'Beginner' Soundcards For Under $300

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a_red_sodeep

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Hi, apologies if this happens to be the annoying newbie question that get's asked about 3 times a week.

I'm basically totally new to the recording world and I was looking for a good 'starter' soundcard to get me started (and also double as the main soundcard I use for doing everything else on my computer: mp3s, movies, games, etc).

I've done a little shopping around (mostly looking at the selection on musician's friend.com) and I was wondering what you guys reccomend.

I don't need anything particularly fancy at all, just something to record my own guitar work and possibly a cheap demo of my band when the time comes (and I can find a place with decent acoustics).

I really don't want to pay much more than $250 at most, so I was looking into the Soundblaster Audigy's, especially since they aren't made soley for recording. Something with a front-panel/drive is kind of a must. It seems useful and it just looks damned cool.

Some XLR inputs for mics would be nice too, but I have an okay mixing board that I suppose I could run into the soundcard (if that's possible?) so the number of total inputs isn't a huge factor.

Like I said before, I've really been considering an Audigy just because they seem flexible and are pretty cheap, but they don't seem to be widely used for more 'serious' home recording. Then again, I'm not looking for anything very fancy, either, but I'm definitely interested whatever opinions/alternatives you guys may have.

Thanks!
 
Sound Cards

You will find that most people are bypassing the sound card completely and using USB to import wave files directly to the drive. The sound card comes into play only for the listening of the tracks during and after mixdown.
However that said. The audigy is geared to gameplay and home theatre users. It pay not provide true sound quality while recording. You will have to tweak the recording settings quite a bit to get a good line level.
Going thru a board is possible but you will still have the same issue of getting the record settings just right so that your line level is not too hot or too faint.
You might want to look into the boards that are made specifically for home recording. They are on par price wise with the Audigy. You can keep your existing sound card and use the recording board for just that ... recording.
 
Forget about the audigy. Start here: http://www.midiman.net/products/m-audio/delta.php

If you're that keen on having something like a break out box, the Delta 44 may be something for you. 4 inputs 4 outputs (balanced) at 24bits/96khz for less than $250,-. M-audio soundcards are widely used by people on this board.
 
first off, forget the front panel idea......

secondly, look at the Delta 1010lt.....especially if you want to record bands in the future.....it has tons of inputs/outputs and is a better sounding card than the Audigy.......
 
Hi All
I'm kind of in the same boat as "red"--looking for my next uopgrade. I've been living with my SB Live! Value card for a long time now (3 or more years) and it's been OK, though I'm not someone who is super-picky, obviously. Price was right, and it's served me well.

I've been looking at the bottom of the barrel of "better" cards, price-wise: The Audiophile 24/96, the Delta 44, etc. They look like the right thing for me...

2 questions:

Is there another 4 input card out there (beside the Delta 44) that I might be missing?

I play games quite a bit--will a card like either a 24/96 or a Delta 44 work just fine with them? I'm not looking for any of the extra-psycho-acoustical effects that SB cards tout--just the straight sounds from the games, as they appear panned in space. Hope that makes sense....

Wish I could use soundfonts with other cards, too. Ah well--give something up, it's usually made up for in another, unexpected way.

Thanks
Chris
 
I've been using one of those Tascam two channel USB 224 things for a few weeks to tide me over, since my Aardvark self-destructed.

(due in no small part to 'help' from Aardvark's tech support)

Anyway the Tascam is limited in channels--I wouldn't expect more from USB anyway. It works flawlessly, and sounds as good as the aardvark too. Headphone amp is kind of weak, but that's my only complaint. Costs $299. Works for other computer tasks as well. Looked like Tascam is coming out with another USB job without the control surface for $199. Audiphile USB should be nice too. These are VERY basic sound cards. But if you record one or two tracks at a time, they're nice.

I'm planning on getting a Motu828 II or the 8 channel firewire Tascam job when they come out.

But for the time being the little Tascam is working out.

-Jtt
 
What difference would you find between the 1010 and 1010LT, except from having to clear a load of desk space for the first. :) Thanks
 
CanopuS said:
What difference would you find between the 1010 and 1010LT, except from having to clear a load of desk space for the first. :) Thanks
Click to expand...

The 1010 has
balanced I/O, switchable between -10dB and +4dB, (better?) converters in the rackunit instead of on the pci card, word clock i/o
 
ok, out of the blue, here it comes, what ever happen to the m-audio latency issue? i just did a 2 hour search and it ended about 10 months ago or so with the WDM m-audio beta drivers being released... then got vague as hell :) anyone?.... tia
 
Fusion2 said:
ok, out of the blue, here it comes, what ever happen to the m-audio latency issue?
Click to expand...

Solved with the new beta drivers!

Now I get a WDM-latency of about 5ms with Sonar. When I'm using Asio I can get a stable 2ms though
 
so chris...

it sounds pretty much like most of the glory comes in having a nice big box. I'm sure the other things help, but are any of them particularly essential to recording?
 
Gidge said:
first off, forget the front panel idea......

secondly, look at the Delta 1010lt.....especially if you want to record bands in the future.....it has tons of inputs/outputs and is a better sounding card than the Audigy.......
Click to expand...

Yup

www.digitalproaudio.com - $250 & they treat you right :)
 
Jag, or anyone else, do you use the 1010LT. I'd love to be able to hear what the quality is like. If anyone has any recordings (or with the Aardvark Q10) would be great.

THANKS :D
 
This question probably borders along retarded.. but with the Delta 44 and a few similar cards, there doesn't seem to be any 'outs' on the back of the card itself. How does one hook a card like that up to his desktop speakers?
 
Another recommendation for the 44. I've had mine since October 2000, running on two systems, on Win98, Win2K, and now WinXP, no problems whatsover. You should be able to play your games on them. I've disabled the onboard sound on my machine so EVERYTHING goes through the Delta. You don't need anything on the card itself (except for the cable to the box). The box has 4 ins and 4 outs. You can plug your speakers into Outs 1 and 2, which would correspond to Left and Right on your speakers/apps/etc...

The sound quality is very good, I have some pretty high end gear going into it. Pictures of my rig are at http://home.earthlink.net/~egordon99/studio.html

Let us know if you have any more specific ?s on the Delta.

a_red_sodeep said:
This question probably borders along retarded.. but with the Delta 44 and a few similar cards, there doesn't seem to be any 'outs' on the back of the card itself. How does one hook a card like that up to his desktop speakers?
Click to expand...
 
CanopuS said:
Jag, or anyone else, do you use the 1010LT. I'd love to be able to hear what the quality is like. If anyone has any recordings (or with the Aardvark Q10) would be great.

THANKS :D
Click to expand...

I have a 1010lt, but I have yet to really use it. My old computer crapped out just after I installed it. I just finished building a new computer and found that the the card had too high a noise floor for this type of card. I contacted M-Audio, and they got back to me in less than a day and said the card was defective. The boys at www.digitalproaudio.com shipped me a new one which I installed last night. So to make a short story long :D, I haven't seriously recorded with it yet.

I did manage to make exactly one recorded vocal with the new card before my old computer crapped out. I didn't spend a lot of time on it, but it sounded clear and a lot more precise sounding than the SBLive Value I was previously using. However, I really haven't done a proper test (ex. I used compression on my vocals on the SBLive, but I used none on the track I did with the 1010lt).

I'm sure there are plenty of folks who have better stories :D. I intend to start some recording very soon. Maybe I can share some scratch tracks with you or something in the next week or so to see what you think. Keep in mind...I really don't know that much about this stuff yet :D.
 
a_red_sodeep said:
This question probably borders along retarded.. but with the Delta 44 and a few similar cards, there doesn't seem to be any 'outs' on the back of the card itself. How does one hook a card like that up to his desktop speakers?
Click to expand...

The 44 should have 4 outs. You will need to use one pair of those outs (probably 1&2) to run to your monitors...whatever they may be. I have this issue with my 1010lt as well. What I will be doing is using outs 1&2 for the monitors (which are my computer speakers for the time being). Since they are self powered, I should just need to get the proper adapter. 2 male RCA to female stereo 1/8". The 44 should be similar, except you will need a 2 male 1/4" to stereo 1/8" (I assume you are talking about your computer desktop powered speakers as well) adapter.

I'll probably also get a similar adapter to use on out 3&4 for the headphone mix while tracking. I have heard these units, have enough output to plug headphones in direct without needing a headphone amp. I guess I'll find out soon enough.

Hope this helped. This is all theoretical as I haven't actually done this yet :D
 
Jag: I would love to hear something once recorded, and also, I guess its important to know what other gear you are using with it :) Thanks for not grilling the newbie :D

Do you have MSN or ICQ at all?

Sorry! :D
 
CanopuS said:
Jag: I would love to hear something once recorded, and also, I guess its important to know what other gear you are using with it :) Thanks for not grilling the newbie :D

Do you have MSN or ICQ at all?

Sorry! :D
Click to expand...

NP

My equipment is very bottom feeder.

Preamp = Audiobuddy
Mic = AKG C535EB
Guitar = Ovation Celebrity (sucks for recording)

That will about cover the equipment used on scratch tracks (guit & vocal).

I'll be doing some scratch tracks for a song in 3 or 4 different keys becaus I can't make up my mind where to sing it. That should give you something to listen too :D. I may post them in the mp3 clinic for feedback - or not... if there is a clear winner in my mind. Probably in a week or two :)

MSN = Jagular@comcast.net
ICQ= 135996973
 
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