KVR Audio

risome · Post by **risome** » Wed Jul 25, 2018 12:56 am

If your serious about your music get a decent soundcard.

perpetual3 · Post by **perpetual3** » Wed Jul 25, 2018 1:08 am

Thanks for these responses, everyone.

I noticed latency playing back VSTi’s, and read much about better audio quality, particular with low frequencies, but if it isn’t going to matter I really don’t want to waste my money.

So, if you don’t mind, what steps can I make to improve latency playback of VSTi besides purchasing a new sound card? As I mentioned before, I cannot treat my room acoustically because I rent, and I have some Tannoy Reveal monitors (circa 2005), so perhaps I’ll just have to accept whatever sound quality I have at the moment.

parma · Post by **parma** » Wed Jul 25, 2018 2:48 am

You've actually got a good setup if you look at it in a certain way. Your setup will sound closer to what most people will listen to music through. Instead of using that money towards an unnecessary audio interface I would consider using it towards a pair of really good headphones. You can mix with the fancy headphones and then switch over to your current setup to see how well the mix translates.

If you're not planning on tracking any live instruments I wouldn't bother with an interface right now. Just my $.02

superscan · Post by **superscan** » Wed Jul 25, 2018 2:55 am

We acoustically treated a temp space at work and hung them using heavy duty Command Strips over a year ago. None of the 18 panels have moved a bit. Surprised us all. So it can be done...

rod_zero · Post by **rod_zero** » Wed Jul 25, 2018 4:01 pm

perpetual3 wrote:Thanks for these responses, everyone.

I noticed latency playing back VSTi’s, and read much about better audio quality, particular with low frequencies, but if it isn’t going to matter I really don’t want to waste my money.

So, if you don’t mind, what steps can I make to improve latency playback of VSTi besides purchasing a new sound card? As I mentioned before, I cannot treat my room acoustically because I rent, and I have some Tannoy Reveal monitors (circa 2005), so perhaps I’ll just have to accept whatever sound quality I have at the moment.

Don't know where you read you get better audio quality on low frequencies but I doubt they can provide any hard evidence about it.

For getting lower latency you go into preferences and change the size of Buffer, the lower the less latency there is but it also uses more CPU, so depending on your project you may get "pops and cracks" if you go to low.

As for getting better sound get some good headphones, for 300 you can get something great.

perpetual3 · Post by **perpetual3** » Wed Jul 25, 2018 4:35 pm

Ok - getting the headphones then.

I read in Sound On Sound reviews of audio interfaces, and tons of reviews and feedback on gearslutz.

thecontrolcentre · Post by **thecontrolcentre** » Wed Jul 25, 2018 4:50 pm

risome wrote:If your serious about your music get a decent soundcard.

Yep. The headphone out will likely sound better too. Switching up from a 16 bit interface to a 24 bit interface was a revelation to me (12 years ago). I started noticing detail in my own music that I had previously never heard, and any kind of noticeable latency was gone. YMMV

To improve latency without an ASIO interface, your best bet is ASIO4ALL. Its free, and works well for some people (presuming there's an OS version).

perpetual3 · Post by **perpetual3** » Wed Jul 25, 2018 5:06 pm

thecontrolcentre wrote:
risome wrote:If your serious about your music get a decent soundcard.
Yep. The headphone out will likely sound better too. Switching up from a 16 bit interface to a 24 bit interface was a revelation to me (12 years ago). I started noticing detail in my own music that I had previously never heard, and any kind of noticeable latency was gone. YMMV

To improve latency without an ASIO interface, your best bet is ASIO4ALL. Its free, and works well for some people (presuming there's an OS version).

I am using Mac, so think the built in sound card is 192khz, 24 bit, but again most I read says the output isn’t good. But here, it seems that it might be “good enough” for my needs.

parma · Post by **parma** » Wed Jul 25, 2018 7:44 pm

perpetual3 wrote:Ok - getting the headphones then.

I read in Sound On Sound reviews of audio interfaces, and tons of reviews and feedback on gearslutz.

If you can, check them out in person. Some sound great but can be really uncomfortable. Some are expensive but don't sound as good as cheaper options.

If you can't check them out in person be sure to read reviews and especially watch YouTube reviews. Pretty much every professional headphone out there is reviewed on YouTube. At least videos give you a better sense of how they might fit/feel.

chk071 · Post by **chk071** » Wed Jul 25, 2018 7:49 pm

On a budget, i can only recommend these ones: https://www.thomann.de/de/superlux_hd668_b.htm

Use them for everything. Music, synthesizer fiddling, games... great cans for such a low price.

Maybe, after that, you still have some money left for a decent audio interface.

Zexila · Post by **Zexila** » Wed Jul 25, 2018 7:55 pm

My recommendation is Superlux HD 681, also Macbook's on board sound card is great and can drive that cans nicely, If anything, Mac's are known for good on board sound cards.

https://www.thomann.de/gb/superlux_hd681.htm

parma · Post by **parma** » Wed Jul 25, 2018 8:28 pm

Since you are going to be using the headphones for mixing and monitoring, I'd recommend something, uh, better. Not to say those cans aren't good for the money but you might want to stick to established studio brands like Sennheiser, Shure, Audio-Technica, even Sony. Personally, I think $150-$200 is the sweet spot for quality to price ratio for a good set of headphones.

A good set of cans will open up your mix just like a good set of monitors. Don't cheap out too much.

This is just some dude's opinion though.

Zexila · Post by **Zexila** » Wed Jul 25, 2018 8:34 pm

parma wrote:Since you are going to be using the headphones for mixing and monitoring, I'd recommend something, uh, better. Not to say those cans aren't good for the money but you might want to stick to established studio brands like Sennheiser, Shure, Audio-Technica, even Sony. Personally, I think $150-$200 is the sweet spot for quality to price ratio for a good set of headphones.

A good set of cans will open up your mix just like a good set of monitors. Don't cheap out too much.

This is just some dude's opinion though.

Did you actually heard Superlux cans by any chance?

Not everything that is twice expansive is twice as better, it's not even better in some cases, think we finally reached saturation point of market where we have actual choice, Adam T7's, Nektar keyboards, Behringer audio interfaces, Superlux cans, good ratio of quality and price, everything beyond that cost twice as much and you gain almost nothing really.

fmr · Post by **fmr** » Wed Jul 25, 2018 8:35 pm

Zexila wrote:My recommendation is Superlux HD 681, also Macbook's on board sound card is great and can drive that cans nicely, If anything, Mac's are known for good on board sound cards.

The on board sound chips (not cards) are the same cheap ones (or comparable) that come in any Korean manufacturer MoBo.

The only thing "premium" on a Mac these days is the price. I can't believe someone who spent that kind of money on a Mac for audio is now trying to save on the audio interface.

Zexila · Post by **Zexila** » Wed Jul 25, 2018 8:58 pm

fmr wrote:The on board sound chips (not cards) are the same cheap ones (or comparable) that come in any Korean manufacturer MoBo.

Thanks for the info, good chip and Core Audio drivers than.

I can't believe someone who spent that kind of money on a Mac for audio is now trying to save on the audio interface.

perpetual3 wrote:Hi!

Just how much better can I expect a sound card to improve my music?

I’ve got a mid 2012 13” MBP, 2.9ghz i7 with 16gb RAM. I can’t upgrade the RAM (it’s a university computer that I’ve been using on loan until they ask for it back).

In the past I used the first MOTU 828 and then years later an Apogee One. I don’t have money for a new 828 and don’t even want one with so many inputs at the moment because years of traveling made me go 100% ITB. I wouldn’t buy an Apogee One again because the build quality on the first one was so poor. My budget is about $350 anyway, and I’ve only got a Roland V-Synth now that I’m not traveling again.

I’m wondering just how much better my music will sound upgrading from the stock sound card to an interface in the $150-$350 range. I’m using old Tannoy Reveal monitors connected to an amp I can’t remember the brand off. No acoustic treatment in the room, but I make electronic music, influenced by lots of dub techno, deepish tech house, lofi sloppy beats, ambient often using cheap headphones, so I haven’t considered it a priority (I know it’s far from ideal, and my mixes prove it, I often have to re-mix based on playback on a stereo, cell phone, car, etc. It’s also a hobby, so I’m not too keen on permanently installing treatment since I rent.)

Yeah, shocker, he is now poorer and don't have money for RME, just some old Mac and Tannoys...well, welcome to real world, I got poor too, sold almost all my gear because of health issues and everything I got left is late 2006 Macbook and old PC, old Roland PC 180, work for 250 euros a month, getting gear now on installments, only one local dealer give that option and I can't spend much there too, should I kill myself because I can't afford RME&co for my hobby and I have Macbook that costed fortune in 2006?

Audio Interface vs Mac Sound card - just how much better?