Advice on external soundcard

[eddiereader]

I need to buy an external soundcard that has the following capabilities

a) connections to speakers

b) ability to use PC hosted software, specifically Acoustica 4.1, in order to record from the soundcard and use the equalizer function within the software.

The Creative Sound Blaster X-Fi HD Sound Card looks suitable, but do the line outs drive speakers directly or do I need an external amp?

I have searched fairly extensively but nothing really confirms the above points.

Needless, to say, all opinions much appreciated

 

 

[Bobbsy]

First suggestion: Avoid any sound card by Creative like the plague. They are gamer's cards, designed mainly for playback of games and videos. For anything involving recording they are absolute rubbish.

 

Second point: NO sound card that I know of (and I know of hundreds) will drive a passive speaker directly. Any of them will need either an amplifier or a set of speakers with built in amplifier.

 

Third, I'm not entirely clear but are you planning to loop through your Acoustica for EQ then out again in a live situation? If so, latency will almost certainly be an issue with software designed for recording. There ARE packages designed for live use but Acoustica isn't one of them.

 

Beyond that, to give any sensible advice, we need to know how many simultaneous inputs and outputs you need, whether your sources are mic or line level, etc.

[eddiereader]

First suggestion: Avoid any sound card by Creative like the plague. They are gamer's cards, designed mainly for playback of games and videos. For anything involving recording they are absolute rubbish.

 

Second point: NO sound card that I know of (and I know of hundreds) will drive a passive speaker directly. Any of them will need either an amplifier or a set of speakers with built in amplifier.

 

Third, I'm not entirely clear but are you planning to loop through your Acoustica for EQ then out again in a live situation? If so, latency will almost certainly be an issue with software designed for recording. There ARE packages designed for live use but Acoustica isn't one of them.

 

Beyond that, to give any sensible advice, we need to know how many simultaneous inputs and outputs you need, whether your sources are mic or line level, etc.

 

Bobbsy

Thanks for the reply.

The overall process is a composition that I have turned into a MIDI file and wish to play through virtual instrunentation, Garritan Jazz and Big Band.

The resulting output, in addition to playing through speakers, I wish to be able to apply EQ and record. I use Acoustice 4.1 for the EQ and recording. Acoustica can record from the internal sound card but need to be able to record from the external soundcard. If you know of another EQ and recording product then I would be grateful to learn of that.

Thanks

Eddie Reader

[Bobbsy]

Ah, okay. Understood.

 

I might come at this from a slightly different direction. I'm assuming you have JABB installed as a standalone sequencer right now.

 

What you could look at doing is changing this to be a VST plugin (an option listed in the JABB quick start guide) then use it as a plug in in your DAW. I don't know the capabilities of Acoustica--it may be able to handle VST plug ins. However, if not, I'd suggest you download a digital audio programme called Reaper. Reaper allows you an unlimited free trial period and, if/when you decide to buy it, the price is low compared to the big names. Reaper is also listed by Garritan as software it plays nicely with.

 

Working with Garritan JABB as a plug in eliminates the need to actually record your track into another programme. Instead you can simply use it as an effect within Reaper and add/playwith/change the EQ at the same time.

 

I'm conscious that I still haven't suggested an alternative sound card for you but I do suggest you get something better than the built in even if it's only for playback. If you ever record like live instruments or mics, then it becomes really essential. Something like THIS might cover all bases for you..single mic input, inputs for keyboards, sound modules, instruments etc. plus outputs for speakers etc. However, depending on what you do it might be missing something important or it might be overkill!

[eddiereader]

Ah, okay. Understood.

 

I might come at this from a slightly different direction. I'm assuming you have JABB installed as a standalone sequencer right now.

 

What you could look at doing is changing this to be a VST plugin (an option listed in the JABB quick start guide) then use it as a plug in in your DAW. I don't know the capabilities of Acoustica--it may be able to handle VST plug ins. However, if not, I'd suggest you download a digital audio programme called Reaper. Reaper allows you an unlimited free trial period and, if/when you decide to buy it, the price is low compared to the big names. Reaper is also listed by Garritan as software it plays nicely with.

 

Working with Garritan JABB as a plug in eliminates the need to actually record your track into another programme. Instead you can simply use it as an effect within Reaper and add/playwith/change the EQ at the same time.

 

I'm conscious that I still haven't suggested an alternative sound card for you but I do suggest you get something better than the built in even if it's only for playback. If you ever record like live instruments or mics, then it becomes really essential. Something like THIS might cover all bases for you..single mic input, inputs for keyboards, sound modules, instruments etc. plus outputs for speakers etc. However, depending on what you do it might be missing something important or it might be overkill!

Bobbsy

Thanks for the reply. Took a look at the solution you offered, Lexicon alpha. That looks ideal and it comes with Cubase 5 that seems to offer the recording and EQ options I was after. So thank you very much.

Eddie Reader

[paulears]

The lexicons are excellent - Alphas and Omegas I use regularly, and they're rock solid devices with excellent performance.