No empty PCI slot --> what to use for recording?

[AlexVDL]

Hi, I'm new here, and I'm also kinda new in home recording (only software I ever used is DOP Digital Orchestrator Pro from Voyetra).

Recently I've bought a new PC, and I'm very happy with it, except for the VERY BAD recording ability!

This is my new system:

- Intel Pentium 4 Processor with HT Technology
- 2.8GHz
- 512kB Cache
- FSB 800
- 512Mb DDR 400MHz memory
- 80Gb hard disk UDMA 133 - 7200Rpm

For more specs: http://uk.asus.com/prog/spec.asp?m=T2-P%20Deluxe&langs=11#

Like you can see, the sound is onboard (Soundmax or something). The mainboard has only one PCI slot, and I use it for my wireless network.

The sound of the onboard Sounmax soundcard is absolutely crap!! I get weird noises thru my speakers when I click my mouse on something, or when I press a key on my keyboard. There is a constant noise... like there's a cellular phone interferring with my speakers or something. I thought is was my wireless network, but I disabled it, and the noise kept on going.

Besides that, when I want to play midi and audio together using the Microsoft GS Wavetable-software there is no problem, but with the SoundMax Wavetable synth the midi will get out of sync with the audio tracks. The midi is about half a second too late.

Here a pic of my software: http://fullservesite.com/alexvdl/dop.jpg

So my question is:

I want to create midi tracks (drums, keyboards etc), and I want to add real guitars and bass (audio). The midi sounds should be good quality (no SB16 sound ), and I want no noise when recording audio.

Which soundcard should I buy? Like I said, I don't have an extra PCI slot, so I think it should be an external card??

If it's possible, I would like to be able to use soundfonts. If that's not possible, I would like to be able to use midi, but with the sounds loaded in Nemesys Gigastudio.

I'm using the Behringer V-amp pro guitar amp modeler, which has mostly every kind of output. So again, what would be the best for me to buy?

How about the Sound Blaster Audigy 2 NX or the Sound Blaster Extigy? I don't need a very professional setup, just something that works okay

Thank you all in advance!!!

Regards,
Alex

 

[Jim Y]

Can't you get a USB wireless NIC? It really would be better that than USB for audio.
Not many pci cards with a hardware midi synth nowadays. Turtle Beach Santa Cruz or Creative Audigy. The last probably as it uses Soundfonts. The Santa Cruz can be fitted with a Yamaha XG synth card (DB51XG).

The noise of the Soundmax may be because it's crap, or there could be an earthing problem in the machine caused by a loose screw or an overloaded/poor power supply. Asus motherboards are usually pretty good quality.

If DOP can host VSTi instruments , you can get a free soundfont player VSTi called sFz and you can download free soundfonts from the web - in case you pick a sound interface without a midi synth. The high quality ones such as E-mu. M-audio, Echo etc, do not have synths.

If you're not hellbent on running everything in the computer - there are cheap hardware midi synths to be had - old favorites like the Korg 05r/w had very good GM midi sounds.

 

[apl]

Hi, Alex.

I used a Tascam US122 to record the song in my signature line on a computer much less powerful than yours. I really like it. I didn't have any trouble setting it up.

 

[crankz1]

I'd NIX the NIC card and get a decent PCI soundcard like an AP 2496 and replace the NIC with something like this .
DOP is great for MIDI, but I would look at other options for digital audio as DOP is only capable of 16 bit and 44.1kHz (not to mention it has no support for VST\VSTi or DX\DXi). Take a look at n-Track or any of the other low cost multitracking softwares.

 

[AlexVDL]

Hi there... thank you all for the great replies!

I will go for the USB wireless network thingy

I'll also going to buy a good audio card, the m-audio delta 44 sounds good.

But like I said, I would like to use midi drums, bass and keyboards on my recordings. I understand that the m-audio soundcard doesn't has midi? Where will I get those sounds from then? And another thing, I would like the midi to sound as realistic as possible. What do you guys prefer?

I'm not into the cubase or vst stuff... I've tried it once, but it was too complicated. DOP is so easy. Just select a track and record. Just a few effects for midi and audio (audio effects aren't realtime, that's too bad). But man... cubase has all the pro stuff and more. Just too much that I don't use. I just want midi and audio, and maybe some realtime effects. Is there such a program? N-Track maybe?

Apl, what drums did you use on that recording???

 

[crankz1]

Yeah .... n-Track along with a whole slew of other programs will take care of the MIDI aspect for you via virtual instruments and samples or even soundfonts depending on the virtual instrument used. Plus you get the added benefit of real-time non-destructive effect processing.
Fruity Loops and sfz can play soundfonts.