USB or sound card?

  • Thread starter Thread starter cerfew
  • Start date Start date
C

cerfew

New member
I'm planning on buying an SM57 and am looking for a really cheap way to connect it to my computer ( i know, it won't be the GREATEST quality).

What i'm not sure, is if I should buy a USB sound card interface (looking at Tascam US-100) or just a mic preamp and connect it to my sound card's line in (i was looking at an Audio Buddy).

Any ideas on which would be better?

I'm just using the onboard Realtek HD sound card.

I figure if I get the usb interface, i'll have much lower latency (right now, i have asio4all set at about 416 samples, 18ms total in+out latency) meaning I could use more samples.

But the dedicated preamp would probably be of (slightly) better quality for the mic.
 
Bump?

I would like some advice, i'm gonna have a mic soon and nothing to hook it up with...
 
I would think any interface would have better a/d converters than the built in sound card. As far as pre amp quality goes it all depends on the interface.
 
I've actually read most of the guides in there, lol.

So i'm assuming I should go for the interface over the preamp->soundcard because it'd have better a/d converters?

Edit: My sound card can record at 16bit/96khz. The audio interface I was looking at had the same specs. Would I be better off just getting a preamp to avoid redundancy? ATM I don't have the money to upgrade to much more.
 
Last edited:
cerfew said:
I've actually read most of the guides in there, lol.

So i'm assuming I should go for the interface over the preamp->soundcard because it'd have better a/d converters?

Edit: My sound card can record at 16bit/96khz. The audio interface I was looking at had the same specs. Would I be better off just getting a preamp to avoid redundancy? ATM I don't have the money to upgrade to much more.
Click to expand...
They may have the same bit/samplerate specs, but similarities end there. The built-in soundcards have no business when working with DAWs. They are just awful. Period.

Like the others said, ANYTHING you get over that built-in nonsense is going to be vastly superior... unless of course you get something like a SoundBlaster :D
 
My sound card can record at 16bit/96khz. The audio interface I was looking at had the same specs.
Click to expand...
Then it's a pice of junk.
Welcome aboard. :drunk:
 
Thinking of an ART Tube MP USB Project Series. that way I have the USB option, and also I can go direct line in if usb sucked.
 
cerfew said:
Thinking of an ART Tube MP USB Project Series. that way I have the USB option, and also I can go direct line in if usb sucked.
Click to expand...

The Tascam is a better unit. Don't let the Tube in ART lure you. It's a starved plate design which does nothing good to your sound. Especially at that price.
 
I used a built in sound card for about 6 months & it was fine to learn the basics of recording and spend time learning my recording program ins n outs with. Once I upgraded to a dedicated PCI card for digital recording I wished I could go back & do everything over again.
The 57 will need a fair bit of grunt from a preamp so you'll have to make sure that there's a decent match between the mic (why a 57? It's the go to for live and mic'ing amps but !!!!). after that it's up to you. You will get beyond the Realtek very quickly - the other posters are correct the specs may seem the same but the ADA converters will be different & make a difference too.
I'm no recording hero but I record at 24 and mix down then convert to 16/CD specs. Lots of people record at 16 & that's fine too.
Think things through in a linear way. What do you have. What's the next single piece of gear you need to make better recordings? - Get that. then the next piece & on & on for years (yep, still buying stuff - though I rarely but new & I don't buy the latest just to be up there. I get the next piece of gear or software to record better when I can afford it).
Oh, TUBES is often a red herring. Many "tube" pres don't have the tube in the direct signal path - it's dialled in to add EFFECT - that is some typical tube noise to give the impression that the signal was recorded with trad tube technology. The Behri Mic100 tube pres & the presonus Blue Tube are 2 that come to mind.
 
cerfew said:
My sound card can record at 16bit/96khz.
Click to expand...

And a Kia has a speedometer that goes over 100mph.....

That built-in STILL has about 40cents worth of parts.
And high-latency non-ASIO drivers.

You can read deceptive marketing-speak on a lot of stuff, but built-in soundcards are NOT 'high-def'.....
 
On the cheap - get the CEntrance MicPort Pro.

micport_pro_side_200.jpg

micport_pro_alt_200.jpg


USB for a single mic. 24/96 with headphones monitoring.

Otherwise, go for something like the Focusrite Saffire.

7245.jpg
 
Wow, thanks for all the advice guys.

Looks like I'll be going with the Tascam. ATM i'm going to be using an XLR->1/4" adapter into an old tiny guitar amp with a headphone out into my PC, lmao. I've only used it for my guitar so far, and it sounds fairly decent, but my guitar's pickup can actually overload the amp's preamp... Haha.

Thanks again for everything, it really cleared things up.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top