Creative Sound Core 3D vs Decade Old X-Fi Fatal1ty.

[grilledcheez]

Hi Guys,

I'm torn between these two MoBos for an upgrade.

Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-Z170X-Gaming 7 ATX LGA1151 Motherboard ($253.98 @ Newegg Canada)
Total: $253.98
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-Z170XP-SLI ATX LGA1151 Motherboard ($183.98 @ Newegg Canada)
Total: $183.98

My main issue is, I have a decade old Creative X-Fi Fatal1ty Sound card that plugs into a regular PCI slot. In the more expensive board, there is no PCI slots, but it does comes with Creative Sound Core 3D instead of the AC1150. However, the cheaper board does come with the PCI slots, but I'd prefer the more expensive board.

I don't really want to spend the extra money on a new sound card if I don't like the way creative sound core 3D sounds. I'm not sure how it stacks up against a dedicated sound card, although my X-Fi Fatal1ty, like I mentioned earlier, is a decade old and I did find Windows 10 drivers for it.

Just looking for any thoughts, suggestions, discussion. Especially from anyone that may be using a creative sound core 3D chip on their MoBo.

Thanks!

 

[Chayan4400]

Hi Guys,

I'm torn between these two MoBos for an upgrade.

Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-Z170X-Gaming 7 ATX LGA1151 Motherboard ($253.98 @ Newegg Canada)
Total: $253.98
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-Z170XP-SLI ATX LGA1151 Motherboard ($183.98 @ Newegg Canada)
Total: $183.98

My main issue is, I have a decade old Creative X-Fi Fatal1ty Sound card that plugs into a regular PCI slot. In the more expensive board, there is no PCI slots, but it does comes with Creative Sound Core 3D instead of the AC1150. However, the cheaper board does come with the PCI slots, but I'd prefer the more expensive board.

I don't really want to spend the extra money on a new sound card if I don't like the way creative sound core 3D sounds. I'm not sure how it stacks up against a dedicated sound card, although my X-Fi Fatal1ty, like I mentioned earlier, is a decade old and I did find Windows 10 drivers for it.

Just looking for any thoughts, suggestions, discussion. Especially from anyone that may be using a creative sound core 3D chip on their MoBo.

Thanks!

The Gigabyte board has an above average audio circuit, so a sound card is only really worth an investment if you are a person who has a very good ear for audio. Still not sure? Take this simple test: Do you know what HD 598s and Drivers (In headphones.) are? If not, stick with the onboard audio. I can guarantee that you won't here a difference.

Anyway, I'm quite sure that current on-board audio chipsets are at least as good as the ones on sound cards from a decade ago 😀.

EDIT: Don't worry about the Sound Core 3D part, that is mostly mentioned for advertising. To the casual listener, with normal headphones or speakers, you will hear little or no difference between them and any other on-board audio chipset, or even sound cards for that matter.

 

[grilledcheez]

The Gigabyte board has an above average audio circuit, so a sound card is only really worth an investment if you are a person who has a very good ear for audio. Still not sure? Take this simple test: Do you know what HD 598s and Drivers (In headphones.) are? If not, stick with the onboard audio. I can guarantee that you won't here a difference.

Anyway, I'm quite sure that current on-board audio chipsets are at least as good as the ones on sound cards from a decade ago 😀.

EDIT: Don't worry about the Sound Core 3D part, that is mostly mentioned for advertising. To the casual listener, with normal headphones or speakers, you will hear little or no difference between them and any other on-board audio chipset, or even sound cards for that matter.

Ah Okay. I am planning to record more music soon. Using a USB interface, with headphones and speaker monitors. I'm not a professional by any means, just amateur. I wrote a bunch of music and plan on writing and recording about an albums worth of music as a little pet project for myself.

Not being a real professional or anything, I'm sure it would be fine if the Creative SoundCore 3D works as good as my old Fatal1ty. I did look at newer sound cards from creative and they seem to all use the creative soundcore 3d chip anyways.

 

[Chayan4400]

The Gigabyte board has an above average audio circuit, so a sound card is only really worth an investment if you are a person who has a very good ear for audio. Still not sure? Take this simple test: Do you know what HD 598s and Drivers (In headphones.) are? If not, stick with the onboard audio. I can guarantee that you won't here a difference.

Anyway, I'm quite sure that current on-board audio chipsets are at least as good as the ones on sound cards from a decade ago 😀.

EDIT: Don't worry about the Sound Core 3D part, that is mostly mentioned for advertising. To the casual listener, with normal headphones or speakers, you will hear little or no difference between them and any other on-board audio chipset, or even sound cards for that matter.

Ah Okay. I am planning to record more music soon. Using a USB interface, with headphones and speaker monitors. I'm not a professional by any means, just amateur. I wrote a bunch of music and plan on writing and recording about an albums worth of music as a little pet project for myself.

Not being a real professional or anything, I'm sure it would be fine if the Creative SoundCore 3D works as good as my old Fatal1ty. I did look at newer sound cards from creative and they seem to all use the creative soundcore 3d chip anyways.

So you are using a mini-mixer or audio interface I presume? If you are, then I also presume it is plugged into a USB port right? And also are the headphones, instruments and monitor plugged into the mixer / USB interface? If so, then how does the sound card come into play? Are the headphones and / or monitor plugged into it? If not, then the sound card has nothing to do with the set up, as the USB interface has an audio chip set built in. I'm doing alot of assumption here, I could help you out more if you posted what exactly you use to record .

For your application, you may need something more than a sound card to give you more control on the different instruments and to balance out the sound, like a mixer (There are mini ones that don't cost much but are just as good as the more expensive ones, albeit with less channels.). If you are really serious about recording music, a $60 investment may give you much better control over what you produce.

I'd recommend getting this:

http://www.amazon.com/Behringer-502-XENYX502-5-Channel-Mixer/dp/B000J5UEGQ/ref=sr_1_4?s=musical-instruments&srs=2529020011&ie=UTF8&qid=1442631034&sr=1-4&keywords=behringer

and this, if you already don't have something like it:

http://www.amazon.com/Behringer-UCA202-Audio-Interface/dp/B000KW2YEI/ref=sr_1_1?s=musical-instruments&srs=2529020011&ie=UTF8&qid=1442631034&sr=1-1&keywords=behringer

To bypass the sound card completely, and get better control over your music recordings. If you'd like more info on how to connect them, then feel free to post below or PM me .

 

[grilledcheez]

So you are using a mini-mixer or audio interface I presume? If you are, then I also presume it is plugged into a USB port right? And also are the headphones, instruments and monitor plugged into the mixer / USB interface? If so, then how does the sound card come into play? Are the headphones and / or monitor plugged into it? If not, then the sound card has nothing to do with the set up, as the USB interface has an audio chip set built in. I'm doing alot of assumption here, I could help you out more if you posted what exactly you use to record .

For your application, you may need something more than a sound card to give you more control on the different instruments and to balance out the sound, like a mixer (There are mini ones that don't cost much but are just as good as the more expensive ones, albeit with less channels.). If you are really serious about recording music, a $60 investment may give you much better control over what you produce.

I'd recommend getting this:

http://www.amazon.com/Behringer-502-XENYX502-5-Channel-Mixer/dp/B000J5UEGQ/ref=sr_1_4?s=musical-instruments&srs=2529020011&ie=UTF8&qid=1442631034&sr=1-4&keywords=behringer

and this, if you already don't have something like it:

http://www.amazon.com/Behringer-UCA202-Audio-Interface/dp/B000KW2YEI/ref=sr_1_1?s=musical-instruments&srs=2529020011&ie=UTF8&qid=1442631034&sr=1-1&keywords=behringer

To bypass the sound card completely, and get better control over your music recordings. If you'd like more info on how to connect them, then feel free to post below or PM me .

Well your assumptions are all correct. I was over complicating it in my head. I use to just record on this sound card. Very crappily I might add. I want to upgrade what I'm using though.
I'm planning on getting a scarlett focusrite 2i4 and monitors for the output. So yes, I realized afterwards I would be completely bypassing the sound card. So I will be tossing my X-Fi Sound Card once I purchase all new recording gear. I don't know if I was going to buy an actual mixer, was just going to attempt to buy some new mixing software and see how that goes.

 

[Chayan4400]

So you are using a mini-mixer or audio interface I presume? If you are, then I also presume it is plugged into a USB port right? And also are the headphones, instruments and monitor plugged into the mixer / USB interface? If so, then how does the sound card come into play? Are the headphones and / or monitor plugged into it? If not, then the sound card has nothing to do with the set up, as the USB interface has an audio chip set built in. I'm doing alot of assumption here, I could help you out more if you posted what exactly you use to record .

For your application, you may need something more than a sound card to give you more control on the different instruments and to balance out the sound, like a mixer (There are mini ones that don't cost much but are just as good as the more expensive ones, albeit with less channels.). If you are really serious about recording music, a $60 investment may give you much better control over what you produce.

I'd recommend getting this:

http://www.amazon.com/Behringer-502-XENYX502-5-Channel-Mixer/dp/B000J5UEGQ/ref=sr_1_4?s=musical-instruments&srs=2529020011&ie=UTF8&qid=1442631034&sr=1-4&keywords=behringer

and this, if you already don't have something like it:

http://www.amazon.com/Behringer-UCA202-Audio-Interface/dp/B000KW2YEI/ref=sr_1_1?s=musical-instruments&srs=2529020011&ie=UTF8&qid=1442631034&sr=1-1&keywords=behringer

To bypass the sound card completely, and get better control over your music recordings. If you'd like more info on how to connect them, then feel free to post below or PM me .

Well your assumptions are all correct. I was over complicating it in my head. I use to just record on this sound card. Very crappily I might add. I want to upgrade what I'm using though.
I'm planning on getting a scarlett focusrite 2i4 and monitors for the output. So yes, I realized afterwards I would be completely bypassing the sound card. So I will be tossing my X-Fi Sound Card once I purchase all new recording gear. I don't know if I was going to buy an actual mixer, was just going to attempt to buy some new mixing software and see how that goes.

You are right, the FocusRight will be fine for your use . It will be cleaner too, since you can use it's in-built ADC (Basically similar to a USB sound card.) to plug it into the computer, without another USB sound card. The included software should also help in polishing up your songs. Good luck!