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dj mull
Average Member
Ireland
163 posts
Joined: Feb, 2004
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 Posted - 2006/02/02 : 11:36:34
hey all,
now i've read a lot about people asking what sound card they should buy e.t.c, now when i bought my yamaha msp5 monitors, the connectors that came with the monitors wouldn't fit in the back of my sound card, the setup i have now is a mini jack output from my sound card, that splits into 2 regular jack leads, with 1 going to the left and one to the right monitor, the sound is good but i am wondering if the sound is not as good as my monitors can produce, i have never bought a soundcard and the one i am using came with my dell pc. should this sound card be ok for my purposes or should i need to buy a new one?
I also have no idea how to find out the spec of my current sound card
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martin mullen
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The Deviant
Senior Member
United Kingdom
329 posts
Joined: May, 2004
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Posted - 2006/02/02 : 11:51:20
Buy a new sound card, The one that came built into the pc is probably an AC97, and it's shit. You can get a decent one for less than £60. Have a look at the Emu 0404, and the M-Audio Audiophile 2496.
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dj mull
Average Member
Ireland
163 posts
Joined: Feb, 2004
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Posted - 2006/02/02 : 11:59:49
cheers man, will this do a lot of good to the sound quality?
also can you install the sound card yourself or do you need some one to fit it for you?
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martin mullen
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bulby_g
Advanced Member
United Kingdom
7,205 posts
Joined: Apr, 2004
430 hardcore releases
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Posted - 2006/02/02 : 13:27:52
I bought an M-Audio Mia when I got my monitors and it's def better than the one that come as standard in my dell. Fitting the sound card is easy and you shouldn't have a problem doing it yourself... open the case at the back there are some metal strips in place to cover the unused pci slots, take the cover off the front of these that holds them in (it's a plastic thing you'll se what I mean), slide out the strip from the slot you want to use and click the soundcard into place, do everything back up, ya done : ). I know you may not have the same dell but if it's a dimension i think they all have pretty similar (if not the same) casses.
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www.myspace.com/bulbyg
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Jax
Advanced Member
United Kingdom
2,676 posts
Joined: Apr, 2005
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Posted - 2006/02/02 : 14:55:40
for a case that isnt a dell its just a matter of taking the screw out that holds the metal strip in place, fitting ur new card and using the same screw to secure it in place. just a point even though it might sound stupid, make sure your computer is turned off when you do this 
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The Deviant
Senior Member
United Kingdom
329 posts
Joined: May, 2004
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Posted - 2006/02/02 : 19:09:10
Sound quality will be alot better, Lower noise, less degridation, flatter frequency responce and generally just sound better. You'll notice the difference on your monitors.
As for insatalling, you'll also have a driver to sort out too, but it won't be any different from installing any other driver. The physical install of the sound card is just the same as any other PCI card. 5 minute job.
Like Jaxon said make sure it's unpluged. And I always touch the metal frame first to get rid of any staic before touching any cards, just something I read, not sure if its true, but it doesn't hurt to be extra safe.
Bulby, do you mean ECHO Mia, as im not aware that M-audio had a mia model.
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bulby_g
Advanced Member
United Kingdom
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Joined: Apr, 2004
430 hardcore releases
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Posted - 2006/02/02 : 22:21:37
quote:
Originally posted by The Deviant:
Bulby, do you mean ECHO Mia,
Yes I do :) Must of had m audio on the brain for some reason.
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GaryMaguireXL
Senior Member
Ireland
360 posts
Joined: Apr, 2004
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Posted - 2006/02/02 : 22:44:02
Get an external usb Sound Card, I have the M-audio mobile pre USB and its a nasty little bitch.
Picked it up for less than 200 yoyos as well
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Jax
Advanced Member
United Kingdom
2,676 posts
Joined: Apr, 2005
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Posted - 2006/02/03 : 00:48:00
The Deviant,
there is a bit of a debate weather that the psu would take the static to the earth.
the best way (apart from buying something) is to touch the radiator and computer frame so any static build up goes through you and gets earthed.
bulby, whats your sound card like? seen as we have the same speakers [:P]
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bulby_g
Advanced Member
United Kingdom
7,205 posts
Joined: Apr, 2004
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Posted - 2006/02/03 : 10:55:20
quote:
Originally posted by DJ_JaXoN:
The Deviant,
there is a bit of a debate weather that the psu would take the static to the earth.
the best way (apart from buying something) is to touch the radiator and computer frame so any static build up goes through you and gets earthed.
bulby, whats your sound card like? seen as we have the same speakers [:P]
Yes it's great mate and a reasonable price tag too, I was recomended it by Ruffage.
On the anti static debate best thing you can do us to have an anti static matt and wrist strap.
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Underloop
Advanced Member
United Kingdom
3,895 posts
Joined: Mar, 2002
91 hardcore releases
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Posted - 2006/02/03 : 10:57:36
I can highly reccomend the M-Audio soundcards. I've stuck with them since I first got a 2496 (stereo i/o) a few years ago. I now have a Delta 1010LT (8 analogue i/o and a stereo digital i/o). Quality is superb and latency is as low as your going to get it.
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"We don't stop playing because we grow old;
we grow old because we stop playing."
- George Bernard Shaw
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dj mull
Average Member
Ireland
163 posts
Joined: Feb, 2004
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Posted - 2006/02/03 : 13:50:47
deviant
when you say i'll have a driver to install do you mean some software that'll come with the new sound card, or do you mean something else?
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martin mullen
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Jax
Advanced Member
United Kingdom
2,676 posts
Joined: Apr, 2005
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Posted - 2006/02/03 : 13:56:43
he means the software. you will get it with the soundcard dont worry.
..underloop i forgot to mention i wasnt loaded lol! ill try and raise the extra cash if not ill go for the echo.
cheers
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Underloop
Advanced Member
United Kingdom
3,895 posts
Joined: Mar, 2002
91 hardcore releases
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Posted - 2006/02/03 : 14:36:34
quote:
Originally posted by DJ_JaXoN:
..underloop i forgot to mention i wasnt loaded lol! ill try and raise the extra cash if not ill go for the echo.
Echo Mia = £130ish here
M-Audio 2496 = £54 here
M-Audio Delta 1010LT = £155 Here
Not that much more. And the 2496 is cheaper :-P
Only real difference between the M-Audio cards I have used and teh Mia is the balanced i/o - although the 1010LT has 2 of both its i/o as balanced equalling the Mia, yet adding to it an extra 6 analogue ins and outs on phonos.
I prefer balanced inputs for recording, but over short distances though, I don't tend to notice the difference providing I'm careful how I lay my cabling down.
Of course it all depends how your going to use your soundcard. I do a bit of multi-tracking, and also means when I'm recording radio shows I can seperate out the voiceover and the decks. The outs I tend to hook up to my mixer for more control of on-the-fly mixing and sample dropping etc.... just generally makes it more flexible. If you don't need multi i/o though then go for the 2496 and spend the money you've saved on decent cables and stuff
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"We don't stop playing because we grow old;
we grow old because we stop playing."
- George Bernard Shaw
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bulby_g
Advanced Member
United Kingdom
7,205 posts
Joined: Apr, 2004
430 hardcore releases
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Posted - 2006/02/03 : 14:41:27
@ WWW.Digitalvillage.co.uk
Echo Mia MIDI
Code: 9209
£84.99 (inc.VAT) : )
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Underloop
Advanced Member
United Kingdom
3,895 posts
Joined: Mar, 2002
91 hardcore releases
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Posted - 2006/02/03 : 14:47:07
quote:
Originally posted by bulby_g:
@ WWW.Digitalvillage.co.uk
Echo Mia MIDI
Code: 9209
£84.99 (inc.VAT) : )
Oh aye :-P For some reason I couldn't find it on there before :-S
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"We don't stop playing because we grow old;
we grow old because we stop playing."
- George Bernard Shaw
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