Hi, I have just bought a new Intel computer (DELL) that I will be using to record music on (due to be delivered this Friday). However it comes with several parts missing: needs extra RAM, wireless network card and a sound card. I will be using CUBASE (yet to purchase) as the main recording software. Having done some research I have heard that Audigy and XFi make some decent soundcards but the better ones cost $$$. A secondhand Audigy Pro from last year is now relatively cheap though but no idea if that is now considered good enough (??). In a nutshell I need some basic advice on a good soundcard to buy as I know you can get external and internal soundcards. The soundcard must be MIDI and audio compatible as I work with both keyboard, vocals and guitar. I already own an external Edirol USB device that I used with my old computer and not sure whether I should just spend more money on a decent internal soundcard and discard the USB device completely. The last thing I want to do is just buy the most expensive Audigy etc and then assume that is ok. I am happy to spend up to several hundred on a good (or at least decent) sound card though. While I realise fully that opinions differ on what products are best, these days there just seems to be an overwhelming amount of stuff out there on the market and therefore I need some basic advice on where to start. Rgds Nassy
On Oct 8, 9:07 am, Nassy <> wrote: > Hi, > > I have just bought a new Intel computer (DELL) that I will be using to > record music on (due to be delivered this Friday). However it comes > with several parts missing: needs extra RAM, wireless network card > and a sound card. I will be using CUBASE (yet to purchase) as the > main recording software. > > Having done some research I have heard that Audigy and XFi make some > decent soundcards but the better ones cost $$$. A secondhand Audigy > Pro from last year is now relatively cheap though but no idea if that > is now considered good enough (??). In a nutshell I need some basic > advice on a good soundcard to buy as I know you can get external and > internal soundcards. The soundcard must be MIDI and audio compatible > as I work with both keyboard, vocals and guitar. I already own an > external Edirol USB device that I used with my old computer and not > sure whether I should just spend more money on a decent internal > soundcard and discard the USB device completely. > > The last thing I want to do is just buy the most expensive Audigy etc > and then assume that is ok. I am happy to spend up to several > hundred on a good (or at least decent) sound card though. While I > realise fully that opinions differ on what products are best, these > days there just seems to be an overwhelming amount of stuff out there > on the market and therefore I need some basic advice on where to > start. > > Rgds > > Nassy Some people here like the M-Audio Delta Audiophile 2496 and it seems to be within your price range. There is nothing remarkable about Audigy-type sound cards for your application but its possible to get good results with them if you only need two channels. It is not clear why your Eridol hardware would not suffice for your requirements. You might want to download the Rightmark sound-card evaluation software and test it: http://rightmark.org/
About sound cards try to avoid those for games such sound blaster or so on. They are great but not really suited for music and what's more you'll not find any asio drivers for them. I am using for instance a presonus firebox but this is only an example. try these link and you'll see by yourself http://www.myspace.com/gefclan good luck Bye Gerard "Nassy" <> wrote in message news:... > Hi, > > I have just bought a new Intel computer (DELL) that I will be using to > record music on (due to be delivered this Friday). However it comes > with several parts missing: needs extra RAM, wireless network card > and a sound card. I will be using CUBASE (yet to purchase) as the > main recording software. > > Having done some research I have heard that Audigy and XFi make some > decent soundcards but the better ones cost $$$. A secondhand Audigy > Pro from last year is now relatively cheap though but no idea if that > is now considered good enough (??). In a nutshell I need some basic > advice on a good soundcard to buy as I know you can get external and > internal soundcards. The soundcard must be MIDI and audio compatible > as I work with both keyboard, vocals and guitar. I already own an > external Edirol USB device that I used with my old computer and not > sure whether I should just spend more money on a decent internal > soundcard and discard the USB device completely. > > The last thing I want to do is just buy the most expensive Audigy etc > and then assume that is ok. I am happy to spend up to several > hundred on a good (or at least decent) sound card though. While I > realise fully that opinions differ on what products are best, these > days there just seems to be an overwhelming amount of stuff out there > on the market and therefore I need some basic advice on where to > start. > > Rgds > > Nassy >
On Mon, 08 Oct 2007 06:07:18 -0700, Nassy <> wrote: >Hi, > >I have just bought a new Intel computer (DELL) that I will be using to >record music on (due to be delivered this Friday). However it comes >with several parts missing: needs extra RAM, wireless network card >and a sound card. I will be using CUBASE (yet to purchase) as the >main recording software. > >Having done some research I have heard that Audigy and XFi make some >decent soundcards but the better ones cost $$$. A secondhand Audigy >Pro from last year is now relatively cheap though but no idea if that >is now considered good enough (??). In a nutshell I need some basic >advice on a good soundcard to buy as I know you can get external and >internal soundcards. The soundcard must be MIDI and audio compatible >as I work with both keyboard, vocals and guitar. I already own an >external Edirol USB device that I used with my old computer and not >sure whether I should just spend more money on a decent internal >soundcard and discard the USB device completely. > >The last thing I want to do is just buy the most expensive Audigy etc >and then assume that is ok. I am happy to spend up to several >hundred on a good (or at least decent) sound card though. While I >realise fully that opinions differ on what products are best, these >days there just seems to be an overwhelming amount of stuff out there >on the market and therefore I need some basic advice on where to >start. Arange wireless networking on a USB "dongle". Then, when you're recording, all you have to do is pull it out The memory scanner utility at www.crucial.com will tell you what memory is installed and what your expansion options are. Highly recommended. An Audigy may suit you, particularly if you need an on-board hardware MIDI synth. Otherwise, it's a poor choice. You certainly don't need one of the expensive ones. How many channels of in/out will you require? Many home studios only require two of each, in which case you need a very good reason not to install the ubiquitous M-Audio Audiophile 2496. If you don't want to use an external mixer (though I suggest you do) you could look at one of the USB or Firewire external units that offer microphone preamps and basic mixing.
"Laurence Payne" <NOSPAMlpayne1ATdsl.pipex.com> wrote in message news:... > > How many channels of in/out will you require? Many home studios only > require two of each, in which case you need a very good reason not to > install the ubiquitous M-Audio Audiophile 2496. If you don't want to > use an external mixer (though I suggest you do) you could look at one > of the USB or Firewire external units that offer microphone preamps > and basic mixing. And if you want four channels the M-Audio Delta 44 is simple, clean, inexpensive and you can put up to four of them in one box (if you've got enough spare PCI slots). An external mixer is a good idea for the flexibility it gives you.
----------------------------------------------------------------------- "Nassy" <> wrote in message news:... > Hi, > > I have just bought a new Intel computer (DELL) that I will be using to > record music on (due to be delivered this Friday). However it comes > with several parts missing: needs extra RAM, wireless network card > and a sound card. I will be using CUBASE (yet to purchase) as the > main recording software. > > Having done some research I have heard that Audigy and XFi make some > decent soundcards but the better ones cost $$$. A secondhand Audigy > Pro from last year is now relatively cheap though but no idea if that > is now considered good enough (??). In a nutshell I need some basic > advice on a good soundcard to buy as I know you can get external and > internal soundcards. The soundcard must be MIDI and audio compatible > as I work with both keyboard, vocals and guitar. I already own an > external Edirol USB device that I used with my old computer and not > sure whether I should just spend more money on a decent internal > soundcard and discard the USB device completely. > > The last thing I want to do is just buy the most expensive Audigy etc > and then assume that is ok. I am happy to spend up to several > hundred on a good (or at least decent) sound card though. While I > realise fully that opinions differ on what products are best, these > days there just seems to be an overwhelming amount of stuff out there > on the market and therefore I need some basic advice on where to > start. > > Rgds > > Nassy > Nassy, There are almost as many opinions about soundcards as there are soundcards. Since you haven't given all your requirements, I'll toss out some things to consider. Most sound cards have good fidelity. Even cheap ones, usually, though I'm gonna get flamed real badly for having said that, but we don't need the rantings of the immature here. The differences in the fancy SoundBlasters, etc. are in features, like 5.1 channel capability, onboard DSP (effects, like reverb) and stuff. You probably don't need them. You'll probably use software plugins for reverb (and equalizers and compressors, etc.) on a per-track basis (or on a software mixing buss) in your production software (Cubase), so forget the DSP. If you'll need low latency, then you will probably not want to use a SoundBlaster (Audigy, etc), unless they've improved their drivers. You'll need a low latency soundcard if you're using software synths (as opposed to external MIDI-connected synths). The built-in MIDI synths in the SoundBlasters don't require a low-latency setup -- they're like external MIDI-connected synths, even though they're inside the soundcard. You may not like the way those synths sound. You'll also need a low-latency soundard if you're using audio input monitoring out of your production software. If you use an external audio mixer, then you don't need to mess with input monitoring. For regular work with MIDI and/or audio tracks with an external mixer, no soft-synths, latency doesn't matter. If a soundcard doesn't have MIDI (and less do these days), then you can get a USB MIDI box, like the MidiSport from Midiman. Two sets of MIDI in/out. Inexpensive, and works great. The Delta 44 soundcard is a 4-in, 4-out basic soundcard that simply works. It was around $200 a few years ago. I can't imagine needing to spend a lot more than that. It needs a PCI slot. There are USB soundcards that others have mentioned too. -- Regards from Virginia Beach, Earl Kiosterud www.smokeylake.com
On Tue, 09 Oct 2007 03:32:51 GMT, "Earl Kiosterud" <> wrote: >If you'll need low latency, then you will probably not want to use a SoundBlaster (Audigy, >etc), unless they've improved their drivers. You'll need a low latency soundcard if you're >using software synths (as opposed to external MIDI-connected synths). The built-in MIDI >synths in the SoundBlasters don't require a low-latency setup -- they're like external >MIDI-connected synths, even though they're inside the soundcard. You may not like the way >those synths sound. You'll also need a low-latency soundard if you're using audio input >monitoring out of your production software. If you use an external audio mixer, then you >don't need to mess with input monitoring. For regular work with MIDI and/or audio tracks >with an external mixer, no soft-synths, latency doesn't matter. Note that "if you're using audio input monitoring out of your production software" includes playing software synths from a MIDI keyboard, if you want to hear the sound without delay as you record.
Re: Just purchased New Computer - Need Sound Card basic Advice -Help! Earl Kiosterud wrote: > ----------------------------------------------------------------------- > "Nassy" <> wrote in message > news:... >> Hi, >> >> I have just bought a new Intel computer (DELL) that I will be using to >> record music on (due to be delivered this Friday). However it comes >> with several parts missing: needs extra RAM, wireless network card >> and a sound card. I will be using CUBASE (yet to purchase) as the >> main recording software. [...] > Most sound cards have good fidelity. Even cheap ones, usually, though I'm gonna get flamed > real badly for having said that, but we don't need the rantings of the immature here. The > differences in the fancy SoundBlasters, etc. are in features, like 5.1 channel capability, > onboard DSP (effects, like reverb) and stuff. You probably don't need them. You'll > probably use software plugins for reverb (and equalizers and compressors, etc.) on a > per-track basis (or on a software mixing buss) in your production software (Cubase), so > forget the DSP. For that matter, I can't imagine any machine made in the last five years that DOESN'T have a sound chipset built into the motherboard. This may well be sufficient for what he's doing.
"Matt Ion" <> wrote in message news:5VMOi.5251$1y4.2044@pd7urf2no... > Earl Kiosterud wrote: >> ----------------------------------------------------------------------- >> "Nassy" <> wrote in message >> news:... >>> Hi, >>> >>> I have just bought a new Intel computer (DELL) that I will be using to >>> record music on (due to be delivered this Friday). However it comes >>> with several parts missing: needs extra RAM, wireless network card >>> and a sound card. I will be using CUBASE (yet to purchase) as the >>> main recording software. > [...] >> Most sound cards have good fidelity. Even cheap ones, usually, though I'm gonna get >> flamed real badly for having said that, but we don't need the rantings of the immature >> here. The differences in the fancy SoundBlasters, etc. are in features, like 5.1 channel >> capability, onboard DSP (effects, like reverb) and stuff. You probably don't need them. >> You'll probably use software plugins for reverb (and equalizers and compressors, etc.) on >> a per-track basis (or on a software mixing buss) in your production software (Cubase), so >> forget the DSP. > > For that matter, I can't imagine any machine made in the last five years that DOESN'T have > a sound chipset built into the motherboard. This may well be sufficient for what he's > doing. Yes. Another good point. And the OP should start off with that soundcard, and go to a better one only if it becomes necessary. The fidelity of that card will probably be just fine, and can be easily tested. It's unlikely that there will be low-latency drivers available for it, but so far there's nothing in his description pointing to the need for that. One possible problem with such a card is digital noise from the computer appearing in the output. That can be fixable, at least in one case I saw, with a change in the ground lead of the audio output connection. -- Regards from Virginia Beach, Earl Kiosterud www.smokeylake.com
"Laurence Payne" <NOSPAMlpayne1ATdsl.pipex.com> wrote in message news:... > On Tue, 09 Oct 2007 03:32:51 GMT, "Earl Kiosterud" > <> wrote: > >>If you'll need low latency, then you will probably not want to use a SoundBlaster (Audigy, >>etc), unless they've improved their drivers. You'll need a low latency soundcard if >>you're >>using software synths (as opposed to external MIDI-connected synths). The built-in MIDI >>synths in the SoundBlasters don't require a low-latency setup -- they're like external >>MIDI-connected synths, even though they're inside the soundcard. You may not like the way >>those synths sound. You'll also need a low-latency soundard if you're using audio input >>monitoring out of your production software. If you use an external audio mixer, then you >>don't need to mess with input monitoring. For regular work with MIDI and/or audio tracks >>with an external mixer, no soft-synths, latency doesn't matter. > > Note that "if you're using audio input monitoring out of your > production software" includes playing software synths from a MIDI > keyboard, if you want to hear the sound without delay as you record. This is a good point. A software synth will play just fine with a high-latency soundcard during playback, and should play in sync with your audio tracks and other MIDI synths (MIDI-cable-connected or soundcard-internal). But while you're recording it, its sound will be delayed by the long time of the high latency soundcard, an unusable setup. -- Regards from Virginia Beach, Earl Kiosterud www.smokeylake.com
On 9 Oct, 17:41, "Earl Kiosterud" <> wrote: > "Laurence Payne" <NOSPAMlpayne1ATdsl.pipex.com> wrote in message > > news:... > > > > > > > On Tue, 09 Oct 2007 03:32:51 GMT, "Earl Kiosterud" > > <> wrote: > > >>If you'll need low latency, then you will probably not want to use a SoundBlaster (Audigy, > >>etc), unless they've improved their drivers. You'll need a low latency soundcard if > >>you're > >>using software synths (as opposed to external MIDI-connected synths). The built-in MIDI > >>synths in the SoundBlasters don't require a low-latency setup -- they're like external > >>MIDI-connected synths, even though they're inside the soundcard. You may not like the way > >>those synths sound. You'll also need a low-latency soundard if you're using audio input > >>monitoring out of your production software. If you use an external audio mixer, then you > >>don't need to mess with input monitoring. For regular work with MIDI and/or audio tracks > >>with an external mixer, no soft-synths, latency doesn't matter. > > > Note that "if you're using audio input monitoring out of your > > production software" includes playing software synths from a MIDI > > keyboard, if you want to hear the sound without delay as you record. > > This is a good point. A software synth will play just fine with a high-latency soundcard > during playback, and should play in sync with your audio tracks and other MIDI synths > (MIDI-cable-connected or soundcard-internal). But while you're recording it, its sound will > be delayed by the long time of the high latency soundcard, an unusable setup. > -- > Regards from Virginia Beach, > > Earl Kiosterudwww.smokeylake.com- Hide quoted text - > > - Show quoted text - First of all I'd like to thank everyone for the replies. Having read them I think I will see how I get along with the sound card the computer comes with (very very basic) and the EDIROL UA-25 which I bought for my old computer (which sadly fell apart). The EDIROL UA-25 has ok reviews and is meant to be good value. In the future if I want to change to a set up with an external mixer then I would definitely consider the M-Audio Audiophile 2496. Spending hundreds on the top of the range Audigy doesn't sound like a sensible idea given your replies when a) I have an external USB soundcard and b) even if I didn't the Audigy would be a bad choice.
> >First of all I'd like to thank everyone for the replies. Having read >them I think I will see how I get along with the sound card the >computer comes with (very very basic) and the EDIROL UA-25 which I >bought for my old computer (which sadly fell apart). The EDIROL UA-25 >has ok reviews and is meant to be good value. In the future if I want >to change to a set up with an external mixer then I would definitely >consider the M-Audio Audiophile 2496. Spending hundreds on the top >of the range Audigy doesn't sound like a sensible idea given your >replies when a) I have an external USB soundcard and b) even if I >didn't the Audigy would be a bad choice. > I use an Edirol UA-25 and I love it - its basic but the results are fine. There's absolutely nothing wrong with these at all and there's no reason why you can't use it with an external mixer if you need to. Unlike some here, I prefer to do everything within the digital domain. I can see why an external mixer and outboard gear would be necessary for multiple ins and outs...say for recording a full band in a pro studio environment...but its not a requirement for one musician recording at home. LL
Re: Just purchased New Computer - Need Sound Card basic Advice -Help! Earl Kiosterud wrote: >> For that matter, I can't imagine any machine made in the last five years that DOESN'T have >> a sound chipset built into the motherboard. This may well be sufficient for what he's >> doing. > > Yes. Another good point. And the OP should start off with that soundcard, and go to a > better one only if it becomes necessary. The fidelity of that card will probably be just > fine, and can be easily tested. It's unlikely that there will be low-latency drivers > available for it, but so far there's nothing in his description pointing to the need for > that. Exactly: there's nothing to lose by using the onboard sound to get started, and upgrading later when or IF it becomes necessary. > One possible problem with such a card is digital noise from the computer appearing in the > output. That can be fixable, at least in one case I saw, with a change in the ground lead > of the audio output connection. It's a possibility, though a slim one, in my experience. I got more noise on the line and mic inputs of my SoundBlaster Extigy than I get from my Asus A8V motherboard's onboard sound. Only way to know for sure is to try it... like I said, nothing to lose with simply trying the onboard sound first.
