Echo Indigo IO Stereo 24/96 Laptop Cardbus

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Supports true 24-bit, 96 kHz audio. 1/8 in. analog input & output. High quality headphone amp. Analog volume control knob for output.

Notebook pro audio recording has never sounded so good, or been this convenient and affordable. Indigo IO offers one stereo 1/8 in. analog input and output on a Type II Cardbus card powered by your notebook computer. It combines this with 24-bit/96kHz converters for the quality you deserve. Also included is a 6 ft. audio cable for RCA or 1/4 in. connections.

A unique feature of the Indigo IO is the use of "virtual" outputs. Indigo IO appears to software as if it has eight separate outputs, which are digitally mixed down to the physical outputs using Indigo IO's "console" software and its on-board DSP. This makes Indigo IO compatible with all popular multi-track software. And, with Echo's "multi-client" drivers, more than one application (such as an editor and a software synth) can be playing back through Indigo IO at the same time.

Hardware Features
1 stereo 1/8 in. analog input

1 stereo 1/8 in. analog output

Supports full duplex 2 channel in, 2 channel out operation

High quality headphone amp

Analog volume control knob for output

Supports true 24 bit, 96 kHz audio

100 MHz 24 bit Motorola DSP

Powered by your notebook computer

Includes 6 foot adapter cable for RCA and 1/4 in. connections

Type II Cardbus slot required

Software Features
Software console for monitoring, metering, and setting levels

Built-in digital mixer provides near-zero latency monitoring

Supports Windows Me/2000/XP/Vista and Macintosh OS X

Supports pro audio software (WDM Kernel Streaming, read more ASIO, GSIF, and CoreAudio)

8 "Virtual Outputs" - run multiple applications at the same time
Low-latency drivers
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Analog Input
1 stereo 1/8 in. connector
Frequency Response: 10Hz-20kHz
Dynamic Range: >109dB A-weighted
THD+n at -3dbfs, 1kHz sine wave: <0.0014% A-weighted
Crosstalk at -3dbfs, 1kHz sine wave: <0.0005% A-weighted
Nominal Input Level: -10dBV
Maximum Input level: +7.2 dBu
Input Impedance: 10KOhm

Analog Output
1 stereo 1/8 in. connector
Frequency Response: 10Hz-20kHz
Dynamic Range: >109dB A-weighted
THD+n at -3dbfs, 1kHz sine wave: <0.0013% A-weighted
Nominal Output Level: -10dBV
Maximum Output level: +6.3 dBu

General Converter Specs
128x Oversampling converters
24 bit data resolution maintained throughout signal path
Multiple sampling rates supported: 32k, 44.1k, 48k, 88.2k, 96k

General
On-board 24-bit Motorola DSP for mixing and monitoring
Headphone amp with volume control

Host Interface
Bus mastering CardBus host interface

System Requirements
PC:
Windows 2000, XP, Win x64, Vista

Mac:
Mac OS X

For support or warranty questions, please contact the manufacturer:
Phone: 805-684-4593

Reviewers gave this product an overall rating of 4.5 out of 5 stars. (52 ratings)
Submitted July 6, 2006 by a customer from aol.com

"Good enough for acoustics research"

Overall: 4.5 out of 5 stars
(see rating details)
Verified Customer zZounds has verified that this reviewer made a purchase from us.
This review has been selected by our experts as particularly helpful.
Perfect device, only slight drawback is lack of an input level control. However, at this price point the necessary electronics to do that might compromise the accuracy, so it's understandable.

Sound
I'm a university scientist, do acoustics research for a living. I use this card to record tire noise in a moving vehicle, in order to design quieter roads. The Indigo is the last link between $50,000 of research quality recording gear (bolted to the vehicle wheel) and a laptop used for recording. What is required for this use is nothing more or less than complete accuracy - delivered reliably by the Echo Indigo. The 24 bit recording depth lets us concentrate on driving the vehicle and operating the analysis gear, without worrying about lost precision due to low recording levels. The quality of this device stands up to the $8,000 Larson Davis analyzer it's connected to.

Features
Features are minimal, which is fine. Stereo in, stereo out, with the out capable of driving small headphones or earbuds, which we use to monitor the pavement noise we're recording. Small and simple is GOOD. I do wish it had an input level control, as it relies on Windows to control the recording gain.

Ease of Use
Simple makes it easy. It interfaces seamlessly with Adobe Audition, which we use for recording software. As mentioned above, it would be nice if it had a level control for recording. read more

Quality
Solid, holds up to use in the field and getting tossed roughly in a bag between runs. Small protrusion from the laptop makes it less likely to catch on anything or do damage to the PMCIA port on the laptop if it does.

Value
We use $9,000 sound meters, $10,000 sound intensity probes, and a $8,000 analyzer. Money is not an object, precision and accuracy are. This inexpensive device "hangs" with the other, incredibly expensive gear.

Manufacturer Support
Someone else already said it: the best support is NONE NEEDED. This has that.

The Wow Factor
Simple, accurate, reliable, small, inexpensive. What's not to want?

Musical Background:
Professional researcher, musician.
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