Soundcard Conflicts?

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DisturbedStudio

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Hi Everybody...

I've been visiting this site for some time now and it looks like a good place to get some good answers. Most of you seem to have good advice to offer :)

I am starting to build a home studio, not for professional use, but as a hobby. I have been doing my research and I believe the studio will eventually have a computer, Mackie CFX12 mixer, Alesis M1 Actives, Shure SM57 mic, rack mount compressor and effects, Cakewalk Studio 9, and Drag and Drop Drummer. I already have 3 electric guitars (Ibanez and 2 Fenders), 1 acoustic, and one classical. I will also be getting a base.

If your still hanging in there, thank you. Here is my question:

For the computer (PC), which will also be used for serious gaming, I need a good soundcard. If I go the Soundblaster route, I want the Platinum Live!, although I know the Laylas and Ginas are better for recording. Is there a conflict with having two soundcards? Or a better question, will the Layla or Gina act as a good gaming card?

I want great sounds even tho it is just a hobby, but the computer can't just be a "recording" computer. I love gaming as much as recording...

Thanks in advance for anyone who can give me some good advice...
 
There is always a potential for a conflict, but 99% of the time you can work around it. I've run an Aardvark 20/20 with Creative Ensonic, Delta 1010 with a Creative Ensonic. No problems. This will also depend on what other cards are in your system.. as in how many. If you don't use a printer, disable the port in BIOS this will free up another if necessary.

As for your gaming/recording computer. If your going to be loading a lot of games and other extreneous software, consider going the dual boot route.
 
Ugh!!

Thanks for your comments Emeric.

I just looked at the price of the Layla24 that I was interested in and realized that $800 is not "hobby" recording. Are there equal quality soundcards that are MIDI combatible for around $200?

Looks like the Soundblaster Platinum Live! will win based on price.

Thx again... Keep those comments coming... They are appreciated!
 
I've got a GINA and a Turtle Beach Montego (well I had a Montego before it took a shit) and they coexisted quite well. As to gaming- Delta Force sound effects on the GINA were awesome. For MIDI I'd suggest a USB MIDI interface. And if you don't need S/PDIF- save some dough and get the Darla.
 
Disturbed: DO NOT Buy a Sound Blaster Live! Platinum for recording. This is a 16-bit gamer card with a breakout box. It does have a very nice Emu sampler chip for soundfonts and MIDI, but you will not get good results using it for digital audio.

For about the same price you can buy the highly regarded M-Audio Delta 44 card--a 24-bit audio card with top-notch AD/DA converters that will blow the Sound Blaster off the planet. I have both an M-Audio Dman 2044 and a Live! card, and there is no comparison when it comes to digital audio quality.

Check out this thread, and listen to the Slackmaster:

http://www.homerecording.com/bbs/showthread.php?threadid=23934&pagenumber=1

Then, if you want MIDI and sound fonts, buy the Sound Blaster Live! Value for about $50, and run both cards together. The Live! Value is the exact same card as the Platinum but without the breakout box, and its soundfount/sampler capabilities are awesome. But for digital audio it can't compete with the M-Audio, or any other pro-sumer card by MOTU, echo, etc.

So, for about $250 you can have the best of both worlds.
 
Another solution that is fast becoming a very viable solution is a softsynth that can play Sound Font files.
 
ok...

Thx for the info TdukeX... Tell me, is the M-Audio Delta 44 card a good gaming card? Although I'm primarily building the computer for a DAW, I still want to play my favorite games (CounterStrike, Quake, etc...) Are there any limitations of the 44 for regular computer use? Thx again for all replies...
 
No, the Deltas are strictly excellent recording cards. They have no on-board MIDI synth or anything like Environmental Audio or those sort of gaming "enhancements."
 
If that's the case...

Sounds like I have three options...

1. Have both cards and have dual boot (which I don't like),

2. Have both cards and two hardware configurations (which scares me.... I don't want an unstable system),

3. Have both cards, and run both at the same time which also seems unstable...

Any ideas or comments?
 
You cant always get what you want!

Now I see why your disturbed!
If You have the irqs theres no reason why you cant have both cards. Just research the compatability issues with the recording card. A lot of this depends on your computer system. This is where intel processers and chipsets seem to do better. Modems and nic cards can come into play also.
No Pain! No Gain!
Theres only one stable operating system. Novell :)

Duck
 
A lot of people are running the soundblaster live value digital / Delta 44 (or 66, 1010) combination quite successfully and without too much trouble. I agree with tdukex that this is probably your best bet.
 
I am running both my Dman and the Live! No conflict problems. I use the Live! for MIDI and the Dman for recording audio. Whatever audio card you buy, install it first (some say in the PCI slot nearest the CPU). Then install the Live! The Live! is not particular about which IRQ it uses. In other words, it has a reputation for getting along well with others. Many people use the Live! in conjunction with another audio card. It is a common practice.
 
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