Do I need a hardcore soundcard?

  • Thread starter Thread starter stranger233
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stranger233

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So I'm having trouble justifying an expensive (500+) soundcard. Most of the time my recording process is just me, doing either guitar, vocals, or bass through a processor/preamp, and into the computer/analog multitrack. Granted, I need a better soundcard than the one I have now, but if 95% of the time I only have one input going at once, what is the advantage of investing in a soundcard/breakout box with 4 or 8 simultaneous inputs/outputs? And if I did suddenly need to record a band, couldn't I just get a mixer for that?

Part of me really does want to get a layla or a gadgetlabs 8/24, but I need someone to slap me around and explain why.

-stranger233
 
Part of the problem with single input soundcards is that most are 16bit. A few like the MIDIMAN DMAN and Turtle Beach Pinnacle are 18 and 20bit. It's hard to find a high quality single input card. Secondly, running a 5 piece band through a mixer into a single input will put all that sound on a single track or stereo track. This does not lend itself well to mixing down. Spring for 24bit and at least 8 I/O if you ever want to record a band.

Regards,
PAPicker
 
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