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The Best Soundcard for Music Recording via PC?

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(@marshallscottw)
Estimable Member
Joined: 17 years ago
Posts: 49
Topic starter  

Welp...
After posting two or three topics about what the best in-home recording studio is in those who replied's opinion I'm getting closer to my answer.

Ok.
One of my repliers said that I could (instead of buying a recording studio) plug my guitar into my amp, plug my amp into my computer via Line In - Line Out input/output and download Kristal Audio Engine and --instead of spending any money-- record music that way.
Now, keeping this in mind, even if I don't go that route but instead buy a recording studio, I'll still need a better Soundcard...
So.. As you all probably already know, I'm going to ask you guys what you think the best YET most affordable Soundcard is to buy. But ofcourse I'll have to throw in a few requirements for this Soundcard before anyone replies.

1. It absolutely HAS TO HAVE a slot to plug in a guitar cord. (Mainly because I want to try the whole --plug guitar into amp, plug amp into computer, use Kristal Audio Engine to record -- idea. Unless there's an adapter that plugs onto the end of a guitar cord to make it the size of a microphone plugin, in which case I'll just buy that.

2. It has to be PCI Slot capable. I dont have AGP or PCI Express or anything else. My computer is 6 years old but I've updated and improved it alot by adding RAM sticks (my ram = 600mb) and added 2 hard drives (orginal = 32gb, added internal HD = 80gb, added exteranl HD = 80) and... not that it matters, (added 256mb video card)

Okay... That's all.

Any suggestions or replies are greatly appreciated.

Thanks!

Marshall

"You're a God among insects. Never let anyone tell you differenately." -Magneto, XMen


   
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(@margaret)
Noble Member
Joined: 18 years ago
Posts: 1675
 

I have no advice for you, but will be reading any replies you get as I'm thinking of upgrading my soundcard.

You might want to further define what you consider "affordable". I did some looking at soundcards and they quickly climb to $100, more than I'm willing to pay. Locally I can get a Sound Blaster Audigy SE for under $35, so might do that, but plan to do some more research and asking around first.

There seem to be some specific issues with installing an add-on soundcard, such as disabling the onboard soundcard, and exact placement of the add-on card. I remember Bish saying in another thread that the add-on card needs to be in the slot furthest from the power supply. And various drivers can be downloaded for soundcards, and apparently some work better than others.

Margaret

When my mind is free, you know a melody can move me
And when I'm feelin' blue, the guitar's comin' through to soothe me ~


   
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(@marshallscottw)
Estimable Member
Joined: 17 years ago
Posts: 49
Topic starter  

Haha...
Firstly.. Those who said that they had problems diableing or deactivating their old soundcard and enableing or activating their new one must not know much about computers. It's not a common difficulty unless you're unfamiliar with a computers functionality and device managing properties.
To disable your old video card, you click 'Start' then click 'Settings' or 'Control Panel' then double-click the 'System' Icon. When the System interface is loaded, click the sub-category tab, 'Hardware'. then click the 'Device Manager' button. A list will then appear. This list is the list of every single piece of hardware on your computers motherboard including your actualy motherboard. Find the 'Sound, video and game controllers' categorie and click on the + sign to the left of it.
When you click the + button this will expand a list of your current or past Soundcard devices. Find your old Soundcard, double-click it, click the 'Driver' tab, then click 'Uninstall' this will remove the Soundcard from your system 'not physically but operational wise'. Now, install your new Soundcard. Which, from my experience consists of: Take the side panels off your computer tower, locate an empty PCI slot, unscrew the cover panel, insert the soundcard into the slot, screw it in, turn your computer on, insert the Software CD included with the new Soundcard, install the drivers and what have you, then if it's not working, click 'Start', then click 'Control panel', then click 'System', then click the 'Hardware' tab, then click the 'Device Manager' button, then locate the 'Sound, video and game controller' categorie, click the + sign, locate the new soundcard, double-click it, In the 'General' tab, at the bottom, under the words 'Device Usage:' click the arrow and locate 'Use this device (enable)', select it then click 'Ok'.
That should do it.

As for the whole location of where to insert the new Soundcard.. That, in my opinion, can be true but then again a myth at the same time.
The reason I say it can be is myth is because of this.
I assume that the guy that said this has either read or in his own experience, noticed that this could cause computer problems such as frying your mother board.
But...a video card does more than a sound card does wether it has a 100 watt amp head plugged into it or not. I say this in comparison because I bought a Nvidia GEFORCE 256MB video card and conveniently placed it next to my power supply. I play pc games all the time and hardly ever restart my computer and not one problem has occured.
Now as for it being true:
Keep in mind that you're plugging in equipment to this Soundcard that has it's OWN powersupply. Wether that be batteries or a 9V AC Adapter or a 100-300 watt half-stack plugged into the wall.
The signal from your amp, through your cables to your computer is transfered by electricity. So... in all actuality.. it does seem like this could be hazordous. So.. for peace of mind or mental security, why not place the new Soundcard farthest from your power supply?

It's your choice.
Though it is proven that any frying of your soundcard or motherboard or computer is not likely.

Anyway..

back to what Soundcard I should buy.

"You're a God among insects. Never let anyone tell you differenately." -Magneto, XMen


   
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(@smokindog)
Illustrious Member
Joined: 20 years ago
Posts: 5345
 

This is what I use, its about $200.(I found it for $169) You can hook up a mixer to it. works very well :D
http://www.m-audio.com/products/en_us/FirewireAudiophile-main.html

My Youtube Page
http://www.youtube.com/user/smokindog
http://www.soundclick.com/smokindogandthebluezers

http://www.soundclick.com/guitarforumjams


   
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(@kalle_in_sweden)
Prominent Member
Joined: 19 years ago
Posts: 779
 

Hi Marshall
I am using two "soundcards" in my PC for recording and mixing .
One integrated soundcard function on the motherboard (Nvidia) and one Soundblaster Live ! 24 bit PCI soundcard. And I have not experienced "collision" problems with this set-up.
The reason I use both of them is that that integrated works best with some recording SW and the SB card works very good with Kristal Audio Engine and give me 24 bit/96 kHz recording possibility.

If I was to spend money (< 300$) on a dedicated soundcard for recording use, I would buy something like the card smokingdog has, or one of these:
Audiophile 2496 PCI http://www.m-audio.com/products/en_us/Audiophile2496-main.html
E-MU 0404 PCI http://us.creative.com/products/product.asp?category=237&subcategory=239&product=10447
You can get them for around 100$ including lots of recording sw.
Then I would buy a small mixer as the Behringer Xenyx 802 http://www.musiciansfriend.com/product/Behringer-Xenyx-802?sku=631263

You need the mixer as these semipro Soundcards doesn´t have mic inputs, only line level inputs.
The mixer has different inputs that can take everything from low level Condenser and Dynamic mics to high level line signals.

There are no soundcards that has inputs optimized for electric guitar pickups , but the mic input on a normal soundcard maybe possible to use, but the signal level from the guitar pickup can be to high for a mic input. But you need a connector adapter between the guitar cords 1/4" mono plug and soundcards 1/8" stereo input jack. Something like this
http://www.musiciansfriend.com/product/Planet-Waves-Male-18-StereoDual-14-Female?sku=335224

Tanglewood TW28STE (Shadow P7 EQ) acoustic
Yamaha RGX 320FZ electric guitar/Egnater Tweaker 15 amp.
Yamaha RBX 270 bass/Laney DB 150 amp.
http://www.soundclick.com/kalleinsweden


   
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(@terry1)
New Member
Joined: 17 years ago
Posts: 3
 

sorry kalle I disagree.

Start off go to this web site and read what tweak has to say. http://www.tweakheadz.com/guide.htm

As far as sound cards go have you thought of fire wire. If you don't have a fire-wire port you can add one for about 20. bucks. If you do decide to to go the fire-wire wrought there are a ton of decent audio interfaces that are set up for a guitar input. there is even one that i use presonus firebox or even better there is the TC Electronic Konnekt 8 Audio Fire-Wire Interface. You just need to insure the fire-wire card has the recommended chips on it. the one i use came with cubase le. have fun I am. :D :D :D

Oh ya 1 last thing. If you are going to get serious about this increase your ram to at least a gig.


   
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(@twistedlefty)
Famed Member
Joined: 19 years ago
Posts: 4113
 

m-audio 2496, worked great till lightning struck near the house and fried my mobo :cry:

#4491....


   
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(@nicktorres)
Illustrious Member
Joined: 16 years ago
Posts: 5381
 

Creative audigy2 platinum ex

Why? It has 3 1/4" inputs that sit out front of your PC or on your desk. It adds firewire. It gives you a remote for when you aren't playing right next to the PC. Pretty low latency, supports asio, etc and it's pretty cheap.

Yes there are better cards out there, but to tell the truth your PC couldn't handle them. I mean six years old is old. No disrespect intended.

I've used the audigy 2 up until this december when I switched PCs. I need to do some research into my next choice.

In an older PC you do want to put the card as far away from the power supply as possible, just for noise reduction sake.


   
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(@thetallcoolone)
Estimable Member
Joined: 17 years ago
Posts: 157
 

Kinda late in here but I just wanted to let you know that a cheap Soundblaster Live do the trick very well.
It doesn't have a 1/4" connector but with an adaptor female 1/4" to male 1/8" into the LineIn of the card will let you record your guitar very well, though it is a direct connection. It won't work if you want to use a mic, you'll need at least a mixer that will accept your mic input. (the Behringer mixer mentionned earlier will do it perfectly)

I'm connected to my soundcard thru a little multi-effects pedal, Digitech RP50 (set to bypass), and this gives me a stereo output that matches the soundcard line input.

And then we can get more technical and talk about the card drivers and what to use to get minimum latency (the time it takes to playback what you are recording)
the original drivers of the soundcard won't give you a good performance here. You need to use other drivers that are ASIO compatible. This will let the card interact directly with the computer sound sub-system without having Windows trying to delay everything.
I use KxProject drivers ( http://kxproject.lugosoft.com ) but you could use the ASIOForAll drivers too ( http://www.asio4all.com/ )
It will probably require you to do some reading to grasp how it all work but in the end it is worth it as you get to have a good recording little system for pretty cheap.

Then you attack the software part of this equation.
I'd recommend the free Krystal software ( http://www.kreatives.org/kristal/ ) over the Audacity ( http://audacity.sourceforge.net/ ) only because I know Krystal accepts VST plugins. These are little software that imbeds into your recording software and allow you to add effects like reverb, delay, flanger, amp simulations, etc... directly.

A good source of high quality basic VST plugins can be found here: http://www.kjaerhusaudio.com/classic-series.php
I'm lucky to have Amplitube 1.0, a great VST plugin that simulate almost perfectly lots of guitar amps sound.
(listen to some of the recordings I've done at the link in my signature to get an idea of the different sounds)

So, it's not really a simple plugNplay thing but for the money conciencious persons out there, it is a cheap way to acheive very good results.

Hope this helps.

Yves

http://www.soundclick.com/thetallcoolone


   
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(@ignar-hillstrom)
Illustrious Member
Joined: 21 years ago
Posts: 5349
 

I wouldn't spend too much. As Nick said your pc is old. 600mb ram is way too little to run any proper VST plugs anyway.


   
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(@nicktorres)
Illustrious Member
Joined: 16 years ago
Posts: 5381
 

That is true, once you have a couple of tracks with a couple of effects running your PC will bog down and lose sync. You should be able to run single tracks without problems though.


   
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(@blutic1)
Reputable Member
Joined: 21 years ago
Posts: 280
 

I'm trying to figure out how to record multiple instruments onto multiple tracks on my computer. I currently have a 20 channel mixer with USB port. I have Guitarpro 2.0, audacity, and sony music creator for recording programs. My sound card has one line in, that I currently connect to the tape out of the mixer. So I can record the whole band but only on one track. Is there any software that would allow me to record on multiple tracks at the same time so I could then tweak the levels, etc.?


   
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 Mike
(@mike)
Famed Member
Joined: 20 years ago
Posts: 2892
 

What's the make/model on the mixer?

It would be in the software end if your mixer is capable of doing it. I know with Calkwalk you can do it. Not sure on all the others though, sorry.

But in short, to answer your question blutic1, yes it can be done.


   
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(@thetallcoolone)
Estimable Member
Joined: 17 years ago
Posts: 157
 

I'm trying to figure out how to record multiple instruments onto multiple tracks on my computer. I currently have a 20 channel mixer with USB port. I have Guitarpro 2.0, audacity, and sony music creator for recording programs. My sound card has one line in, that I currently connect to the tape out of the mixer. So I can record the whole band but only on one track. Is there any software that would allow me to record on multiple tracks at the same time so I could then tweak the levels, etc.?

As Mike said, yes it can be done but you need either a USB/FireWire connection from your mixer to your PC or multiple inputs on your soundcard.
If you use only one input from your mixer to your soundcard how do you want your software to know what is what?
It reads the single input as one sound stream, it cannot decipher what is what from it.

With a USB/FireWire connection, the AD/DA conversion is happening before it gets into your PC and the software gets only digital data, not audio streams, so it can split each input individually to their own tracks.
With a multiple inputs sound card, the actual AD/DA is done at the soundcard level and the software reads each individual inputs as one track.

I don't know if Audacity as the option to read multiple inputs from a USB connection.
If you read your mixer manual you should be able to find what software they recommend to use with the USB connection.

http://www.soundclick.com/thetallcoolone


   
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(@blutic1)
Reputable Member
Joined: 21 years ago
Posts: 280
 

I talked to Peavey support and they told me that my mixer is a sound reinforcement console, not a recording console so the usb link only provides digital in/out - thus it's not capable of multitracking even if you have the right software. I've been looking at maudio sound cards that have multiple inputs, so I guess getting one and using the software that comes with it would be the easiest way to go.


   
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