naturerecordists
[Top] [All Lists]

Sound Card?

Subject: Sound Card?
From: Rob Danielson <>
Date: Sun, 1 May 2005 15:55:24 -0500
At 6:31 PM +0000 5/1/05, 1GDW wrote:
>I have a new computer with plenty of horsepower and want to install
>a quality sound card.  I plan to patch the card to a homemade
>breakout box on the desktop.  I have narrowed the choice to three
>cards and am looking for input in case I have overlooked something.
>I am recording with mini disk and critical playback is over good
>headphones, I do need to do some heavy EQ at times because of my
>recording situations.  The computer is a multi-use machine with low
>grade speakers for the family use.  I will probably not need SPDIF
>in for some time, if ever.  I can do A/D outside the computer with
>my Edirol UA-1X USB audio interface.
>
>My first choice is the EMU 0404 at $99, it has the best SNR and has
>two breakouts for each line.  The breakout is 1/4 inch plugs .
>http://www.emu.com/products/product.asp?
>product=2220&category=754&maincategory=754
>
>The second choice is M-AUDIO Audiophile 2496 24-bit 96KHz PCI
>Interface Sound Card at $99, it uses RCA breakout and I wonder if
>that is the best choice?
>http://www2.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16829121103
>
>The third choice is the M-AUDIO Revolution 5.1 6 (5.1) Channels 24-
>bit 192KHz PCI Interface Sound Card at $75, it only has SPDIF out.
>http://www2.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16829121116
>
>Gerald White  Muscatine, IA
>

Hi Gerry-- The Revolution is probably not versatile enough for you. 
The EMU cards  get praise for sound quality but I'd check into 
software compatibility. The 2496 is popular because of it 
price/features but I bought 3 2496's for school last Fall and one 
went flakey this week.
What software, or are you looking for a package with a waveform 
editor too? Audio cards use audio drivers, audio drivers work with 
applications and all three must work together well for your audio 
application to be stable. Maybe there's a good free PC 
waveform/editing application people can recommend. Have you 
considered a usb (or firewire) interface with a quality headphone 
amp/jack?  Might be cheaper than spending another $100 on a decent 
headphone amp especially if it comes with decent software. Its not 
likely any card/app package or even pro software will meet "heavy" eq 
needs. Elemental Audio's plug, Equim, runs on with most PC plug 
types, but check plug type compatibility on their website.  Rob D.



________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________

<Prev in Thread] Current Thread [Next in Thread>
Admin

The University of NSW School of Computer and Engineering takes no responsibility for the contents of this archive. It is purely a compilation of material sent by many people to the naturerecordists mailing list. It has not been checked for accuracy nor its content verified in any way. If you wish to get material removed from the archive or have other queries about the archive e-mail Andrew Taylor at this address: andrewt@cse.unsw.EDU.AU