Creative raises the bar for pro-level audio production at consumer-level prices with its Professional E-MU PCI Digital Audio Systems, three varieties of break-out box and PCI card stoked with powerful audio effects processors, leaving your CPU free to do more productive tasks. Serious (but not rich) audio producers will like the sophisticated A/D (analog-to-digital) converters in these units, the same ones that are used in Digidesign's Pro Tools HD system, the standard of the audio production industry.

All three of these card and break-out box configurations offer quarter-inch balanced inputs, those XLR connectors favored by pro audio mavens. The higher-end E-MU 1616M PCI ($450) and 1616 PCI ($350) include two E-MU XTC Mic/Line/Hi-Z preamps with soft limiter and 48V phantom power, better to use pro-grade microphones and instrument inputs. Those units also include a turntable input with a preamp, and both have four balanced inputs along with six balanced outputs. The lower-priced 1212M PCI ($150) has just two balanced outputs and doesn't include that fancy preamp setup. All will be available next month. Full spec list after the jump. – Charlie White

E-MU 1616M PCI and 1616 PCI I/O Configuration:
Two E-MU XTC Mic/Line/Hi-Z preamps with soft limiter and 48V phantom power
Four 1/4" Balanced Inputs
Six 1/4" Balanced Outputs
Turntable input (with ground lug and hardware RIAA preamp)
24-bit/192kHz ADAT In/Out (switchable to S/PDIF)
24-bit/192kHz Coaxial S/PDIF In/Out (switchable to AES/EBU)
Two sets of MIDI In/Out on breakout cable
Three stereo 1/8" Speaker Outputs (configurable from stereo to 5.1)
One stereo Headphone Output

E-MU 1212M PCI I/O Configuration:
Two 1/4" Balanced Inputs
Two 1/4" Balanced Outputs
24-bit/192kHz ADAT In/Out (switchable to S/PDIF)
24-bit/192kHz S/PDIF In/Out (switchable to AES/EBU)
MIDI In/Out

Creative Professional E-MU PCI Digital Audio Systems [Newlaunches]

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