OT: external soundcard for laptops
Darryl Johnson
one store to another looking at an external soundcard for my son for
Christmas. (He says he's getting pops and crackles from his speakers
or headphones when he listens to music on his computer.)
One store claims Firewire is better because it is faster in "real
life" than USB 2.0, *and* can handle more individual channels at once
(for recording multiple microphones as separate tracks). Another store
says that's complete nonsense: they showed me a TASCAM US-1641 (I
think that was the model) that can send 8 tracks at once over USB.
So far, starting at about a $100 price point (as that it roughly what
it may cost to have the headphone jack on the computer replaced), I've
looked at Yamaha Audiogram6 and Audiogram6, TAPCO Link.USB and
Link.Firewire, various M-Audio devices and TASCAM US-122 Mk II and the
larger US-1641.
At its most basic, I just want to replicate the functionality of a
headphone jack. Better sound is a nice bonus.
But, as a jazz musician, I know he'll want to do some recording, so
the added features of the various units come into play: multiple
inputs, phantom power, separate tracks out, etc.
Staying within, let's say, $350, does anyone have any advice or
recommendations?
Thanks in advance,
--
Darryl
DanielleOM
"Darryl Johnson" <Darryl....@sympatico.ca> wrote in message
news:hem50h$5me$1...@news.eternal-september.org...
If the pops and crackles sound as if they are digital interrupts in nature,
the sound card may not help. First all I would suggest you take a good look
at his PC configuration. Make sure there's not a lot of software running
while playing music. The pops and crackles won't stop if there's so much
going on the system can't handle it.
I would say trying running the player from a clean startup with minimal
stuff running.
I have a watched a friend doing mixdowns and with lots of processing and you
know it you reach system limits where you start hearing dropouts.
FYI, I use Motu Ultralight with firewire interface
Danielle
Steve Hawkins
@news.eternal-september.org:
My personal experience is that USB is a much more compatible interface
across computer systems than Firewire is. There's been a lot of
discussion in recording groups about Firewire Audio problems with
laptops.
MOTU products in particular want to see a TI chipset in a PC's Firewire
interface. I'm having the devil's own time getting my 828 MkII to work
with my laptop.
Steve Hawkins
Darryl Johnson
> "Darryl Johnson" <Darryl....@sympatico.ca> wrote in message
> news:hem50h$5me$1...@news.eternal-september.org...
>> Some of you have experience in this, I'm sure. I've been bouncing from one
>> store to another looking at an external soundcard for my son for
>> Christmas. (He says he's getting pops and crackles from his speakers or
>> headphones when he listens to music on his computer.)
>>
>>
>> Staying within, let's say, $350, does anyone have any advice or
>> recommendations?
>>
>> Thanks in advance,
>> --
>> Darryl
>>
>
>
> If the pops and crackles sound as if they are digital interrupts in nature,
> the sound card may not help. First all I would suggest you take a good look
> at his PC configuration. Make sure there's not a lot of software running
> while playing music. The pops and crackles won't stop if there's so much
> going on the system can't handle it.
>
> I would say trying running the player from a clean startup with minimal
> stuff running.
>
> I have a watched a friend doing mixdowns and with lots of processing and you
> know it you reach system limits where you start hearing dropouts.
>
> FYI, I use Motu Ultralight with firewire interface
>
>
> Danielle
>
Ah yes, the fine line between including *all* the information and
overwhelming people with too much detail.
The cracks and pops are definitely the result of an headphone jack
socket going south. You can wiggle the jack in the socket and get more
crackles and pops than anyone needs or wants. The computer used to
play music adequately, and now does not. There have been no software
or hardware changes in recent memory.
One of his frequent uses of the port is to run a simple stereo cable
from the headphone jack socket to the input ports of a stereo amp and
then out to some bookshelf speakers. He then puts on ear protectors
and plays the drumkit along to the recording. If he is careful with
the insertion of the stereo cable, he gets good sound; if he is
careless with the cable, he gets sound with lots of crackles and pops.
In both cases the music comes from his iTunes folder on the laptop.
I'll check out that reference to the Motu Ultralight. Thanks.
--
Darryl
hank alrich
http://www.rolandus.com/products/productlist.php?ParentId=114
slightly over your three-fifty, for comparison
http://www.rolandus.com/products/productdetails.php?ProductId=702&Parent
Id=114
under two-fifty for more basic unit
http://www.rolandus.com/products/productdetails.php?ProductId=731&Parent
Id=114
A couple of years ago I helped a local music teacher move from an old
Marantz CD recorder to a laptop w/interface, and she wound up with a
small Edirol box that was very solidly built and worked well out of the
box. They had good drivers for it. Hers was a USB box, and while there
are good reasons for Firewire to be preferred for work requiring more
tracks, at this level both protocols are more than adequate for the
task.
Most kit at this level pretty much all sounds the same, too, so besides
build quality you might see what's bundled by whom. For instance, this
M-Audio Solo comes with Ableton Live Lite:
http://www.m-audio.com/products/en_us/FireWireSolo.html
And so forth.
--
ha
shut up and play your guitar
http://www.armadillomusicproductions.com/CarryMeHome.htm
http://hankalrich.com/
Madgamer
Sound Blaster makes a external live 24 that is intended for use between
a movie o on the computer and you TV. It is ideal as a portable sound
device and will produce theater quality sound. I would do a Google
search on external sound cards (USB). The SB is rectangular in shape
and not very large. you can even input from other sound devices.
Before you buy anything at least check it out.
Larry A