Dell's sound card

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Spotcheckbilly

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Hello. I just ordered a Dell Dimension 2350 computer and it comes with an Integrated Audio sound card (I guess this is the Audio part of the Integrated Intel 3D AGP multimedia card?) Dell's customer support is really bad and I'm having a hard time finding a tech with Dell who can tell me whether or not this sound card will work well for Digital Audio Recording. I plan on just needing to record 2 to 4 tracks simultaneously. I'll be recording guitar and vocals. Do I need a mic pre you think?
 
Spotcheckbilly said:
Hello. I just ordered a Dell Dimension 2350 computer and it comes with an Integrated Audio sound card (I guess this is the Audio part of the Integrated Intel 3D AGP multimedia card?) Dell's customer support is really bad and I'm having a hard time finding a tech with Dell who can tell me whether or not this sound card will work well for Digital Audio Recording. I plan on just needing to record 2 to 4 tracks simultaneously. I'll be recording guitar and vocals. Do I need a mic pre you think?
Click to expand...

Um, first off, any Sound Blaster type card will only record 2 tracks at a time so you will definetly need to go out and buy something like a M-Audio Delta 44 if you want to record 4 tracks in one shot.

Secondly, yes, always use a preamp for guitar/vocals and record with a line level input - not the mic input on these cheap cards.
 
Ok

Ok, so I need to get a new sound card, something like an M-Audio Delta 44. What about firewire? I'm not sure that I understand what it is and why I would need it?

So always send a line level input to your sound card? Could I plug my guitar into a guitar preamp and out of the guitar preamp into the sound card? I guess if I mike the speaker, I'll have to send the mic cable to a mic preamp and then hook the preamp up to the sound card (line level signal achieved). Do I have this right?
 
Oh yeah!

I want to run stereo to two monitors. This affects what sound card I need to get right? Can the M-Audio Delta 44 do stereo?
 
First of all, sound blaster cards are crap for recording, and you can only have a maximum of 2 seperate channels being recorded at one time. They are noisy, buggy, and just generally crap. The input is one 1/8' jack in stereo, so you need a bunch of adapters that will diminish the quality of your recordings even further. Then you take a built in sound card in a mother board from dell, which would be a LOT worse than a sound blaster card, which may not even have any mic inputs depending on the maker.

A delta card has much higher quality a/d d/a converters and 4 inputs/outputs, through 1/4' jacks. That means that you can record 4 things at one time. It is clean and good quality, and does not have all of the bugs that a sound blaster has. The card was made for recording music, and the drivers were written to work with music softwear to record music. A soundblaster was made to play games and listen to mp3's.

And yes you need a microphone preamp, otherwise you don't have a signal to record (well a really weak on in the case of a dynamic mic, and none in the case of a condensor which needs phantom power). So yes you need all of these things, but you don't have to buy the best. You can get a shure sm58/shure sm57, with a preamp made by maudio i think (is that the cheap good one everyone raves about?) for pretty cheap. The delta 44 isn't so cheap, but you can always get the audiophile, but it only has 2 channels kind of like a sblive, but only a lot better.

blah, i should proof read/spell check.
 
Thanks guys!

It's looking like the Delta 44 is down my path, but I'm still unsure if it's what I want. I pretty much sure now that I need a new sound card and a breakout box (since I don't really need a mixer, or need to spend the money on one!). But here is what i want to do:

Record my guitar two ways:
1) mic my speaker and run that signal into my computer
2) plug my guitar in to my Alembic F2-B preamp and send the output (line level signal) into my computer.
3) plug directly into the computer (not preferred, but this is a nic option to have)

So, in essence, I need a breakout box that will allow me plug into it with the three ways that I described above. I'm not sure if the Delta 44 is going to give me all of this (it only has 1/4" inputs--can I plug a non-line-level AND/OR a line-level signal into here?) I appreciate all the help.
 
Your first mistake was buying something from one of the big computer "manufacturers". They just assemble cheap parts and double the price.
Your second mistake was wanting to ask them about audio. That's like asking the cashier at McDonalds what color the cow was that your burger came from.
How long have you had the computer? If it's only been a few days, try to return it. There are guys on this forum that can build you a system that will be faster and more stable for less money.
Any soundcard that comes with a mass produced computer is going to be garbage. My friend bought a Gateway a few years ago and had them set up the whole system for audio. What a joke. Came with NO audio apps, cheap motherboard, and a cheapo soundcard.
I also recommend the Delta 44 for your situation.
And you will need a mixer, that's what we mean by preamps. A mixer is a bunch of preamps. Since you'll only be recording a few tracks at a time, I suggest Studiomaster, Allen & Heath, or an old Soundcraft, depending on your budget and how many channels you need.
You'll probably also need a mic or 2. The Shure SM 57 is the world standard. It works great for most standard instruments (guitar, drums, bass....) at a decent price (about $80).
Good luck, and please take the advice from the people on this forum. You've come to the right place.
 
Doink said:
Your first mistake was buying something from one of the big computer "manufacturers". They just assemble cheap parts and double the price.
Your second mistake was wanting to ask them about audio. That's like asking the cashier at McDonalds what color the cow was that your burger came from.
How long have you had the computer? If it's only been a few days, try to return it. There are guys on this forum that can build you a system that will be faster and more stable for less money.
Any soundcard that comes with a mass produced computer is going to be garbage. My friend bought a Gateway a few years ago and had them set up the whole system for audio. What a joke. Came with NO audio apps, cheap motherboard, and a cheapo soundcard.
I also recommend the Delta 44 for your situation.
And you will need a mixer, that's what we mean by preamps. A mixer is a bunch of preamps. Since you'll only be recording a few tracks at a time, I suggest Studiomaster, Allen & Heath, or an old Soundcraft, depending on your budget and how many channels you need.
You'll probably also need a mic or 2. The Shure SM 57 is the world standard. It works great for most standard instruments (guitar, drums, bass....) at a decent price (about $80).
Good luck, and please take the advice from the people on this forum. You've come to the right place.
Click to expand...

Sorry to rain on your parade, but there are pleanty of decent pre-built PC out there. After years of building my own PC's, I went out and bought a vprMatrix system at BestBuy. All quality parts and I have had no problems whatsoever. They are priced very reasonably and of course you can make use of Best Buy's 18 month no interest financing.

Try getting that by buying parts on your own!

www.vprmatrix.com
 
...generally...you should never pay more than $600 for the latest computer. :)

and try to atleast buy mics in pairs
 
never pay more than 600?
theres no such thing as the "latest computer" for 600.
 
zekthedeadcow said:
...generally...you should never pay more than $600 for the latest computer. :)

and try to atleast buy mics in pairs
Click to expand...

What are you smoking???
 
*hint* build it yourself :)

ok so ~$800 including a new case

off of pricewatch.com

SuperMicro
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and then this one... it's a kit

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(Part - P428BBWC)
Price: $459

Ship: free
Updated:12/26, 10:40AM
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you want 4 inputs?
card: m-audio delta 44 as suggested $200+ US
mixer: Behringer mx1604 $139 (has four channels out) OR if you want to stay away from Behringer (not good quality control + reported poor mic pres, but its only $140), spend $$$, look on eBay

OR instead of a mixer (which you don't NEED) you could use 2 M-Audio audio buddies $80 each

You could run mics or your guitar into the audio buddies, they have DI functionality.

To answer you question, Firewire is a com protocol like USB, faster than USB1 but slower than USB2.0. You do not have to worry about firewire at your level. I will note though, that there are USB audio interfaces.
 
I want some of that smoke:)

I think my computer will suffice for what I'm wanting to do, which is very minimal. The Dell I got was the Dimension 2350. It has a Pentium 4 processor, 256 MB SDDRAM, 60 GIG, 15" Flat Screen, and comes with a CD burner. All of that, plus more, for around $759, after rebates and not counting warranties and tax. If someone thinks that this won't do, please explain why.
I've been researching the M-Audio website and I think I want the Omni I/O breakout box (it has exactly what I want) and a nice sound card to go with it.

Should I get the M-Audio Audiophile 2496, the Delta 44 sound card, or the Delta 66 sound card?

Should I get an M-Audio because I want to use the M-audio Omni?

What else would you recommend?

Are there any other products that offer the same features as the M-Audio Omni?
 
Re: and then this one... it's a kit

zekthedeadcow said:
Amptron
Info...

ONLINE ORDER ONLY -
Bare Bones Assembled - with cpu Pentium 4 2.8Ghz with ATX tower 350W with cpu M935ALU 533Mhz fsb onboard Video + 4X AGP slot 2 pci 1 amr aud97 10/100 lan SiS cs with cpu fan 2DDR 2DIMM
(Part - P428BBWC)
Price: $459

Ship: free
Updated:12/26, 10:40AM
$459 Nova Computers, TX
Info...

713-776-9981
.

TX
Click to expand...

RAM? HD? Monitor? Keyboard? Mouse? OS?

Give me a break...
 
"RAM? HD? Monitor? Keyboard? Mouse? OS? "

You already have those so why buy them again?

we've been useing the same mice and monitors and keyboards sence the IBM PS2 and even serial mice work fine.
 
zekthedeadcow said:
"RAM? HD? Monitor? Keyboard? Mouse? OS? "

You already have those so why buy them again?

we've been useing the same mice and monitors and keyboards sence the IBM PS2 and even serial mice work fine.
Click to expand...

He wouldn't have already had them if he didn't buy the dell and bought the barebones, which is beside the point. He already has the PC. I don't remember him asking for PC suggestions, rather if his audio interface was sufficient or if he should invest in a better one.

Spot: If you want the Omni ($240), and use it with a Delta 44 ($230), and want to track 4 mics at a time, you will still need 2 more channels of mic preamp ($$$) (read the specs closely), which is much more than my suggestion.

I got an m-audio delta 1010lt for $200+ on ebay (8 analog ins, 8 analog outs), and a Behringer mixer for $139 - 4 mic channels for under $400. If you go your route, you will be spending at least $500 if not $600.

Make sure to read the specs and do the math...

Good luck, hope at least some of us have been some help...

Why do you think you want the Omni?
 
I have a Dell Dimension 4500. I disabled the onboard audio in the bios and installed a Delta 44. The processor is a Celeron 1.7ghz, the RAM is 256DDR, and the OS is XP home. It works great. I bought the computer at the Dell outlet website. I have $700 total in the system including the Delta 44.
 
Doink said:
Your second mistake was wanting to ask them about audio. That's like asking the cashier at McDonalds what color the cow was that your burger came from.
.
Click to expand...

i found this hilarious, esp since im a tech for Dell. Although i resent the comparison to Mcdonalds, =P some of us DO have a clue as far as our own products........
And any sound card thats intergrated will NOT be good for recording audio heh...
 
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