computer recording problem - help!

[stringstooshort]

Hi,

I'd been doing some extremely lo-fi recording on my home PC - Magix, a mic, and my soundcard. Since this was only really to amuse myself and my friends, the quality was fine. It was a standard Soundblaster 128 card that came standard in my Gateway PC (SoundBlaster AudioPCI 128D).

Then, my motherboard failed, and had to be replaced. Luckily it was under warranty. They had to replace it with a new model motherboard since the one I had was no longer being made.

When I was hooked up again, I attempted to record and was greeted with very low levels, a loud buzzing noise and clicks on all recordings. Efforts to change the mic levels in the settings did not help the situation, and the "microphone boost" setting just made the buzzing louder. I realized they had given me a "Sigmatel" sound card to go with the new motherboard.

I attepted to record using several different microphones and recording programs to no avail - it must be the soundcard. I'd prefer to remedy the situation without dealing with Gateway again. Is the soundcard poorer than my last one, or is it better and I need better equipment to use it properly? Someone help!

Thanks.
Dave

 

[Sangram]

IMO it's probably a bad card. Could also be a loose mic in jack on the card, a bad solder joint or loose earth connection. Depends on the buzzing. If it sounds like what you get when the earthing is loose or disconnected it may be a loose jack. Not usual, but it's been known to happen. A soldering iron should fix it right up.

You could return to Gateway but they'll probably saddle you with another of those cheap things. You might want to buy a new soundcard and preamp. That would be the best way to go. I've never heard of 'SigmaTel'. What chipset does the card use?