What Sound Card?

[chrissy64]

Which is the best sound card for recording using a keyboard as a sound source? I presently have a Soundblaster XFI that I have been using and have been told that it really isn't the type of card I need for professional recording. So what I'm looking for is advice on the best professional sound card and interface for this sort of recording/mixing.

I use mostly keyboards and vocals to create my music using Sonar 8.5. Everything sounds fine until I start using the EQ settings in Sonar. It makes the recording sound muffled, as if you put a pillow over the speaker. I'm assuming that this is down to the sound card that I'm using.

Can anyone help me by suggesting how to rectify this. Whether it's buying a new Pro sound card or what I might to do fix my problem.

 

[robdean]

If it sounds OK until you touch the EQ then it's very unlikely to be a soundcard issue. Sonar sound processing will be done by the main CPU not by the soundcard. Soundblaster cards have shortcomings with latency, their range of natively handled sample rates, one-to-one digital pass-through etc etc, but they tend to have a perfectly OK dynamic range, noise floor, frequency response etc - 'muddy' shouldn't be an issue.

Has some parameter of the default EQ accidentally been set up as a low pass filter?

 

[chrissy64]

I don't really see any default EQ settings that are changeable or click-able to have been able to accidentally set it incorrectly.
I'm not sure where to look other than the console that I've looked in and it doesn't seem to take the muddy away. It still sounds like a muffled recording.

 

[PDP]

Strange, is it clear before you activate the EQ. Maybe its the settings your choosing on the EQ? Are you sure you understand all the controls? Soundblasters are not really known for good sound when it comes to Home Recording, while it may not be the problem there are much better sound cards. What is your setup now, mixer, pre-amp ?

 

[robdean]

I'm afraid I don't use Sonar. But if the recording plays back and sounds OK in Sonar, but then sounds lousy when you add EQ in Sonar, the problem, whatever it is, ain't going to be the soundcard. The soundcard is the gatekeeper between analogue and digital. All of the Sonar EQ happens in the digital domain within Sonar.

You should of course check there's nothing dumb selected in the Soundblaster setup - such as its own system-wide eq, spatial FX, 5.1 upmix etc. But none of that would sound nice without Sonar EQ but rotten with EQ - it would just be a bit odd or a bit crap whatever your threw at it.

If it sounds OK when you live-monitor the recording but playback sounds lousy, then you need to look at something around the input / record bus - that could include the soundcard configuration. But still and all - that card may have 101 shortcomings, and it's absolutely not a 'music production' unit, but it certainly should be capable of making a non-muddy stereo recording.

If you want to report back the problem in more exact detail, or at least confirm that I have the right (or wrong) understanding of the circumstances under which it happens, then I'm sure folks here will do their best to help.

 

[chrissy64]

I have checked the settings on the sound card and in the preferences and nothing seems set wrong from what I can see.
The EQ settings are quite basic in Sonar and it doesn't seem to be a problem in there.
As for set up - I've got the PC with the XFI, and at the moment the keyboard is plugged in to the 5 pin MIDI in and out of the sound card interface.

Part of the problem as well is, quality of different playback systems. For example if I purchase a CD from the store, it will sound well on any sterio or playback system. When I record my music onto CD, I can play it on various systems with mixed results. On some systems it sounds fine and on others it doesn't. Why is there a difference?

 

[PDP]

. On some systems it sounds fine and on others it doesn't. Why is there a difference?

LOL Welcome to Home Recording! I know what you mean, making a mix that translates well on every system is a skill that most of us are working on. Its not that easy to answer, someone with more knowledge may be able to tell you more. The thing I've found is that the low-mids and mids have to be really clean/clear to sound good on all speakers.