Needed Soundcard.

[NLAlston]

Hi.

I just got Reason4, and need another soundcard for my computer. The integrated one is, apparently, the reason why I am encountering latency. My controller is an E-MU XBoard 49 (wasn't sure if it mattered), and I wondered what my cheapest soundcard option would be; one which would feature 'direct monitoring/zero latency'.

 

[pandamonk]

Hi.

I just got Reason4, and need another soundcard for my computer. The integrated one is, apparently, the reason why I am encountering latency. My controller is an E-MU XBoard 49 (wasn't sure if it mattered), and I wondered what my cheapest soundcard option would be; one which would feature 'direct monitoring/zero latency'.

You can reduce the latency, although a new interface would be better.

 

[NLAlston]

You can reduce the latency, although a new interface would be better.

Hey Pandmonk ~ thanks for responding.

The only way that I can see to reduce the latency is by lowering the slider -as much as possible - tot the left-side position. I have done this, to just ahead of the point where the audio is scratchy - yet still have unacceptable latency. I know that some people have resigned themselves to working with a little latency, and correcting it (after the fact) in software. But I am one who can't function like that. I have to have it 'right on' at the very start.

With this in mind, what soundcard would you recommend?

 

[pandamonk]

Hey Pandmonk ~ thanks for responding.

The only way that I can see to reduce the latency is by lowering the slider -as much as possible - tot the left-side position. I have done this, to just ahead of the point where the audio is scratchy - yet still have unacceptable latency. I know that some people have resigned themselves to working with a little latency, and correcting it (after the fact) in software. But I am one who can't function like that. I have to have it 'right on' at the very start.

With this in mind, what soundcard would you recommend?

How many channels do you need, and what is your budget?

 

[NLAlston]

How many channels do you need, and what is your budget?

I am kind of a newb, with this manner of stuff, and am not certain about the 'channel' issue. Allow me to give you an illustration of my setup, which may serve to answer that for you. All I have is my computer; my E-MU XBoard49 controller, and my MotifES8 outfitted with an mLAN16e expansion board. I was, initially, given info that I could do just what I desired to do with my present setup. But I have tried it out, and can't seem to get it going in that way.

As far as my budget is concerned, I had figured that no more than $150 -$200 should be enough to set me right (I could be wrong, though).

 

[Myriad_Rocker]

I am kind of a newb, with this manner of stuff, and am not certain about the 'channel' issue. Allow me to give you an illustration of my setup, which may serve to answer that for you. All I have is my computer; my E-MU XBoard49 controller, and my MotifES8 outfitted with an mLAN16e expansion board. I was, initially, given info that I could do just what I desired to do with my present setup. But I have tried it out, and can't seem to get it going in that way.

As far as my budget is concerned, I had figured that no more than $150 -$200 should be enough to set me right (I could be wrong, though).

By channels he meant, how many things are you going to be recording at one time.

 

[NLAlston]

By channels he meant, how many things are you going to be recording at one time.

Thanks. I kinda figured that this might have been what he was making reference to - but wasn't at all sure. I will only be recording one thing at any given time. As far as growth & expansion is concerned (warranting a need for greater inputs/channels), I can say that this isn't an issue. Right now, I have (excluding the needed soundcard) everything that I need to make music the way I desire to.

I am also aware that another concern might be over whether I cared to go internal, or external (as in some type of Audio Interface. I once had the Lexicon Omega Interface (since given to my brother), which really did a good job of canceling out any latency. But I've been hearing that it may be much better to go with an 'internal' card.

Your help in this is highly appreciated.

 

[rightroad1]

Hey the Razer Barracuda AC-1 gaming sound card is good , you can have a look at it :
http://www.dealstudio.com/searchdeals.php?deal_id=67858

 

[Myriad_Rocker]

Thanks. I kinda figured that this might have been what he was making reference to - but wasn't at all sure. I will only be recording one thing at any given time. As far as growth & expansion is concerned (warranting a need for greater inputs/channels), I can say that this isn't an issue. Right now, I have (excluding the needed soundcard) everything that I need to make music the way I desire to.

I am also aware that another concern might be over whether I cared to go internal, or external (as in some type of Audio Interface. I once had the Lexicon Omega Interface (since given to my brother), which really did a good job of canceling out any latency. But I've been hearing that it may be much better to go with an 'internal' card.

Your help in this is highly appreciated.

I wouldn't say that internal is necessarily better. In fact, the popular thing right now with audio interfaces is firewire, which is plenty fast. Just don't get USB.

You might check out these...

http://www.musiciansfriend.com/product/PreSonus-INSPIRE-1394-FireWire-Audio-Interface?sku=241483

http://www.musiciansfriend.com/product/MAudio-FireWire-Solo-Mobile-Audio-Interface?sku=701364

http://www.musiciansfriend.com/product/MAudio-Delta-1010-LT-PCI-Digital-Audio-System?sku=701376

http://www.musiciansfriend.com/product/MAudio-FireWire-410-Computer-Recording-Interface?sku=701385

And they keep going up from there.

If you want something to that will let you expand in the future, take a look at the FireStudio or FirePod by PreSonus. They're a little more expensive and have more channels but you might be interested. I know you said you only needed one channel at a time but you never know down the road.

 

[NLAlston]

I wouldn't say that internal is necessarily better. In fact, the popular thing right now with audio interfaces is firewire, which is plenty fast. Just don't get USB.

You might check out these...

http://www.musiciansfriend.com/product/PreSonus-INSPIRE-1394-FireWire-Audio-Interface?sku=241483

http://www.musiciansfriend.com/product/MAudio-FireWire-Solo-Mobile-Audio-Interface?sku=701364

http://www.musiciansfriend.com/product/MAudio-Delta-1010-LT-PCI-Digital-Audio-System?sku=701376

http://www.musiciansfriend.com/product/MAudio-FireWire-410-Computer-Recording-Interface?sku=701385

And they keep going up from there.

If you want something to that will let you expand in the future, take a look at the FireStudio or FirePod by PreSonus. They're a little more expensive and have more channels but you might be interested. I know you said you only needed one channel at a time but you never know down the road.

Thanks, MR.

You know, it was just last week that I had tried out another Audio Interface. And this one was the PreSonus Firebox. I thought that this might be the way to go, seeing as how I could install it on my wife's laptop for when we go on trips. I was so pumped up when it arrived, but was never able to get it going. For some odd reason, there was an insurmountable problem with the driver installation. I thought that it might have been a defective disk, but had the same issue with the driver downloaded from their site. A call to them afforded no change in the problem (they did try, though). So, needless to say, it was returned. But thanks for the links. Maybe I'll try another.

 

[pandamonk]

I wouldn't say that internal is necessarily better. In fact, the popular thing right now with audio interfaces is firewire, which is plenty fast. Just don't get USB.

You might check out these...

http://www.musiciansfriend.com/product/PreSonus-INSPIRE-1394-FireWire-Audio-Interface?sku=241483

http://www.musiciansfriend.com/product/MAudio-FireWire-Solo-Mobile-Audio-Interface?sku=701364

http://www.musiciansfriend.com/product/MAudio-Delta-1010-LT-PCI-Digital-Audio-System?sku=701376

http://www.musiciansfriend.com/product/MAudio-FireWire-410-Computer-Recording-Interface?sku=701385

And they keep going up from there.

If you want something to that will let you expand in the future, take a look at the FireStudio or FirePod by PreSonus. They're a little more expensive and have more channels but you might be interested. I know you said you only needed one channel at a time but you never know down the road.

USB is great if all you need is two channels. Firewire is better for more.