Is A Soundcard essential

Posted: Tue Oct 03, 2006 7:23 am

i use the following eqiupment (i am a rapper)

Cool Edit Pro 2.1
Mic : Audio Technica AT3035
Nady Pop Filter
Behringer Preamp
Alesis Compressor

i have fairly good quality, but i was wonderin
if a sound card could improve it?

also i have seen tht there is two kinds.

one thats like a usb interface (like m-audio Fast track pro)
or the one that goes in ur comp. which would be better for recording vocals?

Posted: Tue Oct 03, 2006 9:13 am

depends on which card you're talking about for your computer.

Honestly...? both are going to be important to you. If you do playback through your computer, you'll want to make sure that you have a good soundcard. Your A/D interface should also be the best you can afford so that you can get the best input that you can.

If you're looking at the $30 el cheapo SC for your computer, odds are the USB interface is probably a smarter investment. If you are looking at a $500 Lynx card, I would recommend that over a Fast Track anyday

Posted: Tue Oct 03, 2006 1:48 pm

Better card (converters) means better dynamic, less noise, more details, better clarity, „3D“, ....

Driver compatibility and low (0) latency monitoring are also important.

regards

Posted: Tue Oct 03, 2006 3:43 pm

thanks for the replies. as of now, i know that a fast track pro is a USB form of a soundcard that goes into the slots of your computer. i hope i got that right

my next question is: im upgrading from a crapy mic tube preamp (from behringer) to a fancy mixer. so whats the best mixer i can get (budget:50-150) for my mic? (as posted above)

becuase i know a preamp can make a very good condesner mic sound bad.so this is important to me, i wanna bring out the best out of my mic, and i kno the behringer tube preamp isnt doin it.

Posted: Tue Oct 03, 2006 4:35 pm

Usb/Firewire/SPDIF/AES or any similar connections won't make your mic/pre or anything in front end better. With better AD converters you will hear (and record with AD stage) how good is the front end you are using, and of course, the quality of your recordings too.

Generaly "standalone" preamps are better but that depends of classes and electronic design. i.e. Preamps in Mackie vlz pro mixers are better than Behringer "standalone" but both sucks compared with high end class like Neve, Api, GR, Millennia ... etc.

Behringer pre and Alesis comp are pretty weak front end but maybe not for starters and some practice. My recommendation/best buy would be RNP and RNC. But for now ... step by step.

Posted: Tue Oct 03, 2006 4:45 pm

For 50 -150 ... ? .... there is no fancy. Sell your B. and A. then save some money and buy ....

http://www.fmraudio.com/productspage.htm

Posted: Tue Oct 03, 2006 4:49 pm

... or this one

http://www.groovetubes.com/product.cfm?Product_ID=2084

Posted: Tue Oct 03, 2006 4:53 pm

just can't get more qaulity for the price than those two

Posted: Fri Oct 06, 2006 12:35 am

Juwanshahir,

PM was turned again to the -subscriber users only- mode by RO moderator for some testing purpose. I can't read your PM. If you like, post that PM here.

regards

Posted: Fri Oct 06, 2006 6:19 pm

thanks for the reply....and i am from pakistan so its okay haha.

anyway i know a rapper who has excellent quality (sounds like hes in a pro studio) and he uses:

Mic: Shure KSM32
Mixer: Phonic MM1002
Soundcard: Sound Blaster Audigy 2

his mic is the same class as mine, but i use a preamp instead of a good mixer

and i have no idea what my soundcard is.the computer is quite old, runs a windows 2000/me.

so i was just wonderin where i could START on my road to pro

Posted: Sat Oct 07, 2006 9:38 am

I think Fonic has the same ligue preamps as Behringer. Both are under 100 €.

Well, tough question. What's your maximum budget for upgrade?

Posted: Sat Oct 07, 2006 11:58 am

I jus bought a eurorack mixer with 4 inputs.... and i am selling my alesis and behringer on ebay... i think the mixer sounds a bit better with all the settings u can use....

as of NOW, my problem is solved, i think i have the quality i need...a soundcard is not essential i kno that... i have a good mixer/mic there is nothing else i can get to get the quality i need...

but still check back incase....

thanks alotz

Posted: Sat Oct 07, 2006 11:59 am

I jus bought a eurorack mixer with 4 inputs.... and i am selling my alesis and behringer on ebay... i think the mixer sounds a bit better with all the settings u can use....

as of NOW, my problem is solved, i think i have the quality i need...a soundcard is not essential i kno that... i have a good mixer/mic there is nothing else i can get to get the quality i need...

but what is a A/D converter?

thanks alotz

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