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Do you really need a soundcard?
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Colin OOOD
Moderator
Started Topics :
95
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5380
Posted : Aug 7, 2011 08:12
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d1m1tr1
Moderator
Started Topics :
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2168
Posted : Aug 7, 2011 13:14
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well a good external card will have better convertors than an onboard one for sure...
now if your prod has been nicely made, you can play with an onboard of course...
the external one (or a pro onboard) is more important when producing, you can also hear with more precision, and for sure if you are recording (using the preamps etc) or routing stuff, and not only using plugs or bouncing internally
so for production YES for playing not ultra-needed but i still prefer external ones !
  http://darkelf.gr
http://www.sonic-loom.com |
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PoM
IsraTrance Full Member
Started Topics :
162
Posts :
8087
Posted : Aug 7, 2011 15:04
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never listeneed to the macbook pro d/a yet it s good enought for some artists but i guess it s a bit of a compromise,maybe it sound good who know...
today consumers d/a sound as good as yesterday pro ones , i doubt it s on pa speakers you can hear the little details that make the difference.. except maybe if the da lack low end extension or stuff like this.
apogee duet is not super expensive though..
i think it s a good buy for touring,to make music everywhere, on other artists studio, in hotels.. |
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Soundmagus
IsraTrance Full Member
Started Topics :
67
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633
Posted : Aug 7, 2011 17:31
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From Wikipedia
"Professional soundcards (audio interfaces)
Professional soundcards are special soundcards optimized for real-time (or at least low latency) multichannel sound recording and playback, including studio-grade fidelity. Their drivers usually follow the Audio Stream Input Output protocol for use with professional sound engineering and music software, although ASIO drivers are also available for a range of consumer-grade soundcards.
Professional soundcards are usually described as "audio interfaces", and sometimes have the form of external rack-mountable units using USB, FireWire, or an optical interface, to offer sufficient data rates. The emphasis in these products is, in general, on multiple input and output connectors, direct hardware support for multiple input and output sound channels, as well as higher sampling rates and fidelity as compared to the usual consumer soundcard. In that respect, their role and intended purpose is more similar to a specialized multi-channel data recorder and real-time audio mixer and processor, roles which are possible only to a limited degree with typical consumer soundcards.
On the other hand, certain features of consumer soundcards such as support for environmental audio extensions (EAX), optimization for hardware acceleration in video games, or real-time ambience effects are secondary, nonexistent or even undesirable in professional soundcards, and as such audio interfaces are not recommended for the typical home user.
The typical "consumer-grade" soundcard is intended for generic home, office, and entertainment purposes with an emphasis on playback and casual use, rather than catering to the needs of audio professionals. In response to this, Steinberg (the creators of audio recording and sequencing software, Cubase and Nuendo) developed a protocol that specified the handling of multiple audio inputs and outputs.
In general, consumer grade soundcards impose several restrictions and inconveniences that would be unacceptable to an audio professional. One of a modern soundcard's purposes is to provide an AD/DA converter (analog to digital/digital to analog). However, in professional applications, there is usually a need for enhanced recording (analog to digital) conversion capabilities.
One of the limitations of consumer soundcards is their comparatively large sampling latency; this is the time it takes for the AD Converter to complete conversion of a sound sample and transfer it to the computer's main memory.
Consumer soundcards are also limited in the effective sampling rates and bit depths they can actually manage (compare analog versus digital sound) and have lower numbers of less flexible input channels: professional studio recording use typically requires more than the two channels that consumer soundcards provide, and more accessible connectors, unlike the variable mixture of internal—and sometimes virtual—and external connectors found in consumer-grade soundcards."
Make of that what you will.
Mark
Check out my site for Video tutorials and other tips & Tricks
http://www.music-production-videos.com |
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