Soundcard help (among other gear questions)

[Keyz316]

Hi all -
Sorry this post will be a bit long... I just reallly need help hehe I'm a real newbie... trying to build a modest but good-sounding home studio. I know this is probably asked a lot... sorry - pleeease help

I'm seeking some professional advice on which soundcard I should buy (I have a SoundBlaster Live value right now - yuk - I'll tell the rest of my setup further below). As far as what I plan to be doing... I will need to plug in at least 2 synths, a microphone, and preferably a guitar, and I'd like some room to grow a bit. I will typically be recording alone/not-live though (but I don't want to have to swap cables every time I need to use a different piece of gear). I'll also be using softsynths such as Pro-52 and FM7, as well as GigaSampler or Halion, and centralizing everything around Cubase VST/32 (and in the future, upgrade to Cubase SX). On a side-note, I don't know if my present midi interface is up-to-snuff (USB Midiman Midisport 2x2)... is the midisport ok, or should I dump it and get something different? Also, having the audio in/outs accessable would be real nice, since I'm putting my PC in my closet to reduce noise levels.

My DAW (as is):
AMD Athlon XP 1800+ w/Zalman CNPS6000-CU cooling
Asus A7V266-E motherboard
512MB DDR2100 RAM from Crucial (1 DIMM, doubling soon)
Matrox Millenium G400 AGP 32MB Dualhead
Soundblaster Live Value (yuk)
2 Maxtor D740X 40GB 7200RPM drives (1 system, 1 data)
Sony Spressa CRX140S SCSI burner
Tekram DC-315/U SCSI card
Accton EN1207D Ethernet adapter
Antec SX-840 case
USB Midiman Midisport 2x2
-- Controller: Ensoniq ZR-76 (getting Yamaha Motif 8 and a VA synth - Nord lead or Virus instead soon)
Windows 2000 Professional (non-ACPI)

So I'm wondering which soundcard would suit me best, and hopefully be affordable for the time being (I'm a college student)... doesn't have to be "studio" quality or anything, but at least something I can feel good about and have enough inputs for my needs. I think $500 would be my limit at the moment, preferably less (2-300). I'm just tired of the snail-paced latency and crackling noises of the SB.

I'm kinda curious if there are any viable options that can work for both a desktop system and a laptop... not sure if I'm "going mobile" quite yet, but I'd like to at least see what the options are and maybe keep that avenue open for myself if I'm going to be spending a lot on a soundcard (so I don't have to buy one for "both"). I've heard people have problems with Motu's portable offerings - is USB (2) a viable option yet?

Also - will I need other external gear like a preamp or compressor or anything else, and if so might you recommend some? (some affordable mic and monitor suggestions would be great as well if you don't mind).

Anyhow, thanks in advance for the help!
Peace.

 

[ambi]

hey

im doing a very similar thing to you. And im planning on picking up a Delta 44 (i don't need the spdf connections of the delta 66). Its suposed to be really good, and the delta line seens to be a standard. How is that zalman cpu fan/heatsinc? I was planning on buying one for my new system im assembling for home recording, im 18, and in my parents house, so im confined to my bedroom, and i need it to be as quiet as possible. Anyways, the delta 44 is worth a look, 4 ins/ 4 outs. Probably best to see what the pros have to say, i really don't know anything.

 

[Keyz316]

cool
Well my Zalman just arrived... installation delayed due to a harddrive problem I've had to deal with this week (dos partition table on my slave drive decided to spontaniously combust - lukily I saved my data - not the drive yet though).
I will update you though on the lack-of-heat and the wonderful silence as soon as I can (I also got some arctic silver 3 and bought a higher-temp-rated zalman than my cpu requires, so I'm hoping it makes a huge difference). Right now it's overheating AND roaring like a jet engine hehe

Well... waitin on those great replies to come
Peace.

 

[TexRoadkill]

Sound cards are sized according to the number of in/outs on them. Delta has a good line of cards and there is Motu and others. The more jacks the more expensive they are.

A mixer would probably be your best bet for all your inputs. Since the mixer will be the heart of your system dont be tempted to get the really cheap ones. Your recordings will only be as good as your mixer and a Mackie or Soundcraft M is highly recomended.

Check the prices and see what you can afford and we can help you match the right size of mixer and soundcard for your budget.