Line in sound is perfect but the recording is muddy...

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whopub

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Hi,

I'm trying to copy a few tracks from my old Roland VS-880 to my PC, using the motherboard's sound card's line-in. I used to do that all the time, without issues, a few years ago, using the same multi-track and other PCs.

Now, when I try to do it, although the sound reaching the PC is perfect (I can hear it on-the-fly, through the PC, straight from the recorder) the recording sounds like crap... muddy, low, noisy, etc.

I tried using CoolEdit Pro 2.0 but also gave windows 7 a go using the basic recorder. The results are consistent.

The only soundcard options remotely related I can see are:

Recording Device
- Tie up same type of input jacks, i.e. line-in or microphone, as an input device.
- Separate all input jacks as independent input devices.

I'm using the second option. Changing doesn't change anything.

I'm using a Asus P8P67_EVO motherboard with Windows 7.

Audio specification of the motherboard:

Realtek® ALC 892 8-Channel High Definition Audio CODEC
- Supports : Jack-detection, Multi-streaming, Front Panel Jack-retasking

Audio Feature:

- Absolute Pitch 192kHz/ 24-bit True BD Lossless Sound
- Blu-ray audio layer Content Protection
- DTS Surround Sensation UltraPC
- Coaxial and Optical S/PDIF out ports at back panel

I'm using the blue input (line-in).

It's been years since I've done this (long time retired...) so I would really appreciate some pointers on how to sort this out. I'm probably overlooking something basic...

Thanks.
 
the recording sounds like crap... muddy, low, noisy, etc.
Click to expand...

You've just described every motherboard sound card I've ever heard...and Realtek is amongst the worst. It's probably just that you've never had the ability to compare a recording before and after.

An external USB sound card...even a cheap one....will yield as major improvement.
 
Yup, onboard soundcards have about 40cents worth of chips in them.
They are made for beeps, boops and light gaming.

Get something else and you'll be amazed at the difference.
 
Not for nothing but isn't the VS-880 a digital unit? Not familiar with it but is there no way to transfer the material as a file via a thumb drive or USB?
 
What they ^^^^ all said! What you monitor going in sounds fine, what you hear back after recording is the A-to-D back to D-to-A conversion power of that $0.40 sound card.
 
Thanks all for the replies.

The Roland VS-880 is too old for USB. It uses... SCSI :)

Ok, my plan was always to buy a decent sound card further down the road. I just went with on-board sound because I knew I would sort that out later. This is the first time I attempt to transfer old songs to that pc, so I guess it's time to fix that problem now.

Well, do you guys have any suggestions for a good (not too expensive, but not dirt cheap either) sound card to handle audio conversion?
 
Is it only for transferring from your VS880 or will you want to add mics and other things later?

If it's just for your Roland then a Behringer UCA202 would be a big improvement dirt cheap. However, if you will want to do real recording later on it may be worth spending your money on an interface that can grow with you--but what to recommend will depend on your plans and ambitions.
 
Even if I decide to record new stuff (unlikely) or retouch old stuff (slightly more likely) I'll still use the VS880 to plug all instruments and mics, and then connect the unit directly to the sound card line-in. I really like the sound of that old unit.

My only other sound need (besides the conversion thing) is having great sound, so I'll check the Behringer UCA202 and any other suggestions you guys throw my way.

Thanks.
 
whopub said:
Even if I decide to record new stuff (unlikely) or retouch old stuff (slightly more likely) I'll still use the VS880 to plug all instruments and mics, and then connect the unit directly to the sound card line-in. I really like the sound of that old unit.

My only other sound need (besides the conversion thing) is having great sound, so I'll check the Behringer UCA202 and any other suggestions you guys throw my way.

Thanks.
Click to expand...

You can improve transfer using an Interface and SPDIF Out (Roland) to the SPDIF In (Interface, make sure it has one) for a clean digital lossless copy.

I jumped on this thread as my neighbor has one. I thought it would be possible to pull the HD out of the VS-880 and copy over using an IDE to USB. No such luck, they have a funky HD in it. So, once I help him transfer with what he has, there is an SD conversion kit so that the HD can be replaced with an SD card. Pop card in, record, take card out, put it in a card reader, copy tracks to DAW for mixing. That is the theory. Will let you know when the adapter ($40 on Ebay) comes in, if it works.
 
I wouldn't mind going SPDIF...

My motherboard has two different SPDIF outputs, coaxial (RCA) and optical (Toslink), but no input! I'd have to buy an interface. Both SPDIF input and output on the Roland VS-880 are coaxial.

So does it make more sense to pay £27.41 for the Behringer UCA202, and use Roland's plain-vanilla RCA line-out to the Behringer, and then the USB output from the Behringer to the PC...

Or buy a sound card, like the Sound Blaster Z series, or something from Terratec?

The thing is, both SB and Terratec cards have only optical (Toslink) SPDIF inputs. Is there a good card around with both optical and coaxial SPDIF inputs?

Would a dedicated new sound card be a major improvement in computer playback sound, over the onboard sound?
 
whopub said:
I wouldn't mind going SPDIF...

My motherboard has two different SPDIF outputs, coaxial (RCA) and optical (Toslink), but no input! I'd have to buy an interface. Both SPDIF input and output on the Roland VS-880 are coaxial.

So does it make more sense to pay £27.41 for the Behringer UCA202, and use Roland's plain-vanilla RCA line-out to the Behringer, and then the USB output from the Behringer to the PC...

Or buy a sound card, like the Sound Blaster Z series, or something from Terratec?

The thing is, both SB and Terratec cards have only optical (Toslink) SPDIF inputs. Is there a good card around with both optical and coaxial SPDIF inputs?

Would a dedicated new sound card be a major improvement in computer playback sound, over the onboard sound?
Click to expand...

Most interfaces I have seen uses the RCA(Coaxial) type SPDIF connections and no the optical. I don't think there would be a difference for the sound (it's digital), I think the difference is the optical will not have any interference issues.
 
My problem (like I detailed on my previous post) is that I can either spend money on an interface, just to move songs around (from the multitrack to the pc), or buy a good sound card, which not only allows me to transfer the songs, but also improves the overall playback.

The thing with the soundcard solution is that all of those I've seen so far use optical SPDIF and my multitrack uses coaxial SPDIF. I don't think they can be mixed, like using a cable with optical on one end and coaxial on the other.
 
whopub said:
My problem (like I detailed on my previous post) is that I can either spend money on an interface, just to move songs around (from the multitrack to the pc), or buy a good sound card, which not only allows me to transfer the songs, but also improves the overall playback.

The thing with the soundcard solution is that all of those I've seen so far use optical SPDIF and my multitrack uses coaxial SPDIF. I don't think they can be mixed, like using a cable with optical on one end and coaxial on the other.
Click to expand...

You're right, they can't be mixed.
 
You can buy or build coax to optical converters if you need one--I was amazed at how basic they were. It's a bit more difficult (but not possible to go the other way). The coax to optical isn't much more than an LED across the end of the coax flickering in time to the signal! (I exaggerate a bit, but not much.) If you don't want to build, I've seen adaptors online for about twenty bucks.

There's no difference in quality with the exception that, if you have an earth loop issue, going optical can eliminate it since there's no electrical connection.
 
The Behringer UCA 202 is great for the money but if you really wanted to use S/PDIF DO NOT buy a S(of )B card, if you can find one an M-Audio 2496 will give you far better results.
For a usb AI with digital cheap, look for a second hand M-A Fast track pro or a Tascam US144. All three of those interfaces will, I know from personal exp', work fine with Win 7/64.

If you want to push the boat out and buy the best sub £200 AI extant IMHO, get the Native Instruments KA6 (4 ins,4 outs+S/PDIF+MIDI)

Our very own UK cpc.co.uk do a co-ax to opt converter ord#AV12736 for £6.42+vat The opt/co-ax, same price or# AV12737. They work fine I have used them to get optical Minidisc into a 2496. No doubt they can be found on the webb?

OP...If you are UK based you can borrow my Berry UCA202 for as long as you need to rip that m'tracker.

Dave.
 
Thanks for the great reply, Dave. Sorry it took so long to get back to you. I guess I'll buy the Behringer UCA 202, just so I can do something in the meantime, and I'll be looking out for a second hand M-Audio 2496 on eBay.
 
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