Setting Up PC recording with K2500

[Gautam]

Hi people.

I want to record music from my synth on to a computer and I need to record vocals as well.

After a lot of research I decided on the SM58 for vocals, and I decided on getting a Sound Blaster Audigy 2 ZS Pro as it has a preamp for my SM58 and it has analog inputs along with MIDI for my synth.

I Believe that Sound Blaster is not supposed to be good for home recording purposes and am being recommended the M-Audio Mobile Pre USB for my recording needs. Someone told me that the Joystick port from the onboard sound card can be used as a MIDI port so I need not have a sound card with MIDI feature.

I checked out the specs of the Sound Blaster and the M-Audio offering and both are 24/96 recording. The only difference seems to be the 2ms latency in Soundblaster vis-a-vis the zero latency in M-Audio.

From various opinions on this forum there seems to be a lot of difference in the quality of sound between the two.

Finally, this Audigy 2 ZS Pro is a relatively new product of Creative so I really don't know how good it is.

Could someone please advise?

[Nilbog]

I dont know specificaly about this model sound card, but the general rules about soundblaster type cards are thus:

-Latency will always be an issue, this will be an extra headache trying to sync up tracks, and dont even think about doing anything live (I seriously doubt 2ms latency is what you are actually going to get)
-Noise. Soundblaster type card always pick up more than whats coming in from the mic. They suck.
-Dont believe what they tell you. They may advertise 24/96 but whats the point if you are recording crap? Thats exactly what your getting recording through ANY soundcard.

Niether of your options are perfect, but the Maudio box is a lightyear or two ahead of the soundcard. You will still have latency, you will most likely still have a little noise, but they problems will be far less than on the soundblaster.

You can indeed use the joystick port for midi. You can pick up a cable that will go from that port to a midi device at any music store.

BTW, the preamp in the audigy sucks. I dont know this because I tested it, I know this because its in a soundblaster.

[Gautam]

Alright you make a pretty emphatic statement.

But are you saying those sound blaster guys are bullshitting when they say 24/96?

Also, are there any people out there who believe otherwise. If not then I will definitely go for M-Audio

thanx

[Nilbog]

Yeah, it records at 24/96, sure. But whats the point of recording at 24/96 when your recording fuzz at crappy levels through bad DA converters?
It's like a digital camera that claims 3.0 megapixels, but all the pictures are fuzzy. YEAH, its technically 3.0 megpixels, but the lens, digital eye and all that crap sucks.
So yes, you'll get 24/96, but you'll be recording crap.

[TexRoadkill]

There's no contest. Get the Maudio.