hauptwerk users, and we rarely seem to get problems reported with their drivers, so their current range might be worth looking at too, if the RME ones cost more than you'd want to spend:
http://www.m-audio.com/products/browse/category/usb-audio-and-midi-interfaces . (I don't have any of their current models myself, although I've used various older ones which all seem to have worked well, with reliable drivers, where available. Even my old M-Audio FireWire 410 still works perfectly on Windows 10, even though M-Audio don't officially support it.)
For amplifiers/speakers, in general we usually recommend good-quality 'active' (meaning self-amplified) studio monitors (but other types of good-quality full-range speakers/amplifiers could potentially be fine too). Your local large musical equipment shop, might be a good place to see and hear different models, and lots of discussions/recommendations from Hauptwerk users can be found via the 'Amplification' section of our forum. (We actually mainly use headphones ourselves, so we're not in the best positions to advise on specific makes/models of speakers/amplifiers.)
Sound of Sound magazine is an excellent source of thorough reviews for studio monitors and audio interfaces (and other studio/audio/MIDI equipment):
http://www.soundonsound.com/reviews/hardware/monitorshttp://www.soundonsound.com/reviews/hardware/audio-interface
Best regards, Martin.
Hauptwerk software designer/developer, Milan Digital Audio.