Sound cards, are they really that important?
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- KVRAF
- 1595 posts since 17 Nov, 2007 from Seattle, WA
For instance, this onelooks like it might be okay. It's got two combi-jack inputs right on the front, some knobs right there in front of you, and a pair of 1/4" main outs. $150ish, thats cheap.
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- KVRian
- 1116 posts since 18 Jan, 2004 from Los Angeles, California, USA
That one has pres indeed, but as you said "why set yourself up for an inevitable upgrade"? The Audiophile 2496 (PCI) is significantly cheaper (people were posting listing at half that price), runs internally with lower latency, is a significant step up from the OP's existing driver and converters. It also won't run into bandwidth issues if there are other USB devices running on the computer.MOK19 wrote:For instance, this onelooks like it might be okay. It's got two combi-jack inputs right on the front, some knobs right there in front of you, and a pair of 1/4" main outs. $150ish, thats cheap.
The OP doesn't appear to have created a mic collection yet, so the mic pres would really be just "future proofing." Of course they can just as easily get a higher quality dual channel digital mic pre and route it in to the SPDIF input on the 2496 later on, so it's not really a liability. Ditto for SPDIF output to a higher quality DAC later on.
In other words, why spend twice as much money for features they won't be able to use right away when they can save the money and expand on their existing equipment down the line instead of having to replace?
I am not saying you never outgrow an AP 2496: for many uses, you do. But it's a fine starting point and works on both Macs and PCs.
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- KVRer
- Topic Starter
- 29 posts since 18 Oct, 2006
I might consider the audiophile 2496.
I would really only be recording vocals and line in keyboard. (shure sm57)
I output my stereo speakers auxillary as "monitors".
My PC is running on Win XP and is a 2400 Sempron with 224 mb ram. 1 ghz.
I know I need to upgrade the pc down the line, but if a new soundcard will improve recording quality, I would get it for now.
Does this low end stuff negate the benefits of such a card? Would it be appropriate enough for my purposes?
I would really only be recording vocals and line in keyboard. (shure sm57)
I output my stereo speakers auxillary as "monitors".
My PC is running on Win XP and is a 2400 Sempron with 224 mb ram. 1 ghz.
I know I need to upgrade the pc down the line, but if a new soundcard will improve recording quality, I would get it for now.
Does this low end stuff negate the benefits of such a card? Would it be appropriate enough for my purposes?
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- KVRian
- 1116 posts since 18 Jan, 2004 from Los Angeles, California, USA
Ah. In that case, it depends a little bit on whether you already have a preamp for the Shure SM57. The 2496 has better converters, less noise and higher sample rate support than your current sound card so that might help. On the other hand, its inputs are RCA (so you would need 1/4 or 1/8 to RCA cables) and it doesn't have a preamp. So if you have the microphone, but don't have a preamp, then I am afraid that a preamp will have to be a part of any upgrade you make.
The rest of your PC, other than the sound card, won't really affect the quality of the recording, just the scale and speed of your projects. It's easy to run out of RAM when you start recording multiple tracks, for instance.
If you can save up a bit more, then right around $200 mark you start to see units that do a bit more. The PreSonus unit mentioned earlier was just one step below that.
The Audiophile 2496 makes the most since if you can send your signal into the card digitally.
The rest of your PC, other than the sound card, won't really affect the quality of the recording, just the scale and speed of your projects. It's easy to run out of RAM when you start recording multiple tracks, for instance.
If you can save up a bit more, then right around $200 mark you start to see units that do a bit more. The PreSonus unit mentioned earlier was just one step below that.
The Audiophile 2496 makes the most since if you can send your signal into the card digitally.
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- KVRian
- 1116 posts since 18 Jan, 2004 from Los Angeles, California, USA
For instance, somewhere down the line (when you have more money) you could buy this and send the SPDIF signal into the 2496.
http://pro-audio.musiciansfriend.com/pr ... D=26019090
But then again, for that combined amount, you could get an audio interface with a lot more inputs. So I guess it depends a bit on whether the quality of each recorded track is more important, or whether you want to be able to record more tracks at once.
Either way, looks like the 2496 will only get you a small part of the sound improvement you want: but it is a lot less noisy and the drivers are a lot better.
http://pro-audio.musiciansfriend.com/pr ... D=26019090
But then again, for that combined amount, you could get an audio interface with a lot more inputs. So I guess it depends a bit on whether the quality of each recorded track is more important, or whether you want to be able to record more tracks at once.
Either way, looks like the 2496 will only get you a small part of the sound improvement you want: but it is a lot less noisy and the drivers are a lot better.
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- KVRer
- Topic Starter
- 29 posts since 18 Oct, 2006
I've been using mainly a Digitech rp 100 as my pre amp.
I've also got a
Behringer MIC100 Tube Ultragain Microphone Preamp with Limiter.
Maybe those are more important to upgrade....
I mainly only need to record vocals or keyboard. No simultaneous recording.
I've also got a
Behringer MIC100 Tube Ultragain Microphone Preamp with Limiter.
Maybe those are more important to upgrade....
I mainly only need to record vocals or keyboard. No simultaneous recording.
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- KVRAF
- 3386 posts since 21 May, 2004 from Deep in the Heartlessness of Texas
I've actually seen some pretty good reviews for the UltraGain, though I'm sure lots of folks would consider it below 'low-end'.kliver wrote:I've been using mainly a Digitech rp 100 as my pre amp.
I've also got a
Behringer MIC100 Tube Ultragain Microphone Preamp with Limiter.
Maybe those are more important to upgrade....
I mainly only need to record vocals or keyboard. No simultaneous recording.
I can't tell from your posts whether you're just trying to use the built-in keyboard sounds and record them through your pre-amp. If so, getting a MIDI interface -- which is included in the AudioPhile, and most others - will open up a whole new world for you, and should be a first priority for you if you want to improve the sound of your tracks.
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- KVRian
- 1116 posts since 18 Jan, 2004 from Los Angeles, California, USA
Okay, if either of those can output 1/4, then an AP 2496 with 1/4 to RCA cables would be about the best upgrade you could do for the money. If the preamp is taken care, of then you will notice a definite improvement. Are the better preamps out there? Sure, but the ones you have are better than the ones included on some soundcards (like the early Digidesign ones).kliver wrote:I've been using mainly a Digitech rp 100 as my pre amp.
I've also got a
Behringer MIC100 Tube Ultragain Microphone Preamp with Limiter.
Maybe those are more important to upgrade....
I mainly only need to record vocals or keyboard. No simultaneous recording.
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- KVRer
- Topic Starter
- 29 posts since 18 Oct, 2006
GreyLion wrote:
I've actually seen some pretty good reviews for the UltraGain, though I'm sure lots of folks would consider it below 'low-end'.
I can't tell from your posts whether you're just trying to use the built-in keyboard sounds and record them through your pre-amp. If so, getting a MIDI interface -- which is included in the AudioPhile, and most others - will open up a whole new world for you, and should be a first priority for you if you want to improve the sound of your tracks.
I do have a usb midi cable plugged in my computer to run VSTs instruments and such. At the same time I do like one of the sound samples that came with the keyboard, which I've been recording through line in out of its headphone jack.(Doesn't have any other output jack) Am I missing something about being able to record samples from the keyboard through midi? Or does it only record compositional/peformance data like I think it does.
The preamps I have do have input output 1/4 jacks.
Its also got a headphone jack I've also been using with just a regular Line-in cable. So I guess I'm going to have to pick up some sort of RCA cables to make use of the audiophile to the best of its ability?
Thanks for the answers.
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- KVRian
- 1116 posts since 18 Jan, 2004 from Los Angeles, California, USA
Yeah, you can pick up the cables/converters pretty easily. Hosa is one of the more frequently used manufacturers for that purpose, and they often have them at Radio Shack or other hobbyist stores if you don't want to wait for online shipping.
The AP 2496 only uses RCA and SPDIF so you need 2 mono 1/4 inch cables or adapters to run the preamps into the sound card. I think you'll find you get much better sound quality than you have been getting using the headphone output into your current soundcard.
Also, you aren't missing anything about MIDI: it only transmits note performance/modification data, not samples or waveform recordings.
The AP 2496 only uses RCA and SPDIF so you need 2 mono 1/4 inch cables or adapters to run the preamps into the sound card. I think you'll find you get much better sound quality than you have been getting using the headphone output into your current soundcard.
Also, you aren't missing anything about MIDI: it only transmits note performance/modification data, not samples or waveform recordings.
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- KVRAF
- 3299 posts since 7 May, 2004 from Athens, Greece
Another vote for the AP2496. I'm using it for years with an M-Audio Audiobuddy preamp/DI with no problems at all. I think it's a pretty decent setup and you will only need something more expensive only if you want to record more than two sources simultaneously or the rest of your recording chain and room are really hi-end.
If I go insane, please don't put your wires in my brain
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- KVRist
- 56 posts since 1 Mar, 2004 from London, SW
I've ran a few sound cards in my time.
Sound Blaster : Terrible. It would Hiss like a crazy and it had the bass started rolling off at 500hz and the treble at 3khz. It would sound like shit unless in 24 bit mode and it ran slow.
Presonus FireBox: Runs really well. Firewire is the best connection. Really good quality but not as good as...
Lynx: Really, you get what you pay for. This has the lowest noise floor I've ever heard (or not heard). You can boost the output to the point that if you played the windows <bong> you'd blow your speakers and only then would you start hear a hiss. Truely a step apart.
Sound Blaster : Terrible. It would Hiss like a crazy and it had the bass started rolling off at 500hz and the treble at 3khz. It would sound like shit unless in 24 bit mode and it ran slow.
Presonus FireBox: Runs really well. Firewire is the best connection. Really good quality but not as good as...
Lynx: Really, you get what you pay for. This has the lowest noise floor I've ever heard (or not heard). You can boost the output to the point that if you played the windows <bong> you'd blow your speakers and only then would you start hear a hiss. Truely a step apart.
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- KVRAF
- 6519 posts since 13 Mar, 2002 from UK
Great specs, $76.49...
http://accessories.us.dell.com/sna/prod ... lid=627063
http://accessories.us.dell.com/sna/prod ... lid=627063
Now with improved MIDI jitter!