Home Recording...what sound card do you use?

[alphatabs]

Hey guys, over the holidays i recieved a 5.1 speaker system and i'm wanting to put it to good use. i only have a built in sound card that's crap so i'm gonna upgrade soon. I want something that can run the new speakers but also i'm looking for a sound card that will be ideal for home recording. stuff like 1/4 inch jacks and mic inputs would be kick ass. i'm only looking to spend about 100 max though. what do you use or would use for this? thanks! :cool:

[unccrombie]

can't record with 1/4" jacks to a soundcard (i believe). something about it being too much to handle. the sounblaster audigy platinum is a great card, can't go wrong with it. it'll run you about $120 new i think, $70 refurbed off ebay

[DMBand520]

I have an audigy platinum and its great. Also the live drive in the front of the computer that comes with the platinum is very convenient. IMO its worth the extra money over buying just a regular audigy card.

[alphatabs]

I have an audigy platinum and its great. Also the live drive in the front of the computer that comes with the platinum is very convenient. IMO its worth the extra money over buying just a regular audigy card.

yea man, before i asked i kinda knew that everyone would say that card because i installed one for a friend and it was awsome. are you talking about the one that comes with the front panel with firewire and all? i've been tring to find one but they're all like 135 bucks. even on ebay. if it would lose a few bucks i'd surly get it.

[unccrombie]

you can get a refurbed one for $70

[alphatabs]

you can get a refurbed one for $70

what's the refurbed one consist of? that's a pretty nice deal. where's it at?

[unccrombie]

buying direct from creative labs on ebay. it's the same as somthing you buy new, but it's been previously owned. it's been returned to creative labs so they can make sure everything works, give it some new parts/cable if necessary. it's like buying used but better quality.

go to ebay and search for audigy platinum, you should be able to tell which ones are which.

[conrad123]

I use a M-audio Revolution 7.1...which kicks the soundblaster any day of the week IMHO. I've read the A/D and D/A converters are better than some home theatre recievers. And the latency is minimal on this card....as I expect from M-audio. Also comes with profiles for a lot of current speakers on the market to fully optimize the sound coming out.

[DMBand520]

yea man, before i asked i kinda knew that everyone would say that card because i installed one for a friend and it was awsome. are you talking about the one that comes with the front panel with firewire and all? i've been tring to find one but they're all like 135 bucks. even on ebay. if it would lose a few bucks i'd surly get it.

thats the one i'm talking about. Its worth the money, I've had mine for a few years now. Just put out the money now and there will be no reason to replace it for years (unless u decide to upgrade to something professional). You can get great quality out of it.

This is a recording I did for my roommate through the Audigy using an acousitc electric plugged directly in to the front panel for guitar. Then using a relatively cheap $150 dollar condenser mic (a great investment to get good vocals).

http://inquiringmindz.com/audio/stefan/Daydream%20In%20Red%20-%2007%20-%20Silhouette.mp3

I think its pretty good quality for a total setup of about $300 (excluding the guitar).

[onemanguitarban]

You will be much better off getting an M-AUDIO card than the Audigy. The Audigy isn't made for real audio recording, it is a gamer card that can function as a audio recording card, the pre-amps are terrible if you are running a analog cord into it. I'd go with M-Audio's bottom of the line card (which costs $100 BTW) before I'd get the Creative Labs card, and yes I've used the Creative Labs cards. If you can get M-Audio's $200 card or $400 (which will give you MIC ins with Phantom power) I'd do that, but even their bottom of the line $100 card will give you 1/4 ins that will be better than the Audigy's.

[alphatabs]

You will be much better off getting an M-AUDIO card than the Audigy. The Audigy isn't made for real audio recording, it is a gamer card that can function as a audio recording card, the pre-amps are terrible if you are running a analog cord into it. I'd go with M-Audio's bottom of the line card (which costs $100 BTW) before I'd get the Creative Labs card, and yes I've used the Creative Labs cards. If you can get M-Audio's $200 card or $400 (which will give you MIC ins with Phantom power) I'd do that, but even their bottom of the line $100 card will give you 1/4 ins that will be better than the Audigy's.

i've compared the two and IMO i would have to go with the audigy. i mean it's got firewire, RCA, all kinds of line in's, and even optical support. i have to say that it's freaking loaded. and the recording rate is 24-bit so i'm sure it's more than enough for what i need it for.

[Alastar]

I'm generally just a browser on the boards but I'm gonna post here.

I went out and bought an M-Audio 44, comes with the card and a box that you can plug 4 quarter inch cables into. It isn't big but it suits what I do. It all depends on what kind of recording you want to do and what kind of software you have to do the recording. If you are going to take it seriously you don't want to go with the Soundblaster. As much as it seems decked out go with a product that is ment to record and not one that is gaming card before a recording card.

Just an opinion...

[alphatabs]

I'm generally just a browser on the boards but I'm gonna post here.

I went out and bought an M-Audio 44, comes with the card and a box that you can plug 4 quarter inch cables into. It isn't big but it suits what I do. It all depends on what kind of recording you want to do and what kind of software you have to do the recording. If you are going to take it seriously you don't want to go with the Soundblaster. As much as it seems decked out go with a product that is ment to record and not one that is gaming card before a recording card.

Just an opinion...

when you guys say that the soundblaster isn't meant to record how do you mean? it has midi ports, 1/4 in. jacks, optical, and so on. it has the capabilities and it does support 24 bit audio. i would think that the software would be what makes or breaks the audio here. just wondering cause i may not be fully understanding.

[onemanguitarban]

The "features" such as MIDI ports and 1/4 ins/outs may look the same on paper, but you have to understand there is a difference in hardware. The 24 bit converters that soundblaster uses are very different than the ones M-Audio uses. In fact the $199 M-Audio card uses the same high end converters that Pro-Tools uses. But one of the biggest differences you will see between the two is the pre-amps each will use on the inputs such as the 1/4 ins/outs. You can hear the difference in quality, I'm speaking from experience here, the soundblaster drivers just don't cut it in terms of audio fidelity. I used soundblaster products for years and thought every thing was alright, then I tried dedicated pro-audio cards and found out that there was a big difference. The "spec" sheets that tell you 24 bit audio and 96khz sampling rate, etc. only tell you part of the story as to how good a card is.

When you are looking at the features such as inputs, look at what you need. Do you "need" rca imputs, I know I don't. Do you need ADAT litepipe inputs, I thought this was a great feature on M-Audio's $200 card, but not every one has a digital mixer with ADAT outs. If you don't need the "extra" ins/outs soundblaster is not the way to go, if you do need the extras, I would suggest saving some extra money and get a real audio card that has them.

The Audigy might suit you now, as your ears might be satisfied since they don't have a refrence to something else, but I think you will be happier in the long run if you just go ahead and get "the real thing" There are many better cards out there, admittedly there are few "real" cards in the $100 range, but it might be worth it to either spend a little more, or give up some of the extra ins/outs that you may never use or need.

[DMBand520]

The "features" such as MIDI ports and 1/4 ins/outs may look the same on paper, but you have to understand there is a difference in hardware. The 24 bit converters that soundblaster uses are very different than the ones M-Audio uses. In fact the $199 M-Audio card uses the same high end converters that Pro-Tools uses. But one of the biggest differences you will see between the two is the pre-amps each will use on the inputs such as the 1/4 ins/outs. You can hear the difference in quality, I'm speaking from experience here, the soundblaster drivers just don't cut it in terms of audio fidelity. I used soundblaster products for years and thought every thing was alright, then I tried dedicated pro-audio cards and found out that there was a big difference. The "spec" sheets that tell you 24 bit audio and 96khz sampling rate, etc. only tell you part of the story as to how good a card is.

When you are looking at the features such as inputs, look at what you need. Do you "need" rca imputs, I know I don't. Do you need ADAT litepipe inputs, I thought this was a great feature on M-Audio's $200 card, but not every one has a digital mixer with ADAT outs. If you don't need the "extra" ins/outs soundblaster is not the way to go, if you do need the extras, I would suggest saving some extra money and get a real audio card that has them.

The Audigy might suit you now, as your ears might be satisfied since they don't have a refrence to something else, but I think you will be happier in the long run if you just go ahead and get "the real thing" There are many better cards out there, admittedly there are few "real" cards in the $100 range, but it might be worth it to either spend a little more, or give up some of the extra ins/outs that you may never use or need.

I think it really depends on what he cares about recording. I havent heard something recorded on an M-Audio card to compare with my soundblaster. If its just for fun I dont see the reason to spend the extra. IMO you can still make a professional sounding recording with an audigy. I'd say listen to that recording i put up in an earlier post and if that quality sounds acceptable you should be ok with an Audigy.

The other thing is that as far as guitar you can usually adjust EQ and add some reverb to give the sound a little more body with your recording software. If your issue is how your vocals are coming up you DEFINITELY need to spring for a decent mic. This also means you're going to need to buy a preamp or a mixer (something with phantom power). I guess if you need to buy that still it may be worth looking into the M-Audio card with phantom power if the total cost difference isnt that much.

[eviltuna7]

if your serious about recording DO NOT get the audigy. i have it, and it makes recording a pain in the ass. Go to any sound recording forum and they will tell you it blows.

Also, i know its too late now, but you should have just gotten better stereo speakers for recording than 5.1. Because for recording you should only be using stereo.

[alphatabs]

if your serious about recording DO NOT get the audigy. i have it, and it makes recording a pain in the ass. Go to any sound recording forum and they will tell you it blows.

Also, i know its too late now, but you should have just gotten better stereo speakers for recording than 5.1. Because for recording you should only be using stereo.

when recording and listening to music the 5.1 speakers only operate in stereo through the left and right. the surround is just for games and stuff.

[alphatabs]

buying direct from creative labs on ebay. it's the same as somthing you buy new, but it's been previously owned. it's been returned to creative labs so they can make sure everything works, give it some new parts/cable if necessary. it's like buying used but better quality.

go to ebay and search for audigy platinum, you should be able to tell which ones are which.

so creative labs sell directly on ebay? that's crazy. the deals are pretty nice though. i'm gonna look into that.

[mcflymcflymcfly]

i say go back to analog guys

[unccrombie]

i say go back to analog guys
blasphemy

[mcflymcflymcfly]

hhhaha..you can do things your own way with analog..not sit there and watch a computer do it for you..i was all about the digital..until these past few days when i cut a few tracks analog with full band..now i love anaglog..for good:P:D:D

[alphatabs]

hhhaha..you can do things your own way with analog..not sit there and watch a computer do it for you..i was all about the digital..until these past few days when i cut a few tracks analog with full band..now i love anaglog..for good:P:D:D

man, you can do EVERYTHING with digital recording. i love it. i can't go back to analog man, i've been spoiled.

-for all you know, that piss was digital. -Dave Chappelle

[mcflymcflymcfly]

lol...i love digital too..but ive come to enjoy analog more lol..just for the type of music i myself play..analog works much better

[alphatabs]

lol...i love digital too..but ive come to enjoy analog more lol..just for the type of music i myself play..analog works much better

you were talking about a band earlier and i here you there man. I bet it's a bitch to setup a whole band over some digital stuff.

[eviltuna7]

hey, vinyl does have better sound quality, but i sure as hell ain't recording on a tape machine, making marks with a sharpie on where to add or take out stuff.

[ToddMendlinger]

delta 66 with an omni studio. anyhting by m audio is pretty awesome

[mcflymcflymcfly]

hey, vinyl does have better sound quality, but i sure as hell ain't recording on a tape machine, making marks with a sharpie on where to add or take out stuff.

adat xt works really really well...16 channel mackie hooked up, 2 graphic equalizers, 3 compressors, various rack effects, crossover, and some other junk that i dont know what it is, thats what we used to record a few tracks..it turned out great..sounds amazing quality wise..we did hook everything up and record it onto cool edit on the computer, but thats no pro tools

you were talking about a band earlier and i here you there man. I bet it's a bitch to setup a whole band over some digital stuff.

yea, like we do things live off the floor..because we play blues right..so i personally like blues much better live off the floor, blues and digital just doesnt mix in my opinion, now other types of music work well with digital, and digital rocks, but for me and what i play right now analog seems to be working better

[alphatabs]

i've been looking at a lot of the sound cards that have been recommended. Take this for example:

http://www.musiciansfriend.com/srs7/g=rec/search/detail/base_pid/240390/

Do cards like these ONLY record? Would I have to have a whole other sound card to run my surround sound through? What I'm saying is no output, only input. Can this be explained to me? Thanks!~

[MacGuyver]

hey i'm lookin to get a sound card and I'd really like to get this convo going again. I'm looking for a PCI obviously and am debating between the M-Audios and the Creative X-Fi's. any recommendations??

[chr35919]

I wasn't going to start another thread so I'll hijack this one.

So, I've been playing for a while now and have been recording directly using my pod-xt and audacity(rough sound quality I know). I just bought a keyboard and want to add that into the mix but I'm not quite sure what the best way is to connect it to my computer. Do I need a mixer? or what?

Secondly, I want to start recording vocals. Any advice on a good mic and how to mix that in(direct to my computer? or through something else?).

I want to do this right. Spending money is okay. Ideas? Comments? Dickhead remarks?

PM me or respond here

[onemanguitarban]

i've compared the two and IMO i would have to go with the audigy. i mean it's got firewire, RCA, all kinds of line in's, and even optical support. i have to say that it's freaking loaded. and the recording rate is 24-bit so i'm sure it's more than enough for what i need it for.


It seems to me that you didn't actually compare the two......you mearly looked at the specs....and decided 24bit must sound the same, etc.

My M-Audio card recording at 16 bit sounds better than an Audigy card recording at 24 bit....I've done A/B comparisions.....with 2 computers in the same room...with the same kind of mic on each recording the same guitar at the same time with the mics on a T-bar inches appart.

If you need the ins....thats fine........but the sound quality isn't the same even though the speces would have you believe otherwise.