Wich of these 2 sound cards?

I hope you don't find this comment too blunt, but I think you are going off the delusional end if you are considering buying a Creative product and then modding it so that it will be like a DAC1. There is a lot more to whatever audio device you use than what opamp or capacitor it uses.


If you want something for pro audio, get a pro audio interface not a sound blaster. All things being equal, your success with a particular interface is largely determined by how well the drivers work with your software. If you aren't looking for a pro audio card, then I don't have an opinion, and this is probably the wrong forum to ask.
 
If you're playing games, or your looking for a "real world" reference for game audio developement, then I'd definitely go with the Creative Labs product.

Otherwise, I wholly agree with Tigeba. There are so many solid entry-level audio interfaces on the market that I can't imagine any compelling reason to subsist on consumer gear for pro audio applications. For around the price of a top-end Sound Blaster card, you can get a USB audio interface with ballanced XLR ins and outs, as well as a high quality headphone amp and a decent mic preamp (with phantom power). None of those basic features are anywhere to be found on either of the cards you listed.

As for the 5.1/7.1 monitoring issue, thats another matter altogether. First off, you'll need software that will support that many channels AND will be happy working with a consumer sound card. Second (and this is the big one) you need to have a suitable monitoring environment. Without good reference monitors in a carefully tuned room, you're programs will never sound like they did in your mix.

We're not trying to be nasty or sound elitist. We're just trying to save you a lot of money and frustration. I used an old SBlive Value card with ProTools Free to cut my first feature, and I wouldn't want to go back there again.
 
Guys, please don't apologize... This is exactly what i need to hear! Thanks!
(I know how much I don't know... :) )

I should have mentioned that I have a US-122 from Tascam wich has two XLR inputs, USB out with also powers the device so I can bring it with and power it with my laptop, and 24/96 analogue to digital conversion physically by-passing the internal pre-amps... so I can use my MixPre's pre-amps which are accepted by most of you guys...

But about the sound card... cause I still need PC playback right?
Should I:

_ cancel the orders for the cards and use my on-board card till I get something else (what?)
_ get the better gaming and cheaper X-Fi and modify it if I wish to, then get something else for pro-play-back (what?)
_ get the HT and only wrap it in ERS paper, use that till I can afford whatever you guys use (again, what is that?)
 
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Why not something like this:

http://www.emu.com/products/product.asp?category=505&subcategory=491&product=9872

Still made by Creative, but from the reviews, a definate step up in sound quality from the gaming cards.

http://www.musiciansfriend.com/product/EMu-1212M-v2-PCI-Digital-Audio-System?sku=241213

And not too pricey.

Of course, their drivers are a year and a half old, which is a little odd.


EDIT: and there appears to be only stereo output and not 24-96 support. Makes a little more sense now.
 
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Oh... close... thank you so much for the try! That would be kinda like the M-Audio 24/96... many people recommended it.

So any ideas of where to look? I feel bad about you looking around for my stuff, so perhaps with a few name bards listed I could research and post links for review...

Would I be screwed if I got a normal card? Or will I later on be able to get something that connected via Firewire/USB and completely bypass it? I just don't know what that would be... but I imagine something that could get a digital stream straight from the processor and "play it" kinda like a Receiver.

Now even though I won't be able to properly monitor the sound (making it impossible to properly mix) I should be ok for recording with the MixPre, through the Tascam US-122 set to Line, going through USB into Vegas/ACID/Sound Forge... right? So I could have someone else do the mix if I felt the project deserved it. Right?
 
I've always just used the sound card that came with the computer to output audio. Does using an audio interface make a big difference? Can you recommend some reasonably priced (or good value) models?
 
I have used an M Audio 24/96 in the past with great results. Clean headroom and a wrokable software interface mixer. I'd safely put the production I have obtained off that card agaisnt any comparable 24/96 (In music). There are a lot of good alternitives to cards these days like the new MBox 2 (Pro Tools) and the Presonus gear is pretty impressive as well. Heres a couple of links -

Presonus interfaces

http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/Firepod/
http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/FireBox/

And for the Pro Tools rig -
http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/MBox2Pro/
http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/MBox2Mini/

I could go off for days about channel strips and compressors and gear that makes for a very professional sound engineering enviroment. A good set of studio monitors is also going to be a must. It really depends most on what it is your going to try and achieve, soundwise, for what you want to get. If you feel you can mix your sound yourself, make sure you have good tools to do it. All things said, if your looking for a good cheap card the Maudio is a good card. If you want a firewire or USB solution look at the links I posted. I like the firewire/USB stuff just cause it can go anywhere, a desktop or laptop or whatever. Hope you fiind what your looking for! :)
 
i have done a bunch of research on finding the best audio card as far as ASIO support and ability to output 5.1

originally i had the Emu 0404 card and loved it but then i had to edit an indie HD feature and it had to be 5.1 and it turned out that i needed a bigger card.

i had been naive and thought i could use the SP/Dif to send the 5.1 to my dolby/surround receiver but nope.

so i tried an m-audio card but i wound up much happier with the Emu 1010 card.

if you can get it or if it is within your budget, i was extremely happy with the one of their M model PCI cards with the external patch bay.

i have the 1820m but i don't think they make it anymore but the new ones just have a smaller patch bay unit.

the 1616m or 1212m or you can just get the 1616 or 1212 and the patch bay unit.

you can read it on their site, they say the M models have better electronics.

i love the 1820m because it uses a cat5 (SCTP - Screened Twisted Pair, which has extra shielding and it has the shielding/ground connected between both ends.)

basically it means you can have a lot of options on where you put your computer/patch bay box/cabling to your stereo.

great article on it at http://cinemaaudiosociety.org/CASQuarterlySummer2006.pdf by G. John Garrett, C.A.S. (really sharp sound guy from the Boston area with a great site of his own www.soundcart.com)

matthew
 
Is it this one?

http://www.emu.com/products/product.asp?category=142&subcategory=191&product=16025

I was hoping for a card that converted digital to analogue flat, and did so in surround... I have a 24/96 converter from Tascam which is said to not color the audio at all which would work with my SD MixPre's pre-amps...
This E-MU looks like it would be a nice set up if it does support 5.1 playback and it is all pro...

I already received the X-Fi and the hardware to modify it... but the only thing I am worried about with this card is the digital to analogue conversion...and whether it will deliver a flat sound or embellish it? No way to find out...

Can you please tell me if the E-MU 1616M or others would do everything I need
 
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i guess i need to better understand what you are looking for in the way of outputs and what software you are using?

i have the emu 1860m

i like the older external patch bay stuff. the new stuff they call the "micro dock"

my card came with a different patch bay. one nice thing is my patch bay is powered over the rj45 connector that goes into the back of the pci card.

with emu stuff you can pretty much figure out how many inputs and outputs by the model number.

the 0404 did 4 in and 4 out, the 1616 or the 1616m do 16 analog and 16 analog out.

i tried one of the m-audio cards but it wouldn't behave well with ASIO and Audition 2.0 where the EMU 0404 and other EMU cards work great with Audition 2.0 and Premiere Pro 2.

matthew
 
I only have Sound Forge ACID and Vegas...
I have 24/96 in already, but I am worried that my sound card is going to "color" the sound in the digital to analogue conversion... or in some place else... I worry about this because if it does change it then I'd be cutting with a "fake" sound and would not know what I was doing...
 
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