Sound Card for Recording

[boeing114]

So I am looking into getting a soundcard for my computer so I can record my guitar and bass with high quality. I need the ports big enough to fit a standard guitar cable. My budget is about $100, but I can go more if I need to. I'm not sure if this is important, but it will need to be able to run some guitar effects, and also play the sound back on a pretty good sound system, which I would also like some advice on. Thanks!

 

[Sbirstein]

Hi,
I'm facing the same trouble these days. So I looked here and there and in my opinion this one will do great job
Creative X-FI Xtreme Audio, PCI-E.
In my country it's about 65$' so I find it pocket-friendly too
Technical Specifications

- Playback: 24-Bit/96kHz up to 7.1
- Signal-to-Noise Ratio: >100dB (20kHz Low-pass filter, A-Weighted)
- Total Harmonic Distortion + Noise at 1kHz: <0.007% (20kHz Low-pass filter)
- Recording: 24-bit/96kHz

X-Fi Technology:
- X-Fi Crystalizer
- X-Fi CMSS-3D Virtual
- X-Fi CMSS-3D Headphone

Connectivity
- Line in / Microphone in (shared 1/8" mini jack)
- Speaker out (4x 1/8" mini jacks)
- Optical out (TOSLINK)*
- Optical in (TOSLINK)
- Intel HD Audio Compatible Front Panel Header (2x5pin)

* Digital Out supports stereo SPDIF out and pass through of multichannel DVD sound

 

[boeing114]

Is it possible for you to get me a link to the exact model? There seems to be multiple results when I search for it. Newegg.com preferably. Thanks

 

[Sbirstein]

Here u go
http://jarcomputers.com/p_SCCREATXFIXTRAUDIOPE

 

[boeing114]

Oh. I am looking for a sound card that I can plug in a guitar cable in it. They are like a quarter of an inch I believe. Thanks though!

 

[Sbirstein]

YOU CAN plug a guitar into it! My recent AC is ESS solo 196... can't remember what ... and I assure you it's doing well so far and since my comp is Compaq Evo D500 I use it to play with my boys instead of guitar processor 8). My expectations about the sound blaster are great and I can't wait to buy that puppy

 

[boeing114]

Do you have a converter? Or just a special cable?

 

[Sbirstein]

Well, actually I changed the jack of my cable. The converter creates noises due to poor contact.

 

[boeing114]

Oh, okay. Well I won't be getting it till late next month, so I'll have some more time to review them. I'll definitely consider that one though!

Hey, what's your speaker set up?

 

[Sbirstein]

Of course you have to do some research. That SC seems promising to me for I want a better guitar sound too. Few years ago I was looking for a sound card and a friend of mine - guitar player and a "robot" (he was studying comp tecnologies ) - suggested me the sound blaster but I couldn't find one. ANyway. I wish u luck

 

[gamerk316]

Wow, some bad advice here...The ExtremeAudio is a HORRIBLE card by todays standards; its nothing more then a re-branded Audigy 2. Totally outclassed by mid-tier cards like the ASUS Xonar D1/DX and HT Omega Striker, and even the lower tier ASUS Xonar DS.

In theory, any card with a line input should work. ASUS is somewhat more geared toward this type of thing compared to other brands though, so I'd lean toward them over other competing brands [HT Omega, Auzentech, and Creative].

Also, do you know the exact cable the guitar you are using uses?

 

[Sbirstein]

Wow, man, I suggested creative just because it was the best one I came upon
The exact cable I use is one I made (
they are two, actually - one in and one out the computer )

 

[boeing114]

Ummmm. Its just standard. Same size as a Fender stratocaster or Les Paul

 

[Sbirstein]

boeing114
I forgot to ask u - are u using a guitar processor or some software GP simulator? If it's a guitar processor u just need sound card, nevermind it's parameters - u can record with mixcraft for example and the quality will be good. If u play with guitar rig or other program of this kind then the sound card matters.

 

[boeing114]

I will probably be investing in a nice sound recording software because I'm going to start making some recordings for my band.

 

[MEgamer]

you might want to get a program that supports asio4all, after you have chosen ur soundcard.

if you have vista or windows 7, then the delay, of the inputs, will literally make you pull your hair out.

 

[nater9]

go here, read up, and you'll have a better understanding of how your need to proceed to turn your PC into a recording set-up. Latency is the biggest issue to overcome... many use firewire, some use USB, PCI or PCI-e is probably the best bet...

http://www.studio-central.com/

check out "Tweak's Guide"... lots of good info...

 

[sportsfanboy]

Does your guitar preamp have midi? You might be able to use something like this http://www.m-audio.com/products/en_us/Audiophile2496.html

 

[sap chicken]

The standard cable you talk of is a 6.33mm jack, it's just the normal standard for high quality sound, I use a microphone with that type of jack and I use a pre-amp for it which outputs trough those RCA cables with the 3.5mm jack on the other side.

I use the amplifier because I don’t really like the amplifier on my motherboard and it can only fit 3.5mm jacks. The un-amplified signal gets screwed up much faster than the amplified signal and that’s why you’d want to have those large jacks for the weaker signals and the smaller jacks for the stronger signals.

If you want high quality audio you should get a pre-amp and a good soundcard, the pre amp can be bought second hand (got mine for 15 euro's) and buy a nice asus soundcard, the Asus Xonar D1 is not too expensive and has good quality components.

 

[MEgamer]

a soundcard is a pre amp.... it sends line in-out signals...

 

[sap chicken]

Yes but it’s not made for the sound level of a guitar or a high end microphone. A sound card with good quality components and connectors will cost you about 200+ and a nice quality amplifier with a decent sound card will cost you about 100 with the same if not better quality recording.

 

[MEgamer]

lol if u want a reciever with teh same pre amp qulaity as a soundcard u gonna have to spend way over 1000.... i havent seen a single amplifier with an SNR ratio of over 110db.... and if u do find one, it does costs some dime... and some dime isnt worth a hundred...

 

[sap chicken]

So you tell me that if you plug your guitar into a good soundcard and record that, you’ll get good quality sound, no statics what so ever? And when you plug the guitar into a "designed for low signals" pre amplifier and then into the sound card you'll get the same quality sound as if you were just plugging the thing into the onboard sound card (SNR below 110db).

I really don’t think the pre-amps on the normal consumer level sound cards are made for the grain needed for that low power signals.

 

[MEgamer]

i was talking about an amplifier, since u specifically said amplifier (a receiver without a tuner...)

"nice quality amplifier with a decent...

 

[king smp]

I use a 1/4 inch mono (guitar cable plug) - 1/8 inch mono (computer audio plug)
adapter into a Asux Xonar DG for basic recording of guitar,mic and keyboard
but as one poster mentioned there is a lag or latency with your recording

there will be a split second delay between your audio and playback on computer
since I just do fun recording with my ten year old future pop star daughter
it hasnt been a big deal

but if you want to do studio quality recording then you are going to have to
look into the recording DSP/mixers that are used with the USB and Firewire
as nater9 and megamer mentioned