Creative Audigy Platinum & CW Guitar Studio

  • Thread starter Thread starter rpe
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rpe

rpe

NM - Land of Excrement
I need advice in deciding whether to keep my Creative Labs Audigy Platinum soundcard. So far, using Cakewalk Guitar Studio and WIN 2000, it seems OK when recording my acoustic guitar (with onboard preamp) straight into the Line2/Mic2 ¼” TRS jack. I’m so new at digital recording, I’m not sure how to test the performance of the soundcard (playback sounds OK but I haven’t learned how to mix and master yet). I would also appreciate advice on replacing CW Guitar Studio with another software better suited for guitar, mic, and MIDI recording.
 
If you like Cakewalk the get Sonar. That is their flagship program.

If you are happy with the direct sound of your acoustic into the sound card then dont spend much money on new equipment because you might not appreciate the difference.

Usually a direct acoustic sounds like crap especially straight into a SB input. If you decide you want better sound get a delta sound card, condensor mic and a preamp.
 
Audigy & CW GS

Thanks for taking the time to respond.
 
I wouldnt change the card though, Digital musician rated that card as being sonicly better than the audiophile. I would get a tube pre with two channels and then some decent monitors and a couple of good mics. for the price of the more expensive card you have just improved your sound dramatically.

PS. I think some of us dont know that the audigy is a 24/96 card.
 
Audigy Card & Guitar Studio

Thanks Darrin, appreciate the advice. Am I correct in assuming that most basic (inexpensive) pre-amps are similar in cost and function?
 
darrin_h2000 said:


PS. I think some of us dont know that the audigy is a 24/96 card.
Click to expand...

That's because it isn't.;) No flames intended.

"But be warned, the Audigy's ability to support 24-bit/ 96-kHz sound is very relative. Unlike the DMX 6Fire 24/96, the Audigy Platinum is not a "true" 24/96 and cannot play or record a file of this quality, nor even work on it. Actually, the only task it does in 96 kHz is a linkup with another device via the S/PDIF input."--from Tom's Hardware webpage.

And I am very skeptical about the Digital Musician review, if you accurately quoted it. I have heard no one else make such an exalted claim. I'm not saying it is not a good card or a good choice, but better than the Audiophile for digital audio? I seriously doubt it.

Here are some links:

http://www4.tomshardware.com/video/02q1/020115/terratec-09.html#converter_quality_benchmarkshttp://www4.tomshardware.com/video/02q1/020115/terratec-12.html:)
 
The ad/da converters are 24 bit and it supports a sampling rate of 96 so Its not bad in those respects. It also has spidif inputs I dont have the platumum version I think the breakout box was a waste of money besides the value was only 59.00 and Im using the converters on the card. This is not the live its a whole new card aimed at home recording buffs.
 
darrin_2000

I'm not disagreeing with you that the Audigy is a definite sonic improvement over the Live! 5.1 or that it is an incredible value for $59. As Ethan Winer has pointed out, it has the same sampler chip as a $1,000 sampler. I might upgrade to it for MIDI and soundfonts myself. But it will neither record nor playback at 24 bits.
 
Great input folks! What I intend to do with the system is to record guitar(s) + midi keyboard to ultimately create CD's for friends and family. Can I expect to get satisfactory results recording at 16 bit rather than 24?

Thanks for your time and advice.

rpe
 
What I intend to do with the system is to record guitar(s) + midi keyboard to ultimately create CD's for friends and family. Can I expect to get satisfactory results recording at 16 bit rather than 24?
Click to expand...
Absolutely, yes.
 
16bit still kicks ass over any MD or Casette system and in the right hands will rival any 24bit system.

And for the record:

The Audigy is NOT a true 24/96 card
 
rpe said:
Can I expect to get satisfactory results recording at 16 bit rather than 24?
Click to expand...

I've heard stuff done with a lowly SB Live 5.1 and a cheapo computer microphone that was incredible. Of course it was a quick demo done by one of our resident pros, John Sayers.

So my answer would be yes.

I would definitely invest some $ into a decent preamp and mics, however.
 
Thanks tdukex and ALChuck. Good responses. So I guess in keeping the Audigy I better figure out how to best use it! Which leads to another point. Having a fulltime job and family, it seems very little time is available for learning the finer points of computer recording and actual hands on practice. Can you suggest readings or websites that would excelerate the learning process. I have Cakewalk Power and it's pretty good for my CW Guitar Studio software but I'm a beginner and just not sure about mixers, samplers, pre-amps, loops, and all the neat sounding things you guys know so much about.

Thanks,

rpe
 
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