What soundcard would be the best for me if I play some games, record music, and some audio editting?

[iskim86]

I need a new good soundcard to use for a bit of gaming, recording guitar parts and other instruments with, professional/gneral editting (SoundForge, CoolEdit, etc), and just listening to music. I'm looking for something under 300, and preferrably under 200. I'm not looking into those fancy front-access ports, UNLESS - it has extra ports that the backplate doesn't provide (midi-in, 1/4" jack in, optical in, out, mic pre-amp, etc).

Thank you.

 

[Anubis]

M audio revolution, SB audigy

 

[iskim86]

anyone else? other recommendations?

 

[DurocShark]

Originally posted by: TheEvil1
M audio revolution, SB audigy

Yamaha and Philips used to have pro-grade sound cards, but haven't heard from them since... So the above are gonna be your best choice.

I personally have a Fortissimo 7.1 card, but the signal to noise ratio isn't good enough for the highest quality recording, IMHO. It's playback in games and DVD's is awesome, however.

 

[jacktesterson]

AC97 Rules

 

[jacktesterson]

Well if your wanting something really cheap the sound blaster live +mp3 card works well for me

 

[iskim86]

I have a SB Live! X-Gamer right now. the line-in doesn't freaken work! can't record so I'm gonna buy a new sound card (even though I know I can fix it it's an excuse for me to buy another one)

 

[Anubis]

get teh M audio revolution. its better then an audigy . cause it does kernel streaming

 

[iskim86]

doesn't Revolution use that VIA chip though? is that VIA chip even good at all?

 

[TROGDORdBURNINATOR]

doesn't Revolution use that VIA chip though? is that VIA chip even good at all?

No. It doesn't have a DSP to speak of. All of its processing is done by the host CPU. This results in 10-25% less frame rates according to this months review of the card in maximum PC. The audigy 2 is a much better card.

 

[iskim86]

I'm so frustrated over this topic. I want something to record guitar parts with, but have 5.1 audio at the same time, have good playback/record quality, and use less CPU (i only have a 600mhz CPU). I don't care about firewire and all that stuff because I already have a firewire card. don't care about optical either.

 

[bluemax]

I'd also reccomend one of the M-audio cards. Maybe not as good of a gamer as the SB Audigy2, but in audio apps it'll kick the pants off of any "gamer" sound card!

One word......... ASIO.

The low-latency audio interface that allows multi-track audio recording that's super clean and no distortion. nVidia nForce and Creative Labs Audigy may *claim* to have ASIO drivers but they don't work as well or at all. And ASIO is now up to ASIO2 (or revision 2) just to spite these "close-but-not-quite" ASIO wannabe's.

For pro audio apps, get a true ASIO2 card, a couple hundred bucks TOPS for a simple PCI card (you don't need the mega-setups with the breakout boxes...) and it'll also do awesome DVD playback. Many of them now do directX sound for gaming as well.

 

[iskim86]

so any specific models? so wait, the m-Audio one takes more CPU utilization but is still better because of ASIO?? what are the ASIO2 cards under 200?

 

[jrwood]

If you want exceptional audio quality (playback/recording) then get either the new M-Audio revolution 7.1 or the Terratec DMX 6 fire LT. The Revo 7.1 does not have any hardware support for direct3d sounds so the cpu will take a small hit, the Terratec DMX 6 fire LT does have direct3d hardware support and an incredibly clean sound because it uses the slightly older envy chip. Terratec's new audio cards all have the new Envy chip in them which is identical to the M-Audio Revo 7.1 so you should be able to pick up the Terratec DMX 6 fire LT for a great price perhaps only $30-$40 more than the $90 revo.

I wouldnt worry too much about not having 24/192 as 24/96 sounds crisp and far better than the Audigy 2 because its a true 24/96 card.

http://free.of.pl/g/glina/DMX2.htm beats the Lynx TWO-B ($500+ pro card!) in IMD and THD dissortion levels

http://www.digit-life.com/articles2/terratecdmx6fire/ compares the two cards although they review the more expensive Terratec DMX 6 fire (non LT) which is the identical sound card but comes with extras and the 5.25" bay for more inputs/outputs than you could ever possibly want!.

 

[sharkeeper]

Creamware!

-DAK-

 

[iskim86]

ahhhhhh this is giving me a headache. How's Turtle Beach Santa Cruz? compared to Revolution 7.1 and Terratec DMX6 LT?

 

[Pariah]

I wouldnt worry too much about not having 24/192 as 24/96 sounds crisp and far better than the Audigy 2 because its a true 24/96 card.

Why would a true 24/96 card sound better than a true 24/192 card based only on the fact it is a 24/96 card? I'm not saying that it isn't possible, but that logic makes no sense at all.

http://www.digit-life.com/articles2/terratecdmx6fire/ compares the two cards although they review the more expensive Terratec DMX 6 fire (non LT) which is the identical sound card but comes with extras and the 5.25" bay for more inputs/outputs than you could ever possibly want!.

That's a review of an Audigy 1 which isn't much use when the Audigy 2 is the topic of discussion.

If under $300 is your budget and you are really interested in recording, the Audigy 2 Platinum EX (~$225) may be what you are looking for as it has 24/96 ASIO compliant recording, with best of class gaming support, and every connector you listed on a breakout box. The other Audigy 2 versions are 16/48 ASIO compliant.

The Santa Cruz is a bit behind the times, and not up to snuff when compared to more current cards. Also there have been reports of the mic in acting up on the card which would not be ideal if recording is a priority.

 

[JZilla]

FWIW, Firingsquad just posted a review of the M-Audio Revolution 7.1.

 

[Slammy1]

http://www.tech-report.com/reviews/2003q1/soundcards/index.x?pg=1

 

[bluemax]

Originally posted by: iskim86
ahhhhhh this is giving me a headache. How's Turtle Beach Santa Cruz? compared to Revolution 7.1 and Terratec DMX6 LT?

The Santa Cruz is a fine gaming card, but no ASIO drivers means it's not good at pro-audio software.