Help ($200 sound cards)?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Bloodsoaked
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Bloodsoaked

Bloodsoaked

Death Metal Freak
I am looking for suggestions on sound cards under $200. I am only recording one instrument at a time. Any suggestions?


Peter
 
studiomaster said:
PCI? Firewire? USB? Please provide more details.
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I was thinking PCI. If anyone has any other suggestions please let me know.



Peter
 
M-Audio do some pretty good cards for good prices. For 1 input, the Audiophile 24/96 is between $80-$90.

For around $170 you can get an M-Audio Delta 44 with 4 inputs.
 
legionserial said:
M-Audio do some pretty good cards for good prices. For 1 input, the Audiophile 24/96 is between $80-$90.

For around $170 you can get an M-Audio Delta 44 with 4 inputs.
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Right now I use my intergrated sound card for all my home recording. Would something like the Audiophile 24/96 give me a noticable differance in recording sound? I am happy with the recordings I am getting but if I can get better recordings I am all for it.


Peter
 
Bloodsoaked said:
Right now I use my intergrated sound card for all my home recording. Would something like the Audiophile 24/96 give me a noticable differance in recording sound? I am happy with the recordings I am getting but if I can get better recordings I am all for it.


Peter
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Yeah should be more of a difference. Firstly you should get way less latency. Secondly the converters will capture your recordings more accurately. However if you are happy with what you have then its really up to you. The other aspect you need to take into account is your listening setup. Without a good monitoring setup, it may not make much difference to the sound quality that you can hear.

However, I'm sure you would see a much noticeable difference in latency, and for how cheap the card is, its probably worth it. Unless you dont really have any problems with latency at all.

If it were up to me I'd go for it.... :D
 
legionserial said:
Yeah should be more of a difference. Firstly you should get way less latency. Secondly the converters will capture your recordings more accurately. However if you are happy with what you have then its really up to you. The other aspect you need to take into account is your listening setup. Without a good monitoring setup, it may not make much difference to the sound quality that you can hear.

However, I'm sure you would see a much noticeable difference in latency, and for how cheap the card is, its probably worth it. Unless you dont really have any problems with latency at all.

If it were up to me I'd go for it.... :D
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I think I am going to get it and see how it works. I have "NO" problems with latency at all and overall I am happy with my recordings. I record "metal" music (distorted guitars, bass, drum machine and vocals) with the intergrated sound card with my Compaq computer and I no problems or issues. I am getting a new computer and was hopping a $200 or less investment would make my recordings a bit better.

Peter
 
Bloodsoaked said:
I think I am going to get it and see how it works. I have "NO" problems with latency at all and overall I am happy with my recordings. I record "metal" music (distorted guitars, bass, drum machine and vocals) with the intergrated sound card with my Compaq computer and I no problems or issues. I am getting a new computer and was hopping a $200 or less investment would make my recordings a bit better.

Peter
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Anyone???

Will a M-Audio Audiophile 24/96 be a difference from the built in audio sound card?
 
Bloodsoaked said:
Anyone???

Will a M-Audio Audiophile 24/96 be a difference from the built in audio sound card?
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You bet!...
 
Would you go with PCI, USB or Firewire? I am looking for the best bang for the buck.



Peter
 
Any other suggestions besides the M-Audio Audiophile 2496 PCI Digital Audio Card? This is $100, anything better for $200 that will make a notice difference from this one?



Peter
 
Well, depends. i have a firewire interface so i would be biased here. PCI's are very stable. firewire is fast, portable, as well as really stable(if OS is maintained properly).
 
M-Audio Firewire Solo, rings up just at that 200 dollar mark (actually I'm thinking about selling mine ;) ) But used they can be had between 120-150.

Firewire would probably be the best way to go with PCI being phased out. 3 years or so from now (maybe even sooner, depending) your new interface might not be compatible if you decide to upgrade your PC.

Also delta series are pretty good and a big step up from your onboard soundcard which is probably a 16bit card. Definitely look at 24/48 or 24/96.
 
mentalattica said:
M-Audio Firewire Solo, rings up just at that 200 dollar mark (actually I'm thinking about selling mine ;) ) But used they can be had between 120-150.

Firewire would probably be the best way to go with PCI being phased out. 3 years or so from now (maybe even sooner, depending) your new interface might not be compatible if you decide to upgrade your PC.

Also delta series are pretty good and a big step up from your onboard soundcard which is probably a 16bit card. Definitely look at 24/48 or 24/96.
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WOuld you say the M-Audio Firewire Solo is a better product than the M-Audio Audiophile 2496 PCI? Is the main differenece one is PCI and the other is Firewire and the M-Audio Firewire Solo has two inputs? Any other differenece?


Peter
 
I have never used the audiophile, so honestly I can't say which is better. Common knowledge would tell me the Solo is better, it's firewire so can be very portable and hooked up to any PC or laptop that has a firewire port and will not be obsolete in the next couple of years. It's also an external breakout box as to where the audiophile is internal PCI. From what I have been told is it's always better to have your converters outside of you PC, helps with noise issues I believe.

The Solo has a built in Pre, and a headphone jack also. It' is also unbalanced.
 
The Audiophile would be a nice step up from the onboard card. You might look into the Delta 44 or Delta 66 too. The 66 has the SPDIF connection that you might want for your V-Amp and they both have a breakout box so that's easier than plugging everything into the back of your computer all the time. The sound quality might not be much better than the 2496 though so if it's a budget thing that might change your mind.
 
Another vote for the Audiophile here. Unless you need mic pres, a breakout box etc. But really you can't go wrong with M Audio for budget soundcards and interfaces.
 
I would suggest getting audiophile 192,it has ballanced outs and ins,i still think its better than unballanced.
 
metalhead28 said:
The Audiophile would be a nice step up from the onboard card. You might look into the Delta 44 or Delta 66 too. The 66 has the SPDIF connection that you might want for your V-Amp and they both have a breakout box so that's easier than plugging everything into the back of your computer all the time. The sound quality might not be much better than the 2496 though so if it's a budget thing that might change your mind.
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From everything I had read the 2496 has a SPDIF connection as well so I can leave the V-Amp plaugged into that full time and my mixer plugged into the RCA jacks full time for Bass, Vocals, amped guitar and so on. This should work I do beleive....
 
Garik said:
I would suggest getting audiophile 192,it has ballanced outs and ins,i still think its better than unballanced.
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What is the difference between ballanced and unballanced?
 
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