Matt_Bigwood
Member
I'm using Vegas Pro 13 and now 15 on my i5 6th gen PC, with 24GB ram and GTX970. I've got a Soundblaster Audigy card from an old PC.... is there any reason I should install it instead of using the on-chip audio?
Sound card - should I install one?
- Thread starter Matt_Bigwood
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Andrew Stone
Veteran
Isn't that card from about 1997? It was de rigeur at the time. You could very well have driver issues as Creative Audio isn't known to keep up on drivers on older products. I think you are the only one who is going to be able to determine the answer to your question by sticking it in the machine.
I retired mine many many years ago and moved over to using an audio interface but if you are only using self powered speakers and not hooking up phantom powered microphones or outboard hardware and musical instruments you just might want to stick with your internal audio. But really this is a personal call in my view.
I retired mine many many years ago and moved over to using an audio interface but if you are only using self powered speakers and not hooking up phantom powered microphones or outboard hardware and musical instruments you just might want to stick with your internal audio. But really this is a personal call in my view.
Matt_Bigwood
Member
Thanks I got the name wrong, it's an X Fi Audio Xtreme card from about 2010. I think I will stick with the inbuilt audio!
Depends on which sound card.
For editing, you want a sound card which will give the audio as it actually is, not audio cleaned up and enhanced like a SoundBlaster card would give you. On-board sound processors tend to do the same thing, though not as well.
You need to hear the actual sound as is, especially with all its warts.
So, you want a sound card meant for the purpose of working with audio, not just listening to audio. For relatively inexpensive solutions, look to M-Audio. They're not top-tier, but they're at least going to let you work with what you need to hear.
For editing, you want a sound card which will give the audio as it actually is, not audio cleaned up and enhanced like a SoundBlaster card would give you. On-board sound processors tend to do the same thing, though not as well.
You need to hear the actual sound as is, especially with all its warts.
So, you want a sound card meant for the purpose of working with audio, not just listening to audio. For relatively inexpensive solutions, look to M-Audio. They're not top-tier, but they're at least going to let you work with what you need to hear.
Jim Feeley
Veteran
I'm happy with my first-generation Focusrite Scarlett 2i4. Have had it six years or so. Worked on Mac up to macOS 10.11, then I moved it over to my Win 10 machine. Still rolling along. They have several models. Poke around:
https://focusrite.com/usb-interfaces
https://focusrite.com/usb-interfaces
Jim Feeley
Veteran
Oh. I see. Ya, the external USB boxes seem like a good way to go. Nice to have a volume knob, headphone jack, XLR and 1/4-inch jacks, etc. Double check about compatibility, but it really hasn't been an issue for me.
Also I'd guess that the modern USB audio interfaces from other reliable companies (Mackie, PreSonus, etc) are good too. But the Focusrite boxes work well and that brushed-red housing is just so so sexy...
Also I'd guess that the modern USB audio interfaces from other reliable companies (Mackie, PreSonus, etc) are good too. But the Focusrite boxes work well and that brushed-red housing is just so so sexy...