what sound card is best and most cost effective?

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celticfire62

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I am wanting to do mostly voice commercial production using my home computer.
What sound card is the best and most cost effective?
Also, are there any sound cards that would accept XLR mic plugs?
Thanks.
 
there are cards that have XLR connections, but they arent cost effective.....

the Delta Audiophile is , in my opinion, the most cost effective card for what you want to do....you will need a mic and an external preamp with it.....
 
As Gidge mentioned you need a preamp to record vocals (to boost the mic level signal to line level). Therefore just because a card has a XLR input, don't assume it has a preamp and you can hook your mic straight into it.

Cards that do have preamps include the Aardvark direct pro 24/96 (around $500 street price I believe) and the Omni 10/10 breakout box for the Delta cards (probably about the same price).

The cheaper route (as Gidge already mentioned) is to buy a cheaper card and use an external preamp (starting at $69).

Searching the soundcard board for your specific needs and computer system should help you choose a card that's right for you.

-drew
 
Get yourself an audiophile. If I remember rightly it even has a digital out. So you can master to DAT (standard in broadcasting if I remember rightly)

To go with it, you'd need a decent pre-amp for the microphone, because don't forget, mic signals are very small, and that almost all condensor microphones require a 48V (Phantom power) supply.

M-Audio do some very nice ones. The DMP2 is a very very very nice one, and even the pro studio guys rave about them.

good luck


rochey :p
 
the Q10 is one of the most cost effective ways of getting 8 channels with preamps....i guess we should have asked input/ouput needs first.....
 
69.00 us for a 24/96 card

Before you get on your Creative isnt a real card soapbox. Have you seen the new audigy release 24 bit converters, 96khz sampleing rate, value version priced arround here at 68.00.


It beats the cost effective audiophile by 100.00, enough to buy a dbx pre.


I know Im going to get it for reccomending a creative card but I havent heard any buzz here yet, and Its a brand new product.

P.S. It also has CD input which Audiophile doesnt so no other sound card is required.
 
Appreciation

You guys rock! I never sign up for anything...hate excess e-mail...but I had to sign up here just so I could thank you computer gurus for your readily available vast resources of knowledge! I was surfing in hopes of resolving a recording delima and lo and behold I stumble upon information Nirvana! I didn't even have to ask a question. It was already posted with ton 'o answers! Thanks again and pat yourselves on the back for being kind and giving to us poor unfortunates...stumbling, ignorant into a techno world!
 
I did a lot of research on this issue recently and ended up getting and audiophile for myself. It is nice and cost efficient and from what I read, and have experienced has the best sound.


Laj
 
Audigy Platinum EX

Correct me if I am wrong but as far as I know the Audigy line only records at most 16 bit 48 khz depth but will play back at 24 bit 96 khz which would no be of much use to someone who wants to get into the 24 bit realm. The Audiophile will record at 24 bit 96 khz making it a wiser choice than the Audigy, even the highest level Audigy, which is the Audigy Platinum EX. Not flamin' you for suggesting the Creative but just making sure the information is correct.
 
Re: Audigy Platinum EX

studlybw said:
Correct me if I am wrong but as far as I know the Audigy line only records at most 16 bit 48 khz depth but will play back at 24 bit 96 khz
Click to expand...

100% true, a friend found out the hard way that it is NOT a 24/96 sound card
 
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