Building new PC. Sound card questions.

[travadinho]

Hi all. I'm a newbie and I've just been getting into home recording over the past 2-3 years, so let me apologize in advance if this is a dumb question/topic. I am in the process of building a new PC and I'm trying to find information regarding how to obtain an adequate sound card/audio interface. Most topics I've seen pertain to people who 1) are upgrading a commercial PC or 2) are looking to purchase an external audio interface for a laptop.

I plan to build a computer from scratch by ordering the parts separately. I'm having trouble settling upon an adequate audio interface. So far, my recording method has been through the use of USB condenser mics to record mostly things like vocals, fiddle, electric and acoustic guitar. My question is what would be the difference between buying an internal audio interface vs. an external model? Would I need both if I want to use it to record music and operate a typical home entertainment system (causally listening to music and watching movies). Are they different? Is the main point to just obtain a sound card/interface that has sufficient power? Do they both essentially connect to your motherboard? Would it be possible or necessary to invest in both?

From my research, it seems that if my internal sound card has the appropriate input, I should be ok with this option.

Any info/advice is greatly appreciated.

 

[Armistice]

The general recommendation is that an external built for purpose audio interface is a good way to go. There are other options, however.

Yes, such devices are different from stock computer soundcards - even ones which are for specific purposes like gaming. They're way more expensive, look cooler, and are a visual demonstration of your commitment to your craft - who doesn't need a box around that you can show to guests and go "That's my audio interface, where I record music..." as a lead in to getting them to listen to/buy aforesaid music?

The upside is, once you have a box, buying additional boxes when your spouse / children would perhaps prefer you to buy, say, food, is a simpler process... obviously, you need another box. If it's all inside the PC, then people tend to think it's all done with magic. A man needs hardware....

Putting a general soundcard inside the PC as well won't harm anything and is useful for general purposes, just don't use it for recording.

See those sticky threads at the top of the forum.... good idea to read them and you'll understand a whole lot more about why you need a specialist card/device.

 

[Raz Klinghoffer]

Are they still making professional internal interfaces?

I honestly didn't see someone professional work with on of those for years... (But that just me)

The external ones aren't that expensive btw

 

[athrun200]

I thought an external interface would be more convenient since you can bring it to elsewhere for another recording project.

 

[ecc83]

Probably the most useful and stable soundcard ever made was the M-Audio Delta 2496 and it is likely that more were made than all other PCI cards put together except the dire Sound Blasters*.

The advantages of an internal card are...
You have a complete system in a box.
Latency (with a 2496) is likely to be lower than almost all external devices.
If the computer has a PCI slot, a 2496 WILL work! No messin'.
All the Delta range that have S/PDIF give surround pass thru' to an AV system.
You always have a solid, stable high quality D/A converter to listen to.
Recording "off air", int' radio, Ytube sound etc is a breeze.

There really are no downsides, you can still just plug in and select an external device (I do it all the time).

Operationally of course PCI (and the V few PCI-e) cards need extra support. Some form of microphone pre amp and a monitoring system tho' this latter could be as simple as a stereo pot in a tin! Bit of heresy here! A mixer! If the internal card is just going to be an extra facility and the bulk of work done with an external AI, a modest mixer from Behringer, Yamaha and others will serve both duties, mic amp and playback control. You can of course do as I have done and buy a somewhat better mixer. In my case the Allen& Heath ZED 10.

If you just want a card for convenience and digital pass thru' the Trust Optical Expert is pretty good for about £20. There is no D/A conversion with a S/PDIF output and therefore no quality loss.

*Although they give excellent playback quality in some cases, SB cards put a huge amount of crap in the Registry...Avoid IMHO.

Last thought. If money is no object RME still make a PCI (and PCI-e?) sound card.

Dave.