Soundcard for PC recommendation?

J

Joshua_G

Well-known member
I'm looking for a soundcard for my new editing PC, either PCI-E or USB. Mainly for documentaries and short movies that may be screened in festivals. Editing and grading is done on DaVinci Resolve, audio mixed also in Resolve, sometimes in Reaper. Sound quality is top priority, cost is second priority, though it does matter.
 
Internal cards are pretty much frowned on now by the audio folk - how much do you want to spend? In truth, the cost really adds extra ins and outs so if you only need two in and two out, then even the Scarlett 2i2s are actually rather good. My systems run a Lexicon Omega on one which is elderly now, and a multichannel Tascam on the other.
 
I have a PCI-E card in my mac pro but it is a blackmagic intensity pro HD video card as it was more useful but still gave me SDI and AES or balanced analogue audio I/O.

I agree with Paul that a simple external interface may be more useful and personally for portable edits I use the Tascam US-366 as for editing it is desktop volume knob friendly and has a good mix of digital and analogue I/O. As a bonus it also has it's own software mixer that may be useful for your video editing needs.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/TASCAM-U...h=item3d6ea6da34:g:oygAAOSwKBVbYGjB:rk:3:pf:0
 
I've been using external USB boxes for quite a few years now. Early on, I started using Focusrite Scarlett boxes...they had some advantages over some competing boxes and sound pretty good (both in terms of preamps and monitor output). And a bunch of audio friends came to the same conclusion. It sure looks like competing boxes have caught up, but my Focusrite boxes are still rolling strong and without trouble (on both Mac & Windows), so I'm not rushing to replace them. Focusrite has several models with varing levels of I/O
https://focusrite.com/scarlett

Here's a picture of one of the smaller ones:
Scarlet2i2G2-large.jpg
 
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Thanks, Paul, Gary and Jim.
Did anyone compare sound quality and other features between the Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 and the Tascam US-366?
 
I haven't done a direct comparison but for video editing and recording have found the tascam fine. I have an M-Box too and I would guess all these devices use pretty much the same chipset and mic amps.
 
I agree with Gary. At this point I think you'll find very similar performance at equivalent pricepoints. Maybe (maybe) the preamps are tuned in slightly different styles. But I'd focus more on specific features you're looking for (I don't know... MIDI I/O, dual headphone amps, etc). And for sure get a device that's USB powered (many/most of the small ones are now), and then think about size (if that's an issue; they're all rather smallish), and if you prefer controls on the top of the device or on the front of the device.

If you want to geek out on the differences (and perhaps suss out a difference that'll matter to you), you could dig through places such as:

https://www.soundonsound.com
A decent magazine about audio tools, but from a music perspective.

https://www.gearslutz.com
A VERY active forum focused on pro audio; also from a music audio perspective. Might be more of a timesuck than you really need, though... LOTS and LOTS of posts and opinions, but many of them are rather informed.
 
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You just need a soundcard with at least 6 outputs as the surround aspect is usually done in software.

I have a 15 year old digidesign 002 but as it has up yo 16 outputs I can still use it to do surround with some software I use with pro tools V8.
 
GaryNattrass said:
You just need a soundcard with at least 6 outputs as the surround aspect is usually done in software.

I have a 15 year old digidesign 002 but as it has up yo 16 outputs I can still use it to do surround with some software I use with pro tools V8.
Click to expand...

My kind of guy! My PT, the big rig anyway is PT8 also...
 
Joshua_G said:
Thanks, Paul, Gary and Jim.
Did anyone compare sound quality and other features between the Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 and the Tascam US-366?
Click to expand...

+1 Jim on the FocusRite Scarlett's working great. Years ago I purchased an RME Fireface 800, which was really nice, 56 channels, etc., however the routing software was insanely complicated. I purchased a Scarlett 2i2 for a friend who wanted to get into VO work, and when I tested it for her I was blown away with the quality of the mic preamps! The 2i2 was around $129 back then and it had better sounding preamps than the $1500 Fireface 800. Not quite up to the Sound Devices USBPre2 preamps (and no analog limiter), but pretty amazing, especially for the price. I sold the RME for $1000 (which is pretty good for used audio gear over 5 years old) and purchased another Scarlett 2i2. I had purchased the FF800 after selling a bunch of Protools gear, thinking I needed to be future proof with channels, however in the end 2 channels was enough for our projects at the time. Now the minimum for our projects is 4 channels (for 1st order ambisonics). Once I finally found a USB power switch (surprisingly rare), I started using the USB Pre2 as my main sound device (the USB Pre2 won't turn off when the computer is put to sleep without an external USB power switch). The Scarlett now lives on another computer in the office and works great. FocusRite makes a bunch of Scarletts with many channel options, and they are now 2nd gen, even better than the one I'm using.

I'd try this if you need >=4 inputs and need or might need surround output and don't want to spend a lot: https://store.focusrite.com/en-gb/c...duct/scarlett-18i8-2nd-gen-/MOSC0018~MOSC0018 or this if you need/want rackmount: https://store.focusrite.com/en-gb/c...lett-18i20-2nd-gen-/MOSC0015UKEU~MOSC0015UKEU .

If you want something as good or better sounding as Sound Devices https://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/m801mk2--grace-design-m801mk2-8-channel-microphone-preamp

This also looks interesting: https://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/Clar4PreUSB--focusrite-clarett-4pre-usb-18x8-audio-interface

With good mics/monitors/headphones there's a substantial difference in mic preamps- perhaps spend some time on gearslutz if you haven't discovered this for yourself lol: https://www.gearslutz.com/board/so-...07943-transparent-mic-preamps-comparison.html (be prepared to open your wallet wide- diminishing returns for ultra high end gear)

Just found this, recently released: https://www.sounddevices.com/products/recorders/mixpre-10m If you're good for $1500, that's what I'd recommend hands down. It has external power in case they still haven't added a power switch (which could be toggled with e.g. a power strip if necessary). There's also the 10T for $1800 (hast timecode, does 192kHz and other additions): https://www.sounddevices.com/products/recorders/mixpre-10t . See also: https://www.sounddevices.com/mixpre-10t-vs-mixpre-10m-comparison

EDIT- the MixPre 10 T/M have a power button on the left side.
 
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