Dumb Question, sorry: Why do you need AD/DA converters?

[Mr Music]

Sorry for being so brick brained...

i have a preamp....a compressor....an eq.....
a midiman audiofile card.......an AKG 3000c mic....monitors.....nice cables...

its not setup yet cuz i just moved and also just got the equipment...


BUT someone told me i should get a AD/DA converters

do i really need one?

i record on 1 channel, mono........i like my quality....also the setup...

see, i never really understood anything about the TERMS, or being technical...

so can u guys explain what it is overall?

I know i SHOULD know this, but i never came across it...

for example some dude on the forum wrote me and said he has a Behringer Ultra Voice Pro (shit, but thats nots another story) and said he has a converter....
WTF?!?!?

please explain! but in easier terms and stuff, i dont undertsand 1/2 of it lol....but i still wanna know....

thx

 

[nkjanssen]

An A/D converter converts analog to digital. A D/A converter does the reverse. You need one to get real-world sounds into a digital format that the computer can understand, and to get the computer data into a format your ear can understand. You audio card already has converters built in. You can buy better ones, but it doesn't sound like you need to. At least not yet.

 

[Mr Music]

An A/D converter converts analog to digital. A D/A converter does the reverse. You need one to get real-world sounds into a digital format that the computer can understand, and to get the computer data into a format your ear can understand. You audio card already has converters built in. You can buy better ones, but it doesn't sound like you need to. At least not yet.

exactly
thanks so much!

 

[smtcharlie]

I also think that you probably answered your own question. If it sounds good to you, there's no need to fool with things.

Simple to say, but I (and probably others around here) who do home recordings tend to always want to upgrade. I think to myself, "boy, if I just get this mic, then my stuff will sound great." And then immediately after I get that mic, I think, "boy, if I just get this pre-amp for that mic, then my stuff will really sound great..."

If *only* I could just take my own advice and enjoy the sound that I have (which is a nice home recording sound).