built-in soundcard VS external one

baddub · Post by **baddub** » Tue Jul 14, 2009 12:54 pm

I've been recently thinking of buing some equipment for music production (soundcard and headphones). I think I'll go for GRADO SR60i and Maya44 USB as my budget is veeery limited. However, the thing I am after is good quality sound, and I don't need a lot of inputs/outputs because I am not going to record anything.

On second thought, I already have a build-in soundcard that probably is shitty, but don't know that for sure. It is Realtec HD Audio in my Asus M51KR laptop. Do you think it is worth buing a new one (maya44), or should I spend more money on headphones? Is the new card gonna make an audible difference?

Btw. That's my first post here, but I've been reading the forum for a while, and I realy appreciate work that some of you put into helping out others.

Sorry for my English

serox · Post by **serox** » Tue Jul 14, 2009 1:00 pm

I would save a little more money and get a better sound card than the Maya44 USB.

Always go for internal if you can! External devices are only worth getting if you have a laptop. Internal devices will have better latency and run faster I think.

drwurst · Post by **drwurst** » Tue Jul 14, 2009 1:25 pm

i think hes talking about a laptop....
u should definitely invest in the best external you can get for your money.
realtek (all build in soundcards) is shit.

dimebag · Post by **dimebag** » Tue Jul 14, 2009 1:29 pm

Ye don't rely on what your PC/Laptop is bundled with usually shit.

serox · Post by **serox** » Tue Jul 14, 2009 1:47 pm

drwurst wrote:i think hes talking about a laptop....
u should definitely invest in the best external you can get for your money.
realtek (all build in soundcards) is shit.

Not sure how you worked that out:)

If you are talking about a laptop then you would need an external sound card without a doubt.

Sharmaji · Post by **Sharmaji** » Tue Jul 14, 2009 1:50 pm

there is no such thing as a professional-audio-quality internal soundcard/convertor.

the quality of your soundcard doesn't make a lick of difference to things going on inside the computer, but it definitely affects what comes out of your speakers and goes in through mic's, if you're using them.

dimebag · Post by **dimebag** » Tue Jul 14, 2009 2:53 pm

TeReKeTe wrote:there is no such thing as a professional-audio-quality internal soundcard/convertor.

What? theres shit loads of really amazing PCI audio cards out there?

You not heard of solid state logic?

macc · Post by **macc** » Tue Jul 14, 2009 2:55 pm

The convertors are outboard though, the internal bit is just a pure interface bwteen convertors and computer. I think that's what Hairy Man means.

That's how it is here anyway - RME AES-32 has no conversion on it, it just routes the sound from the Mytek 8x192 back and forth.

Sharmaji · Post by **Sharmaji** » Tue Jul 14, 2009 3:46 pm

ka-ching. just because it connects via PCI doesn't make it an onboard jammy.

dimebag · Post by **dimebag** » Tue Jul 14, 2009 3:52 pm

TeReKeTe wrote:ka-ching. just because it connects via PCI doesn't make it an onboard jammy.

alrite then

baddub · Post by **baddub** » Tue Jul 14, 2009 7:35 pm

yep, I need an external card because I have a laptop. I'd like to buy something up to 70 pound. Any suggestions would be appreciated

Do 24bit soundcards really sound better than 16bit ones?

deadly_habit · Post by **deadly_habit** » Tue Jul 14, 2009 10:27 pm

70 quid is like what in dollars atm?
prolly recommend a lexicon alpha, lambda, or omega whichever falls in price range it should have basic features and won't be as shit as an m audio or a maya44 which i have
and yes they do plus whats the point of working in a 24 bit project file if your soundcard only does 16

abZ · Post by **abZ** » Wed Jul 15, 2009 12:11 am

Deadly Habit wrote:70 quid is like what in dollars atm?
prolly recommend a lexicon alpha, lambda, or omega whichever falls in price range it should have basic features and won't be as shit as an m audio or a maya44 which i have
and yes they do plus whats the point of working in a 24 bit project file if your soundcard only does 16

Huh? There is less information lost when processing 32 bit floating audio than a 16 bit one. You might not notice the difference running it through one effect or whatever but 10 fx daisy chained together you might. The soundcard won't effect the sound of your project unless you are using hardware, which I know you are but still.

deadly_habit · Post by **deadly_habit** » Wed Jul 15, 2009 12:14 pm

abZ wrote:
Deadly Habit wrote:70 quid is like what in dollars atm?
prolly recommend a lexicon alpha, lambda, or omega whichever falls in price range it should have basic features and won't be as shit as an m audio or a maya44 which i have
and yes they do plus whats the point of working in a 24 bit project file if your soundcard only does 16
Huh? There is less information lost when processing 32 bit floating audio than a 16 bit one. You might not notice the difference running it through one effect or whatever but 10 fx daisy chained together you might. The soundcard won't effect the sound of your project unless you are using hardware, which I know you are but still.

yea but when going from your card to your monitors to your ears

dimebag · Post by **dimebag** » Wed Jul 15, 2009 3:54 pm

Go for an audio interface that has 24 bit 96khz recording and nothing less. The firebox is a nice choice. I think £70 isnt enough, you will be better saving up and getting something worth the cash rather than cheap tat IMO

abZ · Post by **abZ** » Wed Jul 15, 2009 6:58 pm

Deadly Habit wrote:
abZ wrote:
Deadly Habit wrote:70 quid is like what in dollars atm?
prolly recommend a lexicon alpha, lambda, or omega whichever falls in price range it should have basic features and won't be as shit as an m audio or a maya44 which i have
and yes they do plus whats the point of working in a 24 bit project file if your soundcard only does 16
Huh? There is less information lost when processing 32 bit floating audio than a 16 bit one. You might not notice the difference running it through one effect or whatever but 10 fx daisy chained together you might. The soundcard won't effect the sound of your project unless you are using hardware, which I know you are but still.
yea but when going from your card to your monitors to your ears

Yeah I don't know what point you are trying to make here. I used a 16 bit sound card for years. I would have still wanted my project to be as high quality as possible.

deadly_habit · Post by **deadly_habit** » Wed Jul 15, 2009 7:16 pm

that it's being dithered by your soundcard before hitting your monitors

abZ · Post by **abZ** » Wed Jul 15, 2009 7:46 pm

Deadly Habit wrote:that it's being dithered by your soundcard before hitting your monitors

and...

?

deadly_habit · Post by **deadly_habit** » Wed Jul 15, 2009 8:50 pm

abZ wrote:
Deadly Habit wrote:that it's being dithered by your soundcard before hitting your monitors
and...

?

we're going in circles here man

abZ · Post by **abZ** » Wed Jul 15, 2009 9:23 pm

I just wanted you to explain this "whats the point of working in a 24 bit project file if your soundcard only does 16"

There are plenty of good reasons for working in 24bit when your sound card only does 16, no?

Not trying to go in circles I just wanted to clear up some confusion there.

built-in soundcard VS external one

built-in soundcard VS external one

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