Need inexpensive but appropriate soundcard

Bluesyone

New member
Hi -
I've read Dragon's piece about the 2 soundcard comparison. I can't spring for a Layla-type card (and am not big enough into recording....yet). I would like to purchase a relatively high fidelity sound card which will allow me to do simultaneous play/record (is this necessary? my understanding is that it is). Someone posted that the SB does not allow this.
Can anyone recommend a decent card or cards?
The array of basic cards out there is baffling. AWE? Wave table? 16 bit? 32 bit?
Do any of the low-priced cards offer anything better than 1/8" jacks (e.g., RCAs)?
The card I have now was included with my PC a few yrs ago..an Aztech I think...doesn't seem optimal.

Also, when recording distorted guitar, would it be harmful to the pc or soundcard to run the distorted signal into the card, or do I have to run distortion software instead?

Thanks!
Bluesyone
 
Aztechs are the worst...my wife's been suffering with one for years!

SoundBlasters run the gamut from solid trash to not too shabby...the best is supposed to be the SB Live, but people right here have noted a number of problems with them. For the money they want for that one, you'd probably be far better off with something else. I've never used these personally, but check these pages out:
http://www.audiencedp.com/hoontech.htm
http://www.audiocards.com/detail.asp?id=151
http://www.audiocards.com/detail.asp?id=53

As far as signal, recording distorted guitar on a soundcard is no more harmful to the equipment than recording it to tape, as long as you feed it appropriate level signals (i.e. a true line level to the line in).
 
i have a montego a3d xstream from turtle beach. it works very well for me .it only cost $50. its full duplex and has a 92 db
noise to sound ratio.which i think is better than the sound blaster.
dave
 
I know many people blast the Soundblaster cards for being too noisy. However, I have a Sounblaster AWE 64 Gold which came with a E-Mu Creation Studio package I bought. I'm extremely happy with it. I mix down from either my cassette multitracker or Korg D8 HD recorder through it,and at least my ears cannot detect the hiss I got with a previous el-cheapo souncard. Even after mastering to CD and playing the CD on my home stereo at high volumes, my quiet passages are quiet! I think I've seen some really good deals on the AWE 64 Gold...certainly under $100. Just my thoughts.

Ranger
 
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