m-audio audiophile 2496 (2000)

[chrisNova777]

https://web.archive.org/web/20030814042556fw_/http://www.midiman.de:80/deltaap.htm
https://web.archive.org/web/20050122061630/http://m-audio.fr/images/en/manuals/Audiophile2496_Manual.pdf



*the above card is a 5v pci card (notice only one notch instead of 2 in the pci connectors, which would indicate 3.3v compatibility

http://www.m-audio.ca/products/view/audiophile-2496
http://www.soundonsound.com/sos/apr01/articles/soundcard.asp
https://web.archive.org/web/20150620234540/http://www.soundonsound.com/sos/apr01/articles/soundcard.asp

System Requirements:

PC
Windows 95, 98, ME, 2000 or NT4
Pentium II 266MHz - (96kHz operation)
>
Pentium 200 MMX - (48kHz or less)
128 MB of PC100 RAM - (96kHz operation)
64 MB of SDRAM - (48kHz or less)
UDMA EIDE or SCSI HDD

MAC
G4, G3 or G3 accelerator
System 8.5.1 or above
128 MB RAM for 96kHz operation
96 MB RAM for 48kHz operation
I received the AudioPhile 2496 anticipating that I would receive a capable soundcard with good driver support. I was not disappointed. This card is designed to target the burgeoning market of computer based theater and home recording applications. These include:

24-bit 96 kHz multitrack recording
MIDI recording and playback
Digital transfers; Digital mastering
LP/cassette-to-CD transfers
Computer-based Home Theater systems
Computer-based Hi-Fi systems
Tech Specifications

Dynamic Range: D/A 104.0dB (a-weighted), A/D 100.4dB (a-weighted)
THD: less than 0.002%
Freq. Response: 22Hz - 22kHz, -0.4,-0.4dB

Reviews:
http://web.archive.org/web/20020601212816/http://www.midiman.com/company/media/reviews/computermusic_ap2496/cmreview.html
http://web.archive.org/web/20010805163602/http://pcrecording.com/audiophile.htm
http://web.archive.org/web/20020601090129/http://www.tweakmax.com/html/ap2496/ap2496-1.cfm

New packaged box originally contained:
· 1 Audiophile 2496 PCI adapter card
· 1 Audiophile 2496 Break-out cable for SPDIF and MIDI connections
· 1 English Manual (might be available in different languages)
· 1 CD containing drivers, PDF-manuals and additional info
· 1 CD with Logic Delta (special edition of the multitracking software Logic from emagic)
· 1 CD with Gigasampler LE (a light version of Gigasampler from Nemesys)
· 1 CD with Unity Piano and Metro Lite (some kind of virtual synths)
· 1 CD with additional tools and demos

[chrisNova777]

https://web.archive.org/web/20010217070332/http://www.m-audio.com:80/m-audio/html/dr/drdelta.htm

M Audio’s Audiophile 2496 card is the latest addition to its highly successful Delta family of soundcards. The Audiophile 2496 is an all-in-one high fidelity soundcard solution for a wide variety of applications, ranging from multitrack recording to computer-based home theatre. Analog I/O is available on RCA jacks, utilizing the same professional 24-bit 96kHz conversion as the Delta 44 and Delta 66 cards. S/PDIF I/O and MIDI I/O provide connectivity to both digital devices and the world of MIDI. The Audiophile 2496 includes a powerful digital mixer/router, and control over SCMS (Serial Copy Management System). Delta cards support all computer platforms and major software programs.

With software support, the Audiophile 2496 becomes the highest fidelity home theatre soundcard available today.


Applications Include
• 24-bit 96 kHz multitrack recording
• MIDI recording and playback
• Digital transfers; Digital mastering
• LP/cassette-to-CD transfers
• Computer-based Home Theater systems
• Computer-based Hi-Fi systems
Specifications:
• Dynamic Range: D/A 104.0dB (a-weighted), A/D 100.4dB (a-weighted)
• THD: less than 0.002%
• Freq. Response: 22Hz - 22kHz, -0.4,-0.4dB
Minimum System Requirements for PC
• Windows 95, 98, ME, 2000 or NT4
• Pentium II 266MHz - (96kHz operation)
• Pentium 200 MMX - (48kHz or less)
• 128 MB of PC100 RAM - (96kHz operation)
• 64 MB of SDRAM - (48kHz or less)
• UDMA EIDE or SCSI HDD

Minimum System Requirements for Mac:
G4, G3 or G3 accelerator
System 8.5.1 or above
128 MB RAM for 96kHz operation
96 MB RAM for 48kHz operation

[chrisNova777]

Audiophile 2496 Macintosh Installation
1. Open the System folder on your Macintosh hard drive. In the System folder,
locate the Extensions folder.

2. On you Drivers CD disk, open the Delta Products folder, then the Audiophile
2496 folder. Place the extension file “Audiophile 2496 Driver” in your
Extensions folder by clicking on it and dragging it to the Extensions folder.

3. If you are using a music program that uses ASIO drivers, it will also have an
ASIO folder within the application’s folder. In your Mac Delta Drivers folder
you will find three Audiophile 2496 ASIO drivers. For Cubase versions 4.x, use
the “ASIO2 Delta Audiophile” driver. For Metro, or earlier versions of Cubase,
use the “ASIO Delta Audiophile v3” driver. For any music program that is not
ASIO2 capable, use the “ASIO Delta Audiophile” driver instead (check your
program’s documentation). Place the file “ASIO Delta Audiophile” in your
program’s ASIO folder by clicking on it and dragging it to the ASIO folder.

4. Drag the “DeltaPanel PPC” file onto your Macintosh hard drive. You can run the
Delta Control Panel from any place that’s convenient, though music software
applications that use ASIO will allow you to launch the Delta panel from within
the program. If not, we suggest creating an alias to the control panel by
highlighting it and pressing Command (Apple key)+M. Then, drag the alias to
the desktop.

5. With the Audiophile 2496 PCI card installed, restarting the computer will load
the Audiophile 2496 extension. You will be able to visually see the Delta
extension icon pass by as your system loads extensions.

6. Go to the Apple menu |Control Panel | Sound. You should see the “built-in”
sound icon, plus the Delta icon if your Audiophile 2496 is properly installed. If
your music program does use ASIO, leave the Sound Manager driver set to
“built-in” for both Sound In and Sound Out. If your program does not use ASIO
(check your software’s documentation) and you will be using the Sound Manager
to communicate with your Audiophile 2496, set Sound In and Sound Out to
“Delta.” See the section “Hardware Settings Page” in the Audiophile 2496
“Control Panel Software” section for information on selecting Sound Manger
inputs and outputs. Your Audiophile 2496 is now ready for use.
To configure the Audiophile 2496 for MIDI, you will need to have Opcode’s OMS
(Open Music System) installed first. OMS is provided on the CD that came with the
unit, or it can be downloaded from the Midiman website’s MIDISPORT drivers
page. Opening the OMS 2.3.7 folder and double-clicking on the “Install OMS 2.3.7”
program will install OMS in your system.

To install the Delta MIDI driver once OMS is properly installed:
1. Open the “Delta Products” folder on the driver CD, then the Delta Audiophile Mac
folder. Locate the “Delta Audiophile OMS Driver.”

2. On your Macintosh hard drive, in your System folder, you will find an “OMS
Folder.” Drag the Delta Audiophile OMS Driver into the OMS Folder.

3. Restart your computer.

To Configure your Audiophile 2496 MIDI in OMS, go to the Control Panel or Chooser
under the Apple Menu, and make sure AppleTalk is turned off (this is recommended,
although OMS will sense that it is on and prompt you to turn it off). If you are
configuring OMS for the first time, follow these instructions to configure OMS.

1. In the Opcode folder, which you will find on your hard drive, locate the OMS
Applications folder, “then OMS Setup.” Double click on OMS Setup.

2. OMS will inform you that it has not yet been configured. Click OK.

3. The Create A New Studio Setup dialog box now appears. Click OK.

4. The “OMS Driver Search” box asks you to choose the port on which you’ve
attached the Delta MIDI (either Modem or Printer). DO NOT choose a port, just
click “Search.” OMS begins Searching.

5. “OMS Driver Setup” shows the “Delta” MIDI in a list when OMS successfully
finds the driver. Click OK. OMS will now define (shows “Identifying”) the
Delta output port. The “OMS MIDI Device Setup” dialog box will appear
showing the Delta’s output port with a check box to the left of the port, indicating
that the port is enabled. Now click on OK.

6. Next, the “My Studio Setup” appears with a ‘file save’ dialog box over it. You
will now need to save your new Studio Setup before you can assign an
instrument to the Delta’s MIDI output and input. Assign your instrument and
you are done. You may now exit OMS Setup by quitting the application.

[chrisNova777]

https://web.archive.org/web/20010305100732/http://www.m-audio.com:80/m-audio/html/press/apsmartbuy.htm

Audiophile 2496 earns the Computer Music Smart buy Award

   
M Audio's soundcards have always been impressive, and now they've expanded the range with the Audiophile. Does the sound quality measure up to its name or should it just be 'philed' away?

Chances are if you've been into making music on a computer for a while you'll have heard of Midiman and their M Audio division who released the fantastic multi I/O Delta 1010. The Audiophile 24/96 comes from that same stable, has some pretty high specs attached to it and, best of all, claims to use the same codecs as the Delta 1010, so when it finally arrived we couldn't wait to rip open the box and see if it could actually perform as well as it reads.

The first thing you'll notice is that, unlike many other soundcards, the drivers don't come on a CD; instead they're on a floppy disc. Now, although the bundled software you get with a lot of soundcards helps to heighten its appeal and get you started, there isn't much point with the Audiophile. 'Lite' versions of software just don't have the capabilities that you need to get the best out of this card, so in turn you're only given the card's drivers ? all 840 bytes of them.

Installing the card was simple enough, and with plug 'n' play taking over, we had no problems getting it up and running. Within just a few minutes we were ready to start plugging things in. Speaking of connections, there's enough on offer here to keep most users happy, with two female RCA analogue Ins and two female RCA analogue Outs, as well as a joystick style D-pin where you can plug in the supplied adaptor to add RCA S/PDIF In and Out and MIDI connectivity.

In control

Before the card can be used to its full extent, it has to be set up with your system, and this, along with the multitude of other features, is accessed through its control panel. It's got four main tabbed pages (five if you want to count the driver version) and each corresponds to different parts of the card. The first is, as always, the mixer page, where you're given control over the master volume along with the mixer inputs, the wave outs and the S/PDIF channels. All of these can be set separately for mono work or ganged together for stereo, with each channel also offering a handy solo function. The second page consists of the Patchbay/Router section and allows you to configure what signal is sent where, from the wave signals in a sequencer to directly patching the card's inputs to its outputs for 'zero' latency monitoring. We found it useful for feeding the S/PDIF input straight through to the analogue Outs so we could hear exactly what was being transmitted. The output of the mixer can be sent directly to the S/PDIF as well as both of the card's outputs for left and right stereo channels. The third page is used to set up your hardware, and from here you can adjust the master clock setting source. This has a really useful little locked/ unlocked indicator which lets you know whether or not the card is receiving a valid clock signal. All of the S/PDIF sample rates can also be changed from this page, and there are a fair few, ranging from 8kHz all the way up to 96kHz. This lets whatever software you're using at the time know what to expect before the clock signal reaches the S/PDIF input. Any DMA buffer sizes can be set in this page as well. We managed a healthy 8ms using the ASIO drivers, although we did have to set this slightly higher when we raised the sample rate above 44.1kHz. However, this is also heavily dependent on the machine running it. The final page concerns switching S/PDIF from consumer to professional outputs, with consumer being the standard S/PDIF and professional being the AES/EBU data stream. This has the added bonus of not using the higher voltage usually required by this format; it manages to keep it the same as consumer S/PDIF. You will have to find your own suitable adaptor for this, though, and we did have a few problems getting certain devices to work with it (some did and some didn't). However, it's a clever idea and a step in the right direction. The additional consumer settings offer control over the S(erial) C(opyright) M(anagement) S(ystems) allowing you to switch to No SCMS (which most of us will want to use) as well as giving the option of using emphasis. The professional settings offer a slightly different selection, including switchable data types from audio or non-audio and a number of emphasis options. We can't think of anyone who would have a use for some of these more esoteric settings but it's still good to see them on a card at such a low price and, of course, any settings you make to any part of the card can be saved with a simple click of the appropriate button and recalled for use later.

Sound phile

So it's pretty versatile, but how does it sound? Well, in a word, stunning. This has to be one of the best sounding cards we've had in for review for some time. It has a surprisingly sweet sound, and thanks to the codecs fitted onboard it easily meets the quality of much more expensive cards. The fact that up to four of these cards can be fitted in the same machine ensures it's also a system that can grow with you. The lack of software supplied could be enough to put some users off, but this is a serious card and you're gonna need some serious software to get the most out of it. If you haven't already got this it could bump the price up dramatically, but this is a sonically stunning piece of kit to complement quality software. Well worthy of any serious musician's attention.

Verdict

For

Loads of control
Loads of sample depths
Sounds stunning
The price
You can run up to four of them
Against

Need 'pro' software to get the best out of it
Visit the Computer Music Buyers Guide www.computermusic.co.uk

[chrisNova777]

Technical Data Delta Audiophile 2496:

24bit / 96kHz recording system, PCI 2.1 card, PnP support.
Allows IRQ sharing with other IRQ sharing cards.
Recording channels (total): 4
Playback channels (total): 4
Super fast audio input / output. Latency time up to 4ms (true, measured value).
Full duplex, recording and playback takes place simultaneously.
All components are designed for bandwidth and bit depth (analog input / output stages, anti-aliasing filter, converter, host interface, internal mixer / router, system driver) for 24-bit / 96kHz operation.
2 analog inputs and outputs, 24bit / 96kHz.
Analog connections via gold-plated RCA sockets, unbalanced
Dynamic range D / A: measured: 104dB (A), <0.002% THD @ 0dBFS
Dynamic range A / D: measured: 100.5dB (A), <0.002% THD @ 0dBFS
Output level: -10dB or Consumer Level
Input level: Consumer level
Supported sample rates of analogue inputs / outputs (Hz): 8k, 9.6k, 11.025k, 21k, 16k, 22.05k, 24k, 32k, 44.1k, 48k, 88.2k and 96k.
Resolutions: 8, 16, 20 and 24 bit digital audio.
For optimal connection of microphones to Delta Audiophile ™ 2496, the Audio Buddy dual microphone preamp is available.
S / PDIF input / output (independent of analog part)
Digital connections via RCA sockets (via Co2 also optical and Co3 also AES / EBU).
The signal at the digital input and output is retained in the original. There is no resampling, redithering or other signal corruption.
can also be set via the driver setting "Consumer / Professional" as AES / EBU signal with S / PDIF level.
Supported sample rates of S / DPIF input / output (Hz): 22.05k, 24k, 32k, 44.1k, 48k, 88.2k and 96k.
Resolutions: 8, 16, 20 and 24 bit digital audio.
"None-Audio" mode for transmitting AC3 and DTS streams.
SCMS copy protection bits can be freely set to "no copy protection", "original" or "first generation".
MIDI input / output
1 MIDI input / output via 5-pin DIN jacks, 16 MIDI channels.
With outstanding audio quality, maximum flexibility in the choice of audio format and a high-caliber, diverse and cross-platform driver offering that is constantly expanding and refining, the M-Audio Delta series is also the preferred solution for industrial and measurement applications.
Synchronization and combinability of delta cards (Delta 1010, Delta 66, Delta 44, Delta Audiophile and Delta DiO2496) in one system.
Delay-free monitoring of the inputs (zero latency monitoring, direct monitoring) via the integrated digital mixer with 36-bit resolution. The mixer also offers very extensive routing and monitor functions .
Delta driver support :
Windows XP WDM drivers (Direct Sound for all devices, MultiClient ASIO, -EASI, -GSIF Gigasampler, Multi-Card), multi-processor support.
Windows 2000 WDM drivers (Direct Sound for all devices, MultiClient ASIO, -EASI, -GSIF Gigasampler, Multi-Card), multi-processor support.
Windows 95/98 / ME VxD driver (MME, Direct Sound for all devices, MultiClient ASIO, Easy-GSI, Gigabyte-Sampler, Multi-Card), Windows driver screenshots .
Windows NT 4 VxD driver (multi-card).
Mac OS (Sound Manager and ASIO v1, 2, 3).
Mac OS X (from v10.1), Multi-Client, Multi-Card, Mac OS X Driver Screenshots .
Linux (Kmod), Multi-Card, Linux Driver Screenshots .
Play MIDI files using the Microsoft® DirectMusic ™ Software Wavetable Synthesizer with Roland® GM / GS® Sound Canvas ™ Digital Samples via WDM driver.
It is not necessary to connect the audio output of a CD-ROM or DVD drive (neither digital nor analog). Audio is output to Audio CDs via DirectSound and MediaPlayer v7.0. For DVDs, the audio tracks are encoded on the inside of the A / V stream and are played back by the DVD player software. Nevertheless, the digital input can also be used for the audio digital output of an internal CD-ROM or DVD drive.
Minimum requirements:
PC for 96kHz operation: Pentium II 266MHz, PCI 2.1, 64MB RAM, UDMA EIDE or SCSI2 hard disk.
PC for 48kHz operation: Pentium 200MMX, PCI 2.1, 64RAM, UDMA EIDE or SCSI2 hard disk.
Macintosh: G3, PCI 2.1, 64MB RAM, min. Mac OS 8.5.1
Works well with AMD® Athlon ™ systems.
10-year manufacturer's warranty for registered first-time owners within Germany.
Delivery incl. German manual, MIDI + S / PDIF cable adapter and driver CD-ROM or floppy disk.

[foksadure]

FWIW, I still use an AP2496 as main audiocard under Win7/10x64 and Ubuntu Studio on a modern PC LGA1200 motherboard without legacy PCI slots.

The solution is a PCI/PCI-E bridge, fully internal or with a extra breakout box.

If you can spare the analog RCA/CINCH I/O because of the induced offset on the backplate of around 6xM3*6+6 spacers worth, this internal one - Pericom PI7C9X chip based - works perfectly:
https://www.startech.com/en-us/cards-adapters/pex1pci1
MIDI and Digital I/O are perfectly usable using the AP2496 breakout cable.
Mine goes to a battered DBX Quantum mastering processor used as a glorified DAC. 

Once the AP246 sits in the computer, only the red RCA/CINCH input can be accessed (unless one's find extra flat 90° angled RCA plugs) on the backplate. Bar the DB9 breakout cable.
So I'm afraid there's not enough clearance for the Delta 410, 1010LT or AP192 much higher pin count breakout cable to fit, though.

Fortunately, there are some breakout boxes alternatives as well, that might allow to use all the M-Audio Envy series at their full I/O potential (don't quote me on that though).
Startech has a few, very expensive ones:
https://www.startech.com/en-us/search?search_term=PEX2PCI
Much cheaper alternatives on AliExpress, with a 5"1/4 enclosure to get all the I/O at the front of the computer:
https://aliexpress.com/item/32823213470.html
Some powered one too:
https://aliexpress.com/item/1005005957051498.html

[chrisNova777]

lol! interesting photo re how you got it "screwed in" lol
never seen that before!
i bought a lot of 8 Delta 410 Cards back like 10+ years ago on Ebay and they still
come in handy.. being able to combine multiple cards in a system for outputs (x8 per card) makes the outputs
add up very fast.... too bad theres no ADAT port tho.. i use a bunch of DIGI00x + RME cards for ADAT lightpipe
into my main modern mixdown hackintosh that has my 3 seperate motu units attached to all my other ADAT gear

thanks for showing your PCI-e riser card solution ive never really messed with any of those cards but i should order 1 or 2 could come in handy some day

[Shredder11]

I've thought about getting this one for my Thinkpad Z61p laptop to plug in to its ExpressCard socket on the side.  Been on my wishlist for a couple of years but not pulled the trigger yet.  Thinking of using one for my Yamaha SW1000XG and SoundBlaster Live! Value PCI cards.

https://www.aliexpress.com/item/32549859614.html?spm=a2g0o.detail.0.0.637135745u5wNR&gps-id=pcDetailTopMoreOtherSeller&scm=1007.40050.362094.0&scm_id=1007.40050.362094.0&scm-url=1007.40050.362094.0&pvid=e130e8fe-26b6-42b3-8025-f29452388aeb&_t=gps-id:pcDetailTopMoreOtherSeller,scm-url:1007.40050.362094.0,pvid:e130e8fe-26b6-42b3-8025-f29452388aeb,tpp_buckets:668%232846%238109%231935&pdp_npi=4%40dis%21GBP%2178.06%2174.16%21%21%2192.00%21%21%40210385bb16988764089464932ef56e%2158029449363%21rec%21UK%21910409562%21





A cheap version of the Startech desktop PC adapter

https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005005785685284.html?spm=a2g0o.detail.0.0.35882910IyQXND&gps-id=pcDetailTopMoreOtherSeller&scm=1007.40050.362094.0&scm_id=1007.40050.362094.0&scm-url=1007.40050.362094.0&pvid=c99c6b3f-c5d0-4153-9420-5f5a61ed6b31&_t=gps-id:pcDetailTopMoreOtherSeller,scm-url:1007.40050.362094.0,pvid:c99c6b3f-c5d0-4153-9420-5f5a61ed6b31,tpp_buckets:668%232846%238109%231935&pdp_npi=4%40dis%21GBP%217.75%213.87%21%21%2166.97%21%21%402103894416988776237376824e1c9b%2112000034348923608%21rec%21UK%21910409562%21

[ongaku]

Im looking for cd image of ap 2496 drivers cd. Needed only cd which was shipped with first revisions of m-audio ap 24/96 PCB and includes drivers for WinNT4 systems. Still using two ap 2496 cards but on vintage pc, good solution in our days also.

[chrisNova777]

https://web.archive.org/web/20040629062228/http://www.m-audio.com:80/images/global/drivers/

I don't think there is a windows NT4 driver
only a windows 2000 driver

[ongaku]

I don't think there is a windows NT4 driver
only a windows 2000 driver

Were universal WinNT drivers for the Delta Series: Delta 1010, Delta 66, Delta 44, Delta DiO and Audiophile 2496.
Latest possible WinNT driver can be downloaded here: https://web.archive.org/web/20030813232123fw_/http://www.midiman.de/files/dent22.exe [Ver: 5.10.01.22 | Date: 03.01.02]


Delta Windows NT/ Driver v 4.1.17.10 & Maintenance Panel Ver 1.01.18


And, finally, was found ISO image of desired drivers CD which was included with first revisions of M-Audio AP 2496 -> https://archive.org/details/maudio-drivers

Original M-Audio driver CD that came with the Delta Audiophile 2496 PCI card. It also has drivers for other M-Audio devices.