Rocketfish Sound Cards

  • Thread starter Thread starter Matt G
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Matt G

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Right now I have a stock realtech high def audio. And I am under the impression that with better sound cards will come better quality sound.

If the statement above is correct, has anyone upgraded from the RT High Def Audio that comes stock with every PC bought off the shelf (usually) with a rocketfish sound card?

Please let me know, and also, suggestions on brand names for sound cards would be much appreciated.

Thanks,
Matt
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Don't expect any to hear any improvements going from one sound card to another. In fact, I've heard side by side comparisons with a soundcard and a high-end converter and it was difficult to tell the difference. Why would we want to spend the money on a better converter if we can't hear the difference? After recording multiple tracks, the high-end converter will have less noise that won't stack up. If you are recording 20, 24, 30 or more tracks, the higher noise level of the sound card will eventually become noticeable.

Instead of getting another soundcard, you should look at getting an audio interface that is designed for recording audio and not playing games or watching movies.

Here's a list to browse through:

USB Audio Interfaces | Sweetwater.com

have fun,
 
So a simple USB Sound Card will work?

So I don't need to take apart my computer to put a new PCI in?

The USB Audio Interfaces will just bypass the PCI sound card stock on my comp?
 
Onboard audio will be disabled when you install an interface. Soundcards not specifically designed for recording are toys. Avoid.
 
Matt G said:
So I don't need to take apart my computer to put a new PCI in?

The USB Audio Interfaces will just bypass the PCI sound card stock on my comp?
Click to expand...

Well, of course, everyone's needs are slightly different and what might work for me may not work for you. The audio interfaces in the list I linked have better converters and circuitry than a soundcard so you'll get a better sound. It might not be noticeable at first, but when multitracking, it will make a small difference. The bigger reason to buy an interface is they have asio drivers that help reduce latency and/or allow for realtime monitoring. Most come with a mic preamp so you can plug a decent mic into it.

But yeah, to answer your question, the interfaces use USB (or firewire) and you don't need to open your computer. You won't use your internal soundcard for recording.

The Tweakheasdz link the Tim O'Brien put up is a good read. It's long, so set aside some time to go through it, but it covers a lot of info.

Also, another good read is the book Homerecording for Musicians for Dummies by Jeff Strong.

have fun,
 
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