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another soundcard topic
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bandarlog
Bandarlog
Started Topics :
44
Posts :
809
Posted : Jan 17, 2005 19:00
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..ok, sorry for the yet another soundcard thread but I've searched the other threads and didn't see any answers to my questions...
So, I need to know which soundcard in the 150-250€ range will improve the sound quality? I'm working on a sb audigy2 and at home it all sounds fine on my alesis m1 mk2 actives but on a pa it sounds too messy... So, basicly: I'm not interested in hardware/midi support. I'm just interested in sound quality using vsti's. Will it improve using another soundcard? |
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Katapult
Started Topics :
0
Posts :
27
Posted : Jan 21, 2005 07:36
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A different sound card can help improve sound quality but I think there may be other factors involved. Listening on only one set of monitors makes it difficult to know what your track will sound like in different environments. Room acoustics also play a big part in your mixdown.
Instead of going out and buying another set of monitors or soundcard, try burning a cd and then playing it in different places before you take it out to the big pa. Listen on a home stereo, in the car, basic computer speakers, a portable stereo. (You can listen using headphones, but don't make any decisions using them. Headphones are the worst environment you can mix in). If you can get your track to sound good in more than one place, it will greatly help the sound on a big system.
Another thing to try and shoot for is a ballanced eq spectrum. If one band of frequencies dominate the track, the eq and compression used on a large system may be throwing the other freqs. completely off.
Without hearing your tracks, it is hard to say what exactly is making it sound messy, but if it is messy on the bass end, look to cut the eq a few decibles around 80-300 Hz. If it is mids giving you problems, try around 1000-2000. Highs - around 5000. You can also try rolling off the absolute lows and absolute highs - below 20 Hz and above 18kHz.
If you still want to go out and get a sound card, look into the following manufactures:
M Audio
Echo
RME
These are all respectable cards and you should be able to find some good ones in your price range.
Kat
 PAR-2 Productions - PAR2, Jikkenteki, Katapult www.par-2.com |
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Lithium
IsraTrance Junior Member
Started Topics :
33
Posts :
646
Posted : Jan 21, 2005 18:19
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man my advice is if you only have that money just wait a little longer till you have some more, cause you won´t get much difference in sound quality if you just want to spend around 150/250 euros.
i bought a terratec dmx6 fire 2 years ago, it costed me around 250 euros, and how i wished i hadn´t bought anything, saving the money and then buying something decent.
for around 500 euros you already have good choices, uad or powercore for ex, with good dsp processors for vsts, or even maybe m audio although i´ve heard controversial opinions on the m audio soundcards, some people happy with them, others not so happy, so...
save your money, make it double (500 euros should be enouth) and then buy something decent, so you don´t regret later as i do...
cheers  |
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bandarlog
Bandarlog
Started Topics :
44
Posts :
809
Posted : Jan 21, 2005 18:39
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Thanks a lot! It really helped... I'll give: 'improving my mixing skills' a try instead of buying a new soundcard. And for the monitor part: maybe visit some friends with other monitors once in a while.  |
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Leon Psynesthesia
Psynesthesia
Started Topics :
38
Posts :
262
Posted : Jan 21, 2005 20:38
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hmm if you're using vsti's and dont need many ins/outs emu 1212m is within this price range, its the one with pro-tools converters, i know sound quality depents on more than just converters but that one is a good card for reasonable amount of money .
read some reviews online they describe it well .
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EYB
Noized
Started Topics :
111
Posts :
2849
Posted : Jan 21, 2005 20:54
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Yeah the emu 1212m sounds very good and comes with some dsp effects.
The dsp are not killer, but good, i like the compressor very much and the distortion
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