Best Souncard for under $300.00

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Member Since: May 30, 2004

Hello, first time on this forum. I am going to start writing and recording music with my computer, i have a 2 GHZ processor, 768 Megs DDR Ram windows XP Pro. Should i stay away from the Soundblaster Audigy cards, i've heard alot of negatives about them. I play rock. Tell me some great Soundcards.

Dax

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Administrator
Since: Apr 03, 2002


May 30, 2004 07:24 pm

Tell us how you record...is it all you doing one instrument aftr another, or are you recording (or wanting to record) full bands at once? Do you have a specific recording applicationy ouw ant to use? We need to know more about you and your style of recording before we can say anything other than to check out the sound cards in the Gear Bag section of this site.

Oh, and welcome to HRC, if you give us proper info, we will be glad to help you further...

Member
Since: May 30, 2004


May 30, 2004 07:50 pm

I'm planning on getting an eight channel board, miking my amplifier and running into the board and out to the computer. I also have a drum machine, but all recording will go to the board and then to the computer. I will not be recording a band all at once, it will be just me. Most programs have backing tracks, don't they, i plan to use some of them. I just don't want to spend $250 on an Audigy Platinum Pro to find out that the quality sucks.

Dax Determan

Pinnipedal Czar (: 3=
Member
Since: Apr 11, 2004


May 30, 2004 08:10 pm

My co-writer uses that card, and he loves it... though I haven't worked with it, the product sounds fine to me.

Bane of All Existence
Member
Since: Mar 27, 2003


May 30, 2004 09:18 pm

m-audio delta 44 works for me.

Ok, who moved it..??
Member
Since: Apr 23, 2004


May 31, 2004 04:54 am

You can't go wrong with M-audio.....
I bought an M-audio audiophile 2496, 3 years ago for $149.00 (Which is what they"re still going for at Musician's Friend). It has audio and MIDI I/O. It only has one pair of audio ins and outs, but if you're just recording one track at a time, as I am, it really works just fine. I'm multi-tracking with "Traction" and the 2 seem to work quite well together. And both seem to run well in XP. The sound quality is outstanding and the only noise I ever seem to get is when I forget to mute my old Juno 6 when it's not in use.
Hope this helps you out.Good luck and happy recording.

Member
Since: May 31, 2004


May 31, 2004 05:40 am

I use a DMX 6-fire 24/96 which is nice. Anyway, I am a bit of a rookie to say the least with this whole home recording thing...just getting to grips with cubasis. I was wondering if anyone knew how to add an effect such as reverb to just PART of a track eg the vocals in the chorus, while leaving the rest of the track unchanged. Any suggestions gratefully received.

Ok, who moved it..??
Member
Since: Apr 23, 2004


May 31, 2004 02:24 pm

Alex,
I struggled with Cubasis for almost 3 years and never did get a good handle on using the effects. Tried others too, same thing. Then I switched to Tracktion and OH what a difference that made for me. Using effects is so much easier, if you want an effect, just drag and drop. If you want that effect in just one clip on a track, just drag it to that clip. The really good news is that it only costs $80 and that was the best money I ever spent and they do have a free demo if you want to try it out. you can get it here... www.mackie.com/products/tracktion/index.html

I'd be happy to answer any questions
Let me know what you think.
Good luck and happy recording.

Pinnipedal Czar (: 3=
Member
Since: Apr 11, 2004


Jun 01, 2004 12:29 am

Dax has got me thinking 'bout this now...
I was going to install the Audigy this week in my computer...Hmmm...

What's the nasty on this one ? I thought the ASIO drivers were a 'good thing', then I was searching the past discussions on this topic, and found this :
Quote:
"...ASIO is SB's biggest weak point."
... is this true dB ? I thought the M-Audio 24/96 used the same ?

Oh, and hello there Dax, welcome aboard !

Frisco's Most Underrated
Member
Since: Jan 28, 2003


Jun 01, 2004 01:12 am

Alexander - Are you asking how to add a chorus effect to just the vocals in the chorus, but leave the rest of the VOCAL track unchanged? If so, I'm sure there is probably a function (scissors icon) that you can use to "break" or "cut" a track into several parts. Then move the chorus vocals into it's own track and apply the effects there. I've never used Cubase/Cubasis, but that's how I do it in Cool Edit. I bet if you had the full version of Cubase you could probably use automation curves to define the amount of reverb applied at different times in the same track.

DAX - As far as I know, Creative has never put out its own ASIO drivers for the Sound Blaster sound cards. Instead I think some SB enthusiasts wrote their own version of ASIO drivers for the cards. I personally just use the WDM drivers for my SB card, and use the ASIO drivers issued by M-Audio for my Delta 66. For me, the SB serves as the midi synth in my system and for playback, but the M-Audio is what I use for recording. The Audigy will serve as a serviceable recording card if you only want to record one track at a time. If you want to multitrack, you will have to use a card with more than one input (which is all the Audigy has).

Hope this helps a bit.

Member
Since: May 31, 2004


Jun 01, 2004 06:29 am

Hey guys,

thanks for the advice. I have now successfully added some reverb to the vocals in the chorus while leaving the verses unchanged! I think I will stick with cubasis for a while seeing as i have a learnt a bit about it already and I am not very good with computers in general.

I also want to get a keyboard - not too expensive but one that records like a piano - and sounds like one. Any ideas?

Ale.

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