Laptop Sound Card/Interface

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Member Since: Mar 17, 2006

I won't be doing any major recording with my laptop but I will want to use some backing tracks from my laptop for live performances. I am not sure what card I should get. The Echo DJ and IO are an option and as far as I know a decent price. Between the two I am not sure which one to go for. Beyond that I am looking for a Sound Card for my laptop that is great for live applications where I can split the tracks to have control over them from a console/ in-ear monitors. Thank You... Chris Roblee

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Czar of Midi
Administrator
Since: Apr 04, 2002


Mar 17, 2006 11:46 pm

Welcome to HRC.

Honestly with a laptop the Echo DJ is the best card you will find for what you want to do. It is stable and wont bunk up on you during a live show. The original Indigo is a very well proven performer for laptops and this card is based on that model with the added feature set you are looking to use live.

There are of course firewire units out there, but none that I would trust for runing a live show.

And for the money, I dont think you can go wrong there. I have read a couple reviews of that card and they were all glowing.

Member
Since: Mar 17, 2006


Mar 18, 2006 12:26 am

Thank You for responding. I kept going back and forth on these cards, especially the indigo's. The DJ sounded like the right card but I wasn't sure about the IO although it does not seem to fit quite as nice in my application. Thank You... Chris Roblee

Czar of Midi
Administrator
Since: Apr 04, 2002


Mar 18, 2006 03:39 pm

No problem, that is what we are here for.

Let us know how it works out for you if you decide to go that route.

Member
Since: Mar 17, 2006


Mar 18, 2006 09:13 pm

Actually I just ordered the DJ... I was searching for a low price.. www.digitraxx.com has it ending today the 18th of March Indigo DJ for 154.95. I had a $30 gift certificate to Musicians Friend so I called Musiciansfriend and had them price match and used my Gift Certificate got the price to 124.95:) I will let you know...

Member
Since: Mar 17, 2006


Mar 18, 2006 09:14 pm

Actually while we are on topic of Laptop cards... What about the Echo's versus the Audigy?
Chris Roblee

SM7b the Chuck Noris of Mic's
Contributor
Since: Jun 20, 2002


Mar 18, 2006 10:58 pm

not to come off sounding stuck up or condesending but there really isn't a comparison between the audigy and the Echo cards. One is made for recording(Echo) and the other one is more for gaming and the likes.

Member
Since: Mar 17, 2006


Mar 18, 2006 11:26 pm

I don't believe that would be stuck up at all if that is your thoughts on the product. I have not used either product but I do have the indigo DJ coming to me. The reason I ask is I believe the Creative Notebook card has digital ins and outs?! Didn't know if that made a difference...

Czar of Midi
Administrator
Since: Apr 04, 2002


Mar 19, 2006 03:03 pm

While Creative does make some very good products I will back Geoff up on the comparison. Creative is really built along the lines of gaming cards and such. Even for the notebook cards, it is really not up to par with the Echo stuff. It really comes down to the electronics of it all. Even a lower budget Audio interface directed at recording uses a higher grade of componant's then found in the Creative stuff. Not saying they are all that much better, but the results seem to be a little more acceptable for recording.

I will give Creative credit though as they seem for the most part to stay current on their driver revisions. And that in itself is a big plus in my book.

That said, the choice to go with the Echo DJ was probably the best bet for you in the long run. Expecially if you plan on using it live. Reliability and stability are key in that case, and Echo is both of those.


Administrator
Since: Apr 03, 2002


Mar 19, 2006 05:21 pm

Quote:
What about the Echo's versus the Audigy?


That is kinda like comparing your local high school football team to the 2006 Pittsburgh Steelers.

Czar of Midi
Administrator
Since: Apr 04, 2002


Mar 19, 2006 09:49 pm

Nice analogy ther dB!

Member
Since: Mar 17, 2006


Mar 20, 2006 01:12 am

Ok... so help me out here so I can get a clear understanding... beyond the fact that echo is much better than the creative... what is up with the digital versus the analog?

Administrator
Since: Apr 03, 2002


Mar 20, 2006 06:27 am

Not sure what your mean "what is up with the digital versus the analog"? Digital is 1's and 0's, digital data that is converted into analog sound before it gets to your speakers...analog stays analog the whole time...could you explain what exactly you are asking rather than just a very broad, general question?

Member
Since: Mar 17, 2006


Mar 20, 2006 10:55 am

Well... I never really understood the difference between digital and analor sound... I know that anything coming out is analog so why is digital so much of a hype? I guess what can I do with that that I can't do with analog?

Administrator
Since: Apr 03, 2002


Mar 20, 2006 10:56 am

Digital isn't a "sound" it's all analog coming out of the speakers. Digital allows for easier editing, lossless track bouncing and lots of other cool stuff you can't do with analog.

Prince CZAR-ming
Member
Since: Apr 08, 2004


Mar 20, 2006 01:16 pm

I can record digitally onto my laptop. I can't do that in the analog manner. I'd have to have a tape deck of some sort.

digital doesn't need any spicing.

digital recording doesn't need to clean the heads every other day, or retension, or that other stuff.

digital won't stretch the tape

I can purchase ( or DL ) a new plug-in and apply it to my digital tracks, and hear the results, then take it back off again. Very time consuming and difficult to add a new effect to analog tape. Usually involves purchasing a new outboard gear device, sometimes very $$$.


Course, I'm not saying digital is better, but I just wanted to throw a few contrasts out there for you. In the end, it's the sound you hear coming out of the speakers that tells the tale.

If it sounds good, it is good. (or so I've heard)

Member
Since: Mar 17, 2006


Mar 20, 2006 02:08 pm

So when I record from an A&H Mixwizard to delta 1010 that is analog ? please excuse my ingnorance...

Administrator
Since: Apr 03, 2002


Mar 20, 2006 02:10 pm

Unless it has a digital out going to digital ins on your sound card, it's analog.

Prince CZAR-ming
Member
Since: Apr 08, 2004


Mar 20, 2006 02:41 pm

in your case, it's analog until it hits the 1010 converters.

sound sources (guitar strings, voice, drums, etc) create a vibration, or sound.

normal mic will translate the vibration into electrical sine wave.

preamp boosts it up to line level signal

output of mixer, or preamp, sends this sine wave to the 1010 jacks.

inside the 1010, there's A/D converters, that converts all the sine waves to bits and bytes; digital.

computer then stores the 0s and 1s on the hard drive.

when you want to hear what your recorded tracks, or the mix, the 1010 runs your digital streams into a D/A converter, which convertes the bits and bytes back into an analog, sine wave.

this sine wave gets sent out the 1010 outputs, and into whatever speaker you have hooked up.

tape (analog) recording will store the sine wave onto magnetic tape, in it's sine wave form.

so the terms: digital and analog, refer to the way the sound signal is stored. either in it's native sine wave form, or in a digital, 0s and 1s format.

hth

Member
Since: Mar 17, 2006


Mar 20, 2006 04:03 pm

That Helps:) Thank You

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