Please help me pick out a soundcard!

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iheartblondie

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Ok, I'm finally ready to buy a soundcard, but I have no idea what kind to get (external or internal?) I've never had to buy one before, so do I need to install it myself or take it to somebody to install it for me? I'm actually not that new to digital recording, been doing it for 2 years now, but I'm finally ready for my music to sound more professional.

My computer is a Dell laptop, 4GB Ram, 1.86 GHz, 64 bit Windows 7. I'm currently using FL Studio to record my midi keyboard (Alesis Q25), but the notes are delayed by about a half second & I think it's because I need a new/better soundcard.

Sorry, I'm such a dummy about this, but I know nothing about soundcards! Can you recommend a few for me?
 
How many thing do you want to be able to record simultaneously?
 
Just 1...my midi keyboard (which is actually USB powered, just in case you need to know that.)
 
iheartblondie said:
Ok, I'm finally ready to buy a soundcard, but I have no idea what kind to get (external or internal?) I've never had to buy one before, so do I need to install it myself or take it to somebody to install it for me? I'm actually not that new to digital recording, been doing it for 2 years now, but I'm finally ready for my music to sound more professional.

My computer is a Dell laptop, 4GB Ram, 1.86 GHz, 64 bit Windows 7. I'm currently using FL Studio to record my midi keyboard (Alesis Q25), but the notes are delayed by about a half second & I think it's because I need a new/better soundcard.

Sorry, I'm such a dummy about this, but I know nothing about soundcards! Can you recommend a few for me?
Click to expand...

Half a second is ridiculous. The USB midi controller and running the samples on your harddrive and synth engine through your processors.

This maybe soundcard related but I feel its a driver issue.


Your keyboard should not be introducing any such delays through the USB connection
The delays are probably from the drivers or the way you have this hooked up to FL. Been a while since I played with it. Have you tried ASIO4ALL ? You should be using ASIO.

You can't upgrade the soundcard internally ( there used to be a card you could insert into a PCMCIA slot on the side of most lappy's but i think its obsolete and it was super expensive regardless. http://www.myshopping.com.au/GO--1216362635_shopping and http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/496565-REG/Digigram_SG141800302_VXpocket_v2_PCMCIA_Sound.html )


You just want to work with Fruity ? Make sure you try ASIO4ALL drivers first. http://www.asio4all.com/
 
Last edited:
CFox said:
Half a second is ridiculous. The USB midi controller and running the samples on your harddrive and synth engine through your processors.

This maybe soundcard related but I feel its a driver issue.


Your keyboard should not be introducing any such delays through the USB connection
The delays are probably from the drivers or the way you have this hooked up to FL. Been a while since I played with it. Have you tried ASIO4ALL ? You should be using ASIO.

You can't upgrade the soundcard internally ( there used to be a card you could insert into a PCMCIA slot on the side of most lappy's but i think its obsolete and it was super expensive regardless. RME HDSP Cardbus PCMCIA Card and Digigram VXpocket v2 PCMCIA Sound Card SG141800302 B&H Photo )


You just want to work with Fruity ? Make sure you try ASIO4ALL drivers first. ASIO4ALL - Universal ASIO Driver
Click to expand...

I already updated my ASIO4ALL but when I select it in FL, I don't get any sound, but when I select "Primary Sound Driver" I do get sound.
 
Try setting ASIO4All as your default ASIO in Windows as well as in FL.
 
@Jimmys69 Still not working.

Can someone just recommend me a soundcard? I'm only asking because I think that's why my midi/usb keyboard is acting funny through FL Studio...
 
Well, pretty much any external interface is going to work better than an internal one. You need to Google, and find one with the features you need. I really have given up recommending anything under $300. Yer on your own until you are willing to invest in your music. Best wishes. :D

That being said, My 17 year old has a $99 M-Audio keyboard, through FL, and a stock soundcard on a crappy GX270 office desktop PC, and has little latency issues. Though, I paid $600 for his software..............
 
iheartblondie said:
This is where I've always been confused...a soundcard is the same thing as a interface? If so, I could buy this Amazon.com: USB 2.0 4-CHANNEL Audio/midi: Electronics and be okay? I only plan on recording with my midi keyboard (which is USB powered). I wish I didn't have such a hard time figuring this stuff out.
Click to expand...

Generally speaking, think of a soundcard as the audio processor chip and the audio interface as a soundcard inside an enclosure that contains various inputs and outputs.

The unit you linked is an audio interface ( with its soundcard inside ;) )

Yes. It will do the job for you.

Even though this Tascam has midi, you can still run your USB keyboard with this device, its just acting as the computers new more powerful and efficient soundcard - and obviously with the added intended bonus of standard musical instrument and microphone inputs and higher end outputs.

From memory, I think I had trouble with FL also whenever i tried to use ASIO with the onboard soundcard. FL can be very resource demanding.
 
Shoot me if I'm being too simple here. A computer interface is an external sound card. A lot easier to use than an internal sound card. I use the Tascam US 144 MKII. The half second delay you are seeing is latency. With the interface you have to set your recording software to ASIO and then use the headphones on the interface and the latency will disappear.

My interface is a lot more versatile than a sound card as you can adjust inputs, utilize a condensor mic more easily. I would say go with a computer interface. You can go cheap or more expensive and they all should work. The ones with dials and switchs are more versatile.
 
Note - check your keyboard to see if it has MIDI connectors as well as the USB - mine doesn't. My keyboard plugs directly into the computer via USB for recording MIDI, but the audio outs to my interface for recording audio.
 
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