Suggest external soundcard

[Grishnackh]

Hi,

I am in the process of buying an external soundcard - I've been told to get an external, because I have an nforce2 mobo (using onboard soundcard) and I get white noise even at lower volumes, which is pretty annoying lately. I also plan on using this new soundcard for recording my guitar and I also use my PC as a DAW.

Basically, the most important thing to me is latency, no noise and ASIO support. I really don't know what the best choise would be so that's why I'm here (I was sent here from here: http://www6.head-fi.org/forums/showthread.php?p=1914209 ).

It has be an el-cheapo card, because I only record my guitar for fun/semi-pro use. So, no studio in a box cards please

My eye catched these two cards, tell me what you think.

- Zalman ZM-RSSC [ http://www.datafuse.net/zmrssc.php ]
- Sound Blaster > Live! > Live! 24-bit External [ http://www.creative.com/products/pro...ct=10702&nav=2 ]

If I know right, then the Live! isn't really a 24 bit card? How about that Zalman, I didn't even know they make soundcards so I wonder what that's all about.

I've also notived the Creative Audigy 4 (OEM), which is really cheap ($50), I don't know much about this card, if it's even worth the money for my use.

The price range is something like $50. I don't want to spend a lot of money, but I also don't want some cheap garbage.

 

[jiiteepee]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Grishnackh Hi, I am in the process of buying an external soundcard - I've been told to get an external, because I have an nforce2 mobo (using onboard soundcard) and I get white noise even at lower volumes, which is pretty annoying lately. I also plan on using this new soundcard for recording my guitar and I also use my PC as a DAW. Basically, the most important thing to me is latency, no noise and ASIO support. I really don't know what the best choise would be so that's why I'm here (I was sent here from here: http://www6.head-fi.org/forums/showthread.php?p=1914209 ). It has be an el-cheapo card, because I only record my guitar for fun/semi-pro use. So, no studio in a box cards please My eye catched these two cards, tell me what you think. - Zalman ZM-RSSC [ http://www.datafuse.net/zmrssc.php ] - Sound Blaster > Live! > Live! 24-bit External [ http://www.creative.com/products/pro...ct=10702&nav=2 ] If I know right, then the Live! isn't really a 24 bit card? How about that Zalman, I didn't even know they make soundcards so I wonder what that's all about. I've also notived the Creative Audigy 4 (OEM), which is really cheap ($50), I don't know much about this card, if it's even worth the money for my use. The price range is something like $50. I don't want to spend a lot of money, but I also don't want some cheap garbage.

Have you tried to improve your present sound system with Asio4All (or using nVidia ASIO)? Both these ASIO drivers can give you low enough latency for recording (but if the white noise comes from HW, then the driver mode may not affect on that).

Live! 24-bit has no native ASIO support (and the card has been reported to have some serious issues on DAW working) --> you need to use Asio4All with it (I dunno if Asio4All works with Live! 24-bit external at all but USB-ASIO driver would work).

Original Audigy 4 (not pro) is about the same with original Audigy 2 Value. OEM version may have some modifications compared to original (worse connectors, missing software, ripped functionality, etc.).


jiitee

 

[Grishnackh]

Yes I use ASIO4All with my current setup and it works great, but I don't get a very low latency. If I do set latency <10/20ms I get some noise or the driver/device locks up.

And, yes the noise is most probably coming from the hardware. So that leaves the Live! card out of the picture. I'm open for your suggestions on an external card with 24 bit/ASIO support.

 

[jiiteepee]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Grishnackh Yes I use ASIO4All with my current setup and it works great, but I don't get a very low latency. If I do set latency <10/20ms I get some noise or the driver/device locks up. And, yes the noise is most probably coming from the hardware. So that leaves the Live! card out of the picture. I'm open for your suggestions on an external card with 24 bit/ASIO support.

Your price limit (50$) is too low --> in generally there are not many USB/FW 24-bit/96 kHz (I/O) devices that can be suggested under 200$. Some/most of them can Output 24-bit/96 kHz and less but Input only 24-bit/48 kHz or less.

My suggestion is --> add least 200$ into your budged and if you have FireWire controller there, get Personus Firebox (299$, street price ~260$). It's a 500$ card with special price ATM.
If no FireWire controller then a Mackie Spike (~250$) or from the lower price category; Edirol UA-1EX (~80$).

jiitee