E
Esquire
New member
Greetings, all. After countless hours reading messages on this board and researching various topics on the web, I think I'm ready to purchase my new computer. I'm posting the proposed setup here w/the hope that you will share your thoughts.
I've been doing my dj mixes on a tascam and am planning to expand my mix possibilities by switching to computer-based recording. (In previous posts, some were confused by the term "mix." By mix, I simply mean I take two vinyl records and mix/blend/beatmatch the songs on those records, and I record that mix.)
At this time, I'm still an amateur and thus do not need to achieve professional level audio quality in the short term (i.e., w/my immediate planned purchase). I do, however, want the quality to be better than that of an analog tape.
TENTATIVE SETUP
AMD Thunderbird 1.33 GHz
Asus A7M266 motherboard
512 MB DDR RAM
2x 40 GB IBM Deskstar (7200 RPM)
Lite-On 12x10x32 CD-RW Rewriter
Neutral on the video card
See note below for sound card
SOUNDCARD HELP
In reviewing all of the advice on soundcards, I must admit that I am pretty confused. I'm pretty sure that the opinions on the sound cards are based on varying levels of sophistication. I am a true novice; my only reference point is the sound quality of recorded tapes (I have obviously listened to CDs but have not recorded any CDs myself).
I have read mixed reviews about the low end cards. Soundblaster has been blasted several times, but Ensoniq seems to get decent reviews. With Creative's acquisition of Ensoniq's products, has the quality of the Ensoniq diminished. Basically, do you feel that Creative just sucks and that the Ensoniq now sucks b/c it's manufactured by Creative. Should I really avoid these low end cards altogether?
Most of the higher end sound cards are way out of my price range.
Basically, other than the low end cards, the only card I've come across that I could possibly (w/some sacrifice) afford is the Audiophile 2496. As I noted above, I'm basically recording from vinyl. I guess my top priority is respectable analog to digital conversion.
Here's my bottom line: I want to use my computer to record my mixes, but I want to do more than merely convert my tapes to CD for sheer convenience (e.g., just so I can listen to the mixes in my car). I'm hoping to achieve better sound quality as well.
Can I achieve such quality using a low end card? If so, which one do you recommend?
Will I really need to go w/the audiophile to achieve any noticeable quality? Will the difference in quality b/t the soundcards justify the $100+ difference in price?
As always, your input is greatly appreciated!!! (Please be merciful in your comments; I am still a newbie).
I've been doing my dj mixes on a tascam and am planning to expand my mix possibilities by switching to computer-based recording. (In previous posts, some were confused by the term "mix." By mix, I simply mean I take two vinyl records and mix/blend/beatmatch the songs on those records, and I record that mix.)
At this time, I'm still an amateur and thus do not need to achieve professional level audio quality in the short term (i.e., w/my immediate planned purchase). I do, however, want the quality to be better than that of an analog tape.
TENTATIVE SETUP
AMD Thunderbird 1.33 GHz
Asus A7M266 motherboard
512 MB DDR RAM
2x 40 GB IBM Deskstar (7200 RPM)
Lite-On 12x10x32 CD-RW Rewriter
Neutral on the video card
See note below for sound card
SOUNDCARD HELP
In reviewing all of the advice on soundcards, I must admit that I am pretty confused. I'm pretty sure that the opinions on the sound cards are based on varying levels of sophistication. I am a true novice; my only reference point is the sound quality of recorded tapes (I have obviously listened to CDs but have not recorded any CDs myself).
I have read mixed reviews about the low end cards. Soundblaster has been blasted several times, but Ensoniq seems to get decent reviews. With Creative's acquisition of Ensoniq's products, has the quality of the Ensoniq diminished. Basically, do you feel that Creative just sucks and that the Ensoniq now sucks b/c it's manufactured by Creative. Should I really avoid these low end cards altogether?
Most of the higher end sound cards are way out of my price range.
Basically, other than the low end cards, the only card I've come across that I could possibly (w/some sacrifice) afford is the Audiophile 2496. As I noted above, I'm basically recording from vinyl. I guess my top priority is respectable analog to digital conversion.
Here's my bottom line: I want to use my computer to record my mixes, but I want to do more than merely convert my tapes to CD for sheer convenience (e.g., just so I can listen to the mixes in my car). I'm hoping to achieve better sound quality as well.
Can I achieve such quality using a low end card? If so, which one do you recommend?
Will I really need to go w/the audiophile to achieve any noticeable quality? Will the difference in quality b/t the soundcards justify the $100+ difference in price?
As always, your input is greatly appreciated!!! (Please be merciful in your comments; I am still a newbie).
