Why not Soundblaster?

[dmumper]

What's wrong with Soundblaster anyway?

4 years ago, I used a Soundblaster Live for recording, using Vegas Pro and Opcode's Vision for sequencing, input with an SM57.

The results were, for me, decent.

Today, I am building a new setup, and I am looking at pro audio soundcards, as well as the highest-end Soundblaster Audigy 2zs Platinum. What are the drawbacks of this card? Number of inputs don't matter, as I only record one track and one mic at a time.

For simple, track by track recording, what is the drawback of using this card? Anyone know what the difference between platinum and ZS platinum is?

Thoughts are appreciated.

 

[BloodShark]

dmumper, there's no problem at all. Many people in this board (most of them I believe) are professionals, they have real studios and some of them are paid for recording, or they have a band and want to record all instruments in different tracks at the same time. In this case, SoundBlaster is not the best, since they're not built for audio recording only. Other cards, with more inputs fits their needs best.

I myself have a SoundBlaster and just like you, I record one instrument at a time (a single man band! ) and also play games, where EAX is a great feature. If you're happy with SoundBlaster results, them you should stick with it.

PS: there's a similar thread on the "computer and soundcards" forum.

 

[manning1]

for and against

you can get a 24 bit card from hoontech for 100 bucks.
which ive heard uses good convertors. the real issue is the quality of the analog to digital conversion process and the fact in multitracking one can achieve low latency with hoontech and up sound cards like audiophile. lynx are top line but yiou dont really need it. a big pro studio i would recommend rme or lynx.
well actually a lot use custom , in hollywood, 50k convertors.
maybe try different cards and see what makes you happy.
bang for buck i bet you find the hoontech or audiophile will
be your decision.

 

[TexRoadkill]

Soundblasters are made for games not high resolution audio. If you want EAX surround decoding then you need a soundblaster. If you want the best quality sound and stable drivers for the dollar then get something else.

Cards that are made for real recording will simply sound better. If that is a priority for you then the choice is easy.

 

[tdukex]

I still use a SB Live for soundfonts. But I wouldn't record with it.

 

[Jeyan]

I still have my audigy ex left in my computer along with the motu424, it is nice to have a gaming card, but SB is certainly not a recording card.

 

[jumpingpound]

Agreed. I have an SB Audigy as well, and it is definitely designed for gamers, not audiophiles or home-recorders.

 

[SPINSTERWUN]

I still use a SB Live for soundfonts. But I wouldn't record with it.

I agree totally with tdukex.



spin

 

[Thirst]

Soundblasters are made for games not high resolution audio. If you want EAX surround decoding then you need a soundblaster. If you want the best quality sound and stable drivers for the dollar then get something else.

Cards that are made for real recording will simply sound better. If that is a priority for you then the choice is easy.

How do you figure? 24 bit recording and 96khz sample rate..

Id match my songs against yours anytime..

Now im not being a jerk its just I dont agree at all, If I wanted to take the time out to post examples I probably would, but as long as you dont want to record multiple things at once, a sound blaster is going to work as good as pretty much anything else, I would probably be willing to bet it depends more on your mixing skills Then it does on the soundcard.. If I wanted I could post a sound blaster against a Delta 66 omni studio card and you wouldnt be able to tell the difference in sound, it records at 24 bits and samples at 96khz just like others, I mean I use a sound blaster audigy platinum Ex and It has no computer sound which is the number one thing that you want, as far as converters goes I wouldnt base too much of my choice on that unless I had money to go out and purchase a soundcard with a price tag of over a thousand dollars.. Stick with a SB card unless you want to record multiple things at once, Shit i might sell you mine if I can find a digi 002 for a good price ... anyway thats my take on it..

 

[Blue Bear Sound]

oh boy........

How do you figure? 24 bit recording and 96khz sample rate..

Well - *I* figure, as do many others far more experienced than you, that good 16/44.1 converters will sound A LOT better than bad 24/96 converters....

Id match my songs against yours anytime..

Bravado before skills, eh? You should know who you're talking to before you spew nonsense like this, rookie... for all you know Tex could be George-freakin-Massenburg.....

Now im not being a jerk

Funny... sure sounds like it.........

but as long as you dont want to record multiple things at once, a sound blaster is going to work as good as pretty much anything else

It's all about the converter quality, so your assumption is wrong.

I would probably be willing to bet it depends more on your mixing skills Then it does on the soundcard..

Only if you compare apples to apples......

If I wanted I could post a sound blaster against a Delta 66 omni studio card and you wouldnt be able to tell the difference in sound, it records at 24 bits and samples at 96khz just like others,

See point #1 above.....

I mean I use a sound blaster audigy platinum Ex and It has no computer sound which is the number one thing that you want

Is this English??????

as far as converters goes I wouldnt base too much of my choice on that

Then you are clueless with respect to digital recording... you really should do some reading of the books I recommended to you previously.

Stick with a SB card unless you want to record multiple things at once,

That's pretty crummy advice.......

anyway thats my take on it..

Then you'd better brush-up on your knowledge.....


If you're going to bother giving advice, at least try to understand what the hell it is you're talking about...........

 

[joro]

If you're going to bother giving advice, at least try to understand what the hell it is you're talking about...........

Never stopped me before Bruce....ya know? lol!

 

[Thirst]

oh boy........

Well - *I* figure, as do many others far more experienced than you, that good 16/44.1 converters will sound A LOT better than bad 24/96 converters....


Bravado before skills, eh? You should know who you're talking to before you spew nonsense like this, rookie... for all you know Tex could be George-freakin-Massenburg.....


Funny... sure sounds like it.........


It's all about the converter quality, so your assumption is wrong.


Only if you compare apples to apples......


See point #1 above.....


Is this English??????



Then you are clueless with respect to digital recording... you really should do some reading of the books I recommended to you previously.



That's pretty crummy advice.......


Then you'd better brush-up on your knowledge.....


If you're going to bother giving advice, at least try to understand what the hell it is you're talking about...........

2 words simply put and seriously meant, fuck off.. I cant begin to tell you what i think of you man, YES PEOPLE, its true I am no master recording engineer nor do I run my own studio like mr blue bear does here, but I can sure tell you if my mixing skills were up to par I could definately turn out the same friggen projects you do in your million dollar facility.. There is someone who runs a home studio over here that uses a SOUNDBLASTER CARD, and I havent had the pleasure yet of recording with him but hes had 2 of his artists playing over major BOSTON and NH radio waves, now they have to be pretty good to get played on there right.. YEA man whatever keep talking your shit cuz your a fucken know it all but plain and simple there are many ways around what you think are the basics to recording, some people cant afford a 1200.00 sound card and shit I MEAN HALF THE PEOPLE THAT LISTEN TO MUSIC aint listening to the friggen quality, sure fine tuned prics like yourself are sitting back and saying this is a horrible mix but to joe shmoe or jennifer barbie are playing it in there car saying I LOVE THIS STUFF YEAAAA... IN short try not to impose all of your vast knowledge upon something it doesnt matter too, Not many can afford your 1 million in equipment but id take a song mixed by this kid and his cheap little sound blaster card against your tracks.. I cant believe you had the nerve to post some shit like that up on here, I can show u plenty of recordings done with cheap stuff that anyone would not be able to tell it was done with a sound blaster card... but you know what i did like though is the fact that you took the time to quote and break down my whole statement, that was kinda cute of you.. thanks asss...

I truly think your a moron now, weither you know what your doing when you step into a studio or not isnt what im basing my opinion on, My opinion is based on your statement and how you took the time out of your precious record engineering day to brake down my statement, you must admire me though.. So i applaud your effort at trying to impress people with your knowledge my advice is as true as it remains posted on this board, without spending a rediculous amount of money you will not get a better product then a soundblaster card I.E a digi 002 running for 1200-2000.00... and the soundblaster runs for 200.00... the quality difference is marginable there but so is the price, NOW if he came in the thread saying ill spend anything I can ona soundcard lalalalalala then i wouldnt have typed that... ASS

 

[joro]

Thirst....

I live near Boston...
Come visit my Home studio man...
I have Both the Audigy card and a Delta 10/10....
There is a difference....you can tell if you compare side by side...

and BTW...
I have heard some real crappy recordings on College Radio and on the River...good songs...not so good recording...

 

[Blue Bear Sound]

... a whole lot of nonsense snipped....

Assuming you actually stick with sound engineering and actually develop some ears, you're going to be real embarrassed down the road when you stumble across this thread and the bullshit you posted........

Now.... I suggest you get back to reading if you actually want to learn something............

 

[Thirst]

Yes thats college radio though, over here at umass lowell They will play stuff recorded off of a kareoke machine.. Im talking about jamn 94.5, 88.9 and various stations in nashua too... I realize hes trying to make a point, but so am i.. Ok so how about this, you record a song with your delta 66 and ill record one with my soundblaster and we'll compare them... how about that? Just for people to see the difference and keep in mind my mixing styles are no where near what they should be...

 

[joro]

Dude...I live in Lowell....

Name your Genre...

and it's a 10/10...not a 66...

 

[Thirst]

hey me tooo where abouts? I do hiphop, well Id prefer to do any kind of music but i cant sing so it kind of limits me to hiphop for now.. anyways yes hiphop im located in the highlands..

 

[joro]

Centralville...

I record a lot of different genres...never done Hip-Hop though...or rap...

 

[Thirst]

Yea it gets clowned by alot of people but the type I do isnt about bustin guns or selling drugs yoyoyo lol.. I do ok for me, my uncle likes it and he hates rap music lol.. I guess its cuz I speak truthe maybe... anyway Im listening to blue ridge day, sounds really good.. Ima download this i like this..

You have your own home studio? You ever been to skyline studios? Crazy place man.. Ima post this example of my quality but Ive adopted a slightly different way of mixing since then.. I used to run my vocals threw a parametric equalizer not realizing for some dumb reason it put a nasty hiss on my s's... Ive fixed this now by rolling off the end of the PE and jus lowering it all overall..
true its a TINNY kind of mix(especiallly the chorus for some reason) but if i were to re record it I could fix.. I have better examples of my quality that were mastered by a professional engineer but this is all me... enjoy...

http://www.soundclick.com/util/streamM3U.m3u?ID=741165&q=Hi

If that takes you to the page, just click on " the day I stopd Caring " hi fi cuz lo fi will really make me look bad.. enjoy

 

[joro]

good rap lyrics man....

mix could be better...no offense....OK?
needs a de-ess on the vox...
You are using loops...yes?

Skyline Studio?
In Boston?
no...no pro studios yet man...maybe someday...

take it easy man,
Joe