Which Sound Card?

[sibleypeck]

Is the SoundBlaster Live Platinum the best in its class? And, what would be the next step up?

[Stealthtech]

It works, bot its not a pro card for recording. What is it about 200.00?
Check out midiman.com for some descent cards 24bit
You can get an audiophile for about 150.00 that will do a much better job

[musicsdarkangel]

all i have to say is the M Audio Audiophile kicks its ass

[sibleypeck]

I am not familiar with M Audio Audiophile. Tell me more about it.

[Stealthtech]

Its a 24bit PCI card with 2 RCA analog inputs and 2 outputs .
s/pdif ins and outs for digital transfers for ADAT etc...
Midi connects in and out.

Research at www.midiman.com
as well as their other cards and interfaces

[sibleypeck]

Stealthtech,
Thanks. I'll check it out.

[Gidge]

are you looking for an audio card or for a midi interface/synth type card?.....

[sibleypeck]

I have a MIDI interface/synth type card now, I believe - a SoundBlaster PCI 64D. It came as the better of two soundcards available at the time (July '99) as a package with my computer (Gateway E4200), a 450MHz, with 128K RAM. I added a 13.5G drive, but for now (while I am learning) everything is on a 8.5G drive.
What I want are better drums sounds and XLR ins for audio.
The drums on the SB card put the "uck" in suck, and I don't get a satisfactory mic input signal using a high to low impedence converter, coupled with a 1/4" to 1/8" adapter going direct to the card. I want to delay investing in a mike pre and compressor, or a mixer, until after upgrading my drum sounds.
I don't know whether any MIDI interface/synth cards come with decent drums. I might need an audio card, a MIDI interface, and a sound module. I just don't understand well enough how everything works together to make an intelligent decision.
I would like to stay with high-quality expandable gear, so I can increase the number of ins and outs by adding more units, rather than replacing equipment. And I want to stay with a company that produces a product designed to be programmable, to keep up with technological improvements. Maybe this is too much to ask.
If you know of a MIDI interface/synth card that has XLR ins, and high-quality drum sounds, I would like to hear about it. If you think my needs dictate a separate audio card and sound module, please suggest which ones I might consider and tell me how to patch them together and into the computer.

sib

[Gidge]

if you are looking for better drum sounds, you might wanna look into programs like Fruity Loops and Acid with custom samples.....

as far as XLR inputs, it is best to get a soundcard and a separate preamp to hook up to it that has the XLR inputs.......

[sibleypeck]

Thanks for the advice.
I was hoping to be able to postpone buying a mic pre. I thought I might find an audio card (like LynxOne) with XLR inputs, and a sound module with XLR outs (would the sound module connect to the audio card?). I don't know much about sound cards.
I'm not using a mic pre now, and I get a workable signal in. It's not hot enough to mitigate the noise, and I'm getting some interference. But I just don't want to get carried away buying equipment I don't yet need.
I desperately need some decent drum sounds, though. Thanks for the tip on Fruity Loops and ACID. A brief introduction to those things would be very much appreciated.

sib