SurfCat
Joined: Oct 04, 2006
Posts: 64
|
Posted on Dec 04 2007 07:30 PM
I would like to begin to experiment with Acid Music 3.0 and Audacity music creation and editing software to create and edit some surf tunes. I will be using Windows 98SE.
I would also like to record my Strat clone directly into the sound card or a USB card, if possible.
I would be very interested in reading people's thoughts on the sound cards they recommend (or don't recommend) for creating and recording music with software on a personal computer.
I am definitely not interested in a cheap Chinese sound card with drivers written by Chinese guys whose second language is English. Been there, done that.
Thanks, 
SurfCat
|
drumuitar
Joined: Feb 28, 2006
Posts: 813
Boise, ID
|
Posted on Dec 04 2007 10:01 PM
Your standard surround sound soundcards are not made for recording music. You can generally get away with layering a track or two, but the sound quality goes downhill quickly with much beyond that. If you want an internal, M-Audio, Emu, and others have good ones. I like external interfaces because you can move them from one system to another.
I used to have a Tascam US122, which was great. I have Vista on my desktop & notebook now and Tascam apparently isn't going to write Vista drivers. I replaced it with an external M-Audio, which is also good.
— Shawn Martin
http://www.drummerman.net
http://www.youtube.com/GKacedrummerman
http://www.facebook.com/drumuitar
|
revmike
Joined: Feb 26, 2006
Posts: 3797
North Atlantic
|
Posted on Dec 05 2007 03:07 PM
I have an M Audio (Delta Series) that has never let me down. I t was easy to install, and sounds very good.
Rev
— Canadian Surf
http://www.urbansurfkings.com/
|
planish
Joined: Jan 09, 2008
Posts: 473
Sackville, New Brunswick
|
Posted on Apr 18 2008 04:07 AM
At my workplace (a short wave transmitter site) we use some PCs for alternate audio sources. Two of the sound cards we use in them are the Digigram Vx222v2 and the VX442.
They have features like selectable Hi-Z/Low-Z or 600 ohm impedances, selectable line levels (+4Vu or -10 dBv) and balanced inputs/outputs. They work well with our other audio equipment without the need for line amps, attenuator pads, balun transformers, etc. Those were the main selling points for us. I don't necessarily vouch for their audio sampling quality over any other models, since we use them mainly for playback of MP3 files provided by foreign broadcasters.
Both of those also support AES/EBU or S/PDIF digital I/O formats.
I would also like to record my Strat clone directly into the sound card or a USB card, if possible.
Guitar pickup output levels typically (and annoyingly) fall between mic level and line level, so you'd need either a line amp to boost it or an attenuator of some sort to bring it down to mic levels (or reduce the input gain in the software), which means getting a card with mic-level inputs.
Your standard surround sound soundcards are not made for recording music. You can generally get away with layering a track or two, but the sound quality goes downhill quickly with much beyond that.
Huh? If the first track is "good", why shouldn't additional tracks be just as good?
Or are you talking about higher bit-depths and sampling rates permitting more manipulation of the waveforms before the mix-down?
— I'm not a complete idiot. Some parts are missing.
|
Rio
Joined: May 22, 2006
Posts: 500
Hamilton, Ontario
|
Posted on Jun 14 2008 10:27 PM
I'm another M-Audio Delta guy... I use a Delta 1010 linked up with (my old) Delta 66... 16 simultaneous inputs. I use Cubase and Wavelab for production and mastering, respectively.
— http://www.facebook.com/?sk=lf#!/rockinrio.delrosa
http://www.facebook.com/?sk=lf#!/TheHighTides
http://www.facebook.com/?sk=lf#!/pages/The-Blue-Demons
|
SURFmole
Joined: Nov 22, 2007
Posts: 901
Portland, OR
|
Posted on Jun 14 2008 10:57 PM
Rio
I'm another M-Audio Delta guy... I use a Delta 1010 linked up with (my old) Delta 66... 16 simultaneous inputs. I use Cubase and Wavelab for production and mastering, respectively.
Wow...old thread!! 
Since I see you just posted though I thought I'd ask you about the 1010...do you have the regular 1010 with the breakout interface or the 1010LT (light?) with the unbalanced inputs? How do you like it?
I'm thinking of ditching my Audiophile 2496 that I have linked with my Delta 44 and replacing it with a 1010 of some form (1010 or 1010LT) to add to my I/O track count.
— www.apollo4.com
|
Rio
Joined: May 22, 2006
Posts: 500
Hamilton, Ontario
|
Posted on Jun 15 2008 12:34 AM
I thought I'd ask you about the 1010...do you have the regular 1010 with the breakout interface or the 1010LT (light?) with the unbalanced inputs? How do you like it?
Hi surfmole,
I have the regular 1010 and I love it. Like I say, I use it along with a Delta 66, and it's incredible to have 16 simultaneous ins, for room mics, scratch tracks for bass, vocals, etc. It's great for recording live drums. I find it's really easy to use, and it's been incredibly reliable, I've had the '66 while still using Windows 98, and the 1010 for a few years now, and they've both been completely trouble free.
I haven't looked closely at the 1010 LT lately, but my recollection is that it was quite different from the reguar 1010, although I couldn't give you the details off the top of my head-- while you have 10 inputs on the LT version, I think they're an odd assortment of inputs, they're not all 1/4 or XLR or whatever, or something like that. The regular 1010 isn't really all that much more, considering...
— http://www.facebook.com/?sk=lf#!/rockinrio.delrosa
http://www.facebook.com/?sk=lf#!/TheHighTides
http://www.facebook.com/?sk=lf#!/pages/The-Blue-Demons
|
oestmann
Joined: Mar 06, 2008
Posts: 584
Adelaide
|
Posted on Jun 15 2008 01:56 AM
I'm on a tight budget, (play sad violin here) so music gear has had to come second behind feeding the family, however (now play bouncing twanging guitar), a sound engineer friend of mine bought me a basic line 6 soundcard.
I use Windows XP and and a Pentium 4. It came with "Gearbox" software which has been fun to play with.
It looks like this: http://line6.com/toneportux1/
I know there is much better gear around -and nothing replaces the real thing - but for base level at home stuff, I've been very happy with it. I also record using Cakewalk and Audacity, which still does me fine.
If you like an adventure into the unknown, follow my cheap-n-nasty homemade personal page link below - eveything in '2008' section was done using the Line 6 Soundcard, Everything before (ie '2007') using normal computer soundcards.
— Tim O
oestmann guitar
tunes
clips
|
SURFmole
Joined: Nov 22, 2007
Posts: 901
Portland, OR
|
Posted on Jun 15 2008 01:58 AM
Thanks for the info Rio!
I know quite a few new PC/Macs are lacking PCI slots so I'm thinking I might be able to pick up a used 1010 for a good deal if I wait it out and shop around. I've had the 2496 Audiophile forever and added a Delta 44 a couple of years ago; both cards have worked great and the drivers seem to be rock solid. I like the idea of ditching the Audiophile (or using it on a different PC) and putting a 1010 in its place since I can add more tracks while retaining the MIDI I/O. -The info's much appreciated~!!
— www.apollo4.com
|
November Birthdays 
