best pci soundblaster card out there ?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Fetusborg
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Fetusborg

Fetusborg

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hello all
im a pc, all digital, homerecorder lo-fi type guy
the results with my current soundblaster live! have been to my liking for almost 2 years now... but i believe im ready for an upgrade.

i'll stick with soundblaster i guess... for the price and quality.

so i was wondering what you guys recommend
which soundcard? for a nice price
i checked their site, of course... but found it not very geared towards music, and more gaming. of course we all know why. but i like em.

ok, thanks!
 
Pretty much anything by M-Audio, Echo, TASCAM, or MOTU will be a great improvement over any Soundblaster (which are great for gaming but shit for all-audio applications).
 
(madaudio... you always seem to respond to my topics very thoughtfully, thought id say thanks!)


alright... since we're here... anything good in the 100 dollar range?
 
Fetusborg said:
(madaudio... you always seem to respond to my topics very thoughtfully, thought id say thanks!)


alright... since we're here... anything good in the 100 dollar range?
Click to expand...
You're welcome!

It depends on your I/O needs. If you just need one or two inputs at a time, I'd recommend the M-Audio 2496. A very sturdy card with good AD converters. I got a used one for my old computer and it has never given me any problems.
 
100 bucks exactly.... interesting.

and how does it work with drivers?
i really have NO idea how a new soundcard works... cause ever since i started recording and learning about sound things, ive had this sb live! with me.

its exactly this guy right here: http://www.hardware-one.com/reviews/platinum/images/SBLiveAndLD_big.jpg


now, is the 2496 the same way?
with the card in the back of the pc... and the interface in the front?
and will it give me exactly what i got in the sb ?
(headphone out, line in, midi in/out and spdif in/out?
 
Fetusborg said:
100 bucks exactly.... interesting.

and how does it work with drivers?
i really have NO idea how a new soundcard works... cause ever since i started recording and learning about sound things, ive had this sb live! with me.

its exactly this guy right here: http://www.hardware-one.com/reviews/platinum/images/SBLiveAndLD_big.jpg


now, is the 2496 the same way?
with the card in the back of the pc... and the interface in the front?
and will it give me exactly what i got in the sb ?
(headphone out, line in, midi in/out and spdif in/out?
Click to expand...
No, the physical configuration is different. I suggest you research the card online. Do you have a mixer or any mic preamps currently?
 
i have a mixer, an alesis studio24... but i dont use it for recording.
all i do is digital.
i mic a guitar amp straight into the sound card, and use audition to sequence.
thats the most analogue i get haha.
vocals and bass go straight to the card, which its own preamp of course.

thats what i need, a card that has it all... because i really dont have the money now to buy preamps or di boxes
 
Fetusborg said:
i have a mixer, an alesis studio24... but i dont use it for recording.
all i do is digital.
i mic a guitar amp straight into the sound card, and use audition to sequence.
thats the most analogue i get haha.
vocals and bass go straight to the card, which its own preamp of course.

thats what i need, a card that has it all... because i really dont have the money now to buy preamps or di boxes
Click to expand...
You should really consider using that mixer - the preamps in it are far superior to the ones in your Soundsmasher card. And if you do upgrade, you'll find that, unless the card you buy has a mic-pre built-in (which the one I recommended doesn't), you'll still need a way to convert that mic level signal to line level.

And this is all par for the course if you really intend to get serious about sound quality. "You get what you pay for" is as true with audio as it is with anything else.
 
i have a sort of 'fear' of using my mixer.
i think it might 'hiss' up my signal, you know?

if it interests you... this is the result i get from my recordings today:
www.myspace.com/labmusica

now... if i begin using my mixer... i of course would have to buy a new card, such as the one you recommended... with no built in pre's right.
if i start using my mixer with my current card... will i crash and burn because i'll be putting two preamps in the game?

sorry to ask this ... its cause i really dont know.

(oh, the drums on it are all eletronic. i dont mic drums of course.)
 
Fetusborg said:
i have a sort of 'fear' of using my mixer.
i think it might 'hiss' up my signal, you know?

if it interests you... this is the result i get from my recordings today:
www.myspace.com/labmusica

now... if i begin using my mixer... i of course would have to buy a new card, such as the one you recommended... with no built in pre's right.
if i start using my mixer with my current card... will i crash and burn because i'll be putting two preamps in the game?
Click to expand...
You'd probably be able to control it .It's not ideal, though.Are you sure the SB has built in preamp?I went from an SB like card(Ensonique PCI 64) to the 24/96 and don't recall having to change the way I do things at all.I've always used a small fostex mixer as a pre.
BTW, the 24/96 also has midi in and out(on real midi connectors, not the game port thing), however, it has no sounds of its own.
 
yeah, im sure it haw a built in pre.
otherwise i would never be able to record, since my mics go straight in.

if your old soundcard had built in pres...and you used the fostex... and it worked... then i dont see why i cant clash my preamps using my mixer and my sb live i guess...

i'll have to try i think.

but now im seriously debating upgrading to a real sound card i guess.
and using my mixer. dam, decision time.
 
Fetusborg said:
but now im seriously debating upgrading to a real sound card i guess.
and using my mixer. dam, decision time.
Click to expand...
I never bought that the SB's sound that awful.I used one(and then an AC97 that was built in to my mobo) for a number of years and enjoyed making music with it.I finally had a spare $100 to lay down on a sound card and bought the 24/96.I like it.It's an improvement.
 
M-Audio, you can't go wrong. A few bucks (ok, quite a few bucks) more, the 1010LT is a killer deal but you might not need that many input/output channels. Their cards have been around, the drivers are well supported and have history. It's a pretty safe purchase.
 
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