I recently got a new comp, and my intention is to build myself a small home-studio. Get a small mixer-table, a decent mic and so.. This comp has a built in SBlive5.1, and I know enough to understand that's it's not all that spectacular

What should I get? I'm a poor student with limited budget, but I want something that's decent.

The right answer will come after some more questions. What do you intend to record? How many channels will you need to record at once? What is your general budget for the sound card?

I'm sure the group here can steer you right but just a little more data will help.

Ever on the quest,

Jeff Apthorp
Robbyn's Studio

I guess I should also confirm that you plan to use the mixer as a pre-amp. Will you want to do the A/D conversion at the card input or at the console?

Ever on the quest,

Jeff Apthorp
Robbyn's Studio

I intend to use the mic for recording vocals and instuments.. electric guitar (both clean and distorted), acoustic, flute and the likes. So some good allround mic is what I'm looking for. I've looked a bit at some ADK mics which are relatively cheap here (in sweden) right now. I guess it's better with a "front"-mic (like A51s) (which are at like 220US$ here in Sweden (translated from SEK)) for close-micing of amps.. the GC2e (and GC1e) comes at half the prics of the A51s.. but they're "sided". Would they still work?

Yes, I want to use the mixer as pre-amp for the mic. Since all of my line-in will be through that one mic, I don't think I'll need that many spare channels. But I guess I need some input/output channels to get the track to the comp and back I'd also want an output for headphones. Hifi-equipment.. should I run that directly from a soundcard or through the mixer?

A/D conversion at the console? I'm not sure I follow you.. you mean at the mixer? I guess it'll be at the card-input, though.

I almost forgot, I want to run a synth either through the mixer-table or midi.

I suggest an Aardvark Direct Pro - ($500)
http://www.8thstreet.com/product.asp?ProductCode=7670&Category=Audio_Interfaces

This is the soundcard I have and it is very nice!

It has 4 inputs and 6 outputs with built in mic preamps, so you won't need a mixer. It also has a headphone output jack in addition to the 6 outputs.

It has built in effects, like reverb, compressor, and EQ that you can use "live". Where you can plug in your mic, turn the reverb on and hear the reverb as you're singing (without recording). Then when you are recording you can also choose if you want to record the effects or not so that you can add effects afterwards.

It's a great card with lots of features, so you should definitely check it into it!

-tk

______________________________
'Cause I don't wanna read the book, I'll watch the movie.

Some cards are digital such as the RME HDSP 9652 and need external converters, which can be found in digital mixers. I wouldn't go that route if you don't have much money. You should check out this setup

Echo Gina 24 (2 ins 8 outs)
8x2 Behringer mixer
Studio Projects B1 (if you need a mic... cheap/versatile)

If you get the mic make sure the mixer has phantom power.

The Gina card does not have midi (I don't think anyways, my Gina 20 didn't).

Should cost you around 500 US Dollar's. And have some qualtiy. I had an Echo Gina 20 and it was fine until I updated to Windows XP. Echo didn't rewrite drivers for it. And it crashed my computer constantly. Now I use a RME 9652 with a Creamware A16 Ultra converter. Which is a pretty good setup.

Hope this helps

Dusty

Although it's somewhat expensive, I'd recommend RME Audio Multiface...period!

Be sure to check www.c-1ne.com for dope b-boy clothes and music!

Lakester,

If you want a simple I/O card, I've had good luck with the M-Audio Audiophile 2496, found HERE.

If you want something with a built-in mixer, take a look at THIS.

Best of luck, in your search!

Later,

Joel

The budget question is still a key here. There are some new USB devices that are attractive mixer/preamp/converters (A/D - Analog to digital by the way) that would get you flying. It sounds like you can mix inside the computer so you really only need a way to monitor a stereo buss from the PC and handle monitoring while you track. You might look at something like TASCAM's new US-122. It's super affordable.

If you have lot's more to spend, put the greatest investment into your microphone and consider an outboard pre-amp.

Ever on the quest,

Jeff Apthorp
Robbyn's Studio

Has anyone tried the M-Audio Audiophile-USB?Seems easy to connect as well.. with USB and all, I mean. It's supposed to be the sucessor to the M-audio Delta Audiophile 2496. It costs like 240$ here.. and then I could get a cheap mixer for around 100$ and spend 220$ on a ADK A51s mic.. that'd be like 560$ and something I could actually afford if I buy one piece a month

The Audiophile USB does not seem to have Any advantage over the Audiophile 2496 card and the card is about 150 USD .It is a fine card.I have used it with great success.--Steve

The Audiophile 2496 apears to be a great low budget card and I wish I had put it in my current system here instead of what I put. However, the way I work here is that I record to a dedicated hard disk recorder on remotes and bring the project into my computer digitally via hard drive exchange. Thus all I need is a decent monitoring card in my computer.

The main reason for my post is to tell you that you should develop yourself a plan before you buy that soundcard taking into account your external equipment futures. Look at the different cards available, what their features are, and how they fit your future needs. Ask yourself how do you plan to input and output from the computer in your setup. Are you going to go analog into your card or are you going to get external analog to digital convertors either in your mixing board or standalone.

I do not know about costs of gear where you are but RME makes a good solid multifunctional line. Fact is you may even be able to set up where their products take place of a mixer thus eleminating that expense while still a student. That would get you up and started with an intro rig. I don't know but don't think they package much in the way of software only the basics for their card so software would be added expense on top.

The digi 001 or a similar low end Pro Tools system may also be a good consideration. It comes with a great software package and some I/O capabilities. I've used the Pro Tools package before although its not what I'm using now. I was kind of in between Pro Tools LT and the full hardware/software system they offer and went another route for mixing.

All in all what I'm trying to say is before you get in a big hurry and impulse buy on a student budget you can easily make a bad choice for you. Sit back and draw your needs out on a paper in a block diagram form put the price range of each piece of gear in the block. Then decide what your sound card needs to have available both hardware and software. Oh yes don't forget to add in the cost of your software package in the computer.

Good luck in your studies and choices.

From within 2 miles of Jim Croce's last gig and end.

New post rather than edit in. Just in case you've read my last post and do not catch this. At one time, and I think they both still do, both Cakewalk "Sonar" and DigiDesign "Pro Tools Free" were offered free download. Get where you have a good net connection and download both of these and try them. I'm sure they are others but these are the two I evaluated before purchase.

From within 2 miles of Jim Croce's last gig and end.

I would like to share this article which I have found http://www.tweakheadz.com/soundcards_for_the_home_studio.htm which I think could help you in choosing soundcard.