TranceAddict Forums (www.tranceaddict.com/forums)
- Production Studio
-- Need sound card specs defined
Pages (2): [1] 2 »

Need sound card specs defined

hey guys.. could u explain what these mean in layman english for me pls?
I know roughly what they mean but more clarity would help as well.

These are an example of specs i've seen :

4 x 4 24-bit/96kHz full-duplex audio interface - is there an audible difference if it is 24-bit/192kHz ?

4 x 4 analog I/O - analog meaning...?


software controlled 36-bit internal DSP digital mixing/routing - ?


software configurable for +4dBu and -10dBV signal levels - >


zero-latency monitoring - i know this is good but other cards i've seen do not mention this. or is there a way to see this in numbers?


greatly expandable with Omni i/o - what is Omni ?

frequency response: 48kHz sample rate
input: +/-0.3 dB, 22Hz to 22kHz
output: +/-0.2 dB, 22Hz to 22kHz

96kHz sample rate:
input: +/-0.4 dB, 22Hz to 40kHz
output: +/-0.3 dB, 22Hz to 40kHz

- is this the standard rate? or is 96 and 192 the standard?



dynamic range: 103dB (A-weighted) (D/A) - ??
99dB (A-weighted) (A/D)

THD: < 0.002% (D/A) - ??
0.0023% (A/D)



thanks heaps!! i'm sure this wld help with others' understanding as well!


cheerSss

It's best if you actually already know how digital audio works. Do a google search for digital audio or something first...

24-bit/96khz vs 24-bit/192khz. basically this is down to the resolution of the sound. Simply put, the higher the numbers, the more accurately the original sound will be reproduced.

Analog means audio that's not digital. Like the signal a cable carries between a microphone and a mixer.

36-bit internal DSP digital mixing/routing while the soundcard can output 24bit sound, the processor can handle a higher resolution internally and then mix it down again to 24-bit. this helps with overall quality when two or more sounds are mixed together.

software configurable for +4dBu and -10dBV signal levels some analog sources use different signal levels. some (ie microphones) are generally a LOT quieter than, say a CD player, and need to be boosted or padded (turned down) respectively.

zero-latency monitoring basically you can hear a sound source instantly

greatly expandable with Omni i/o not too sure what this means, but since omni means multiple, I guess they're saying you can add more inputs and outputs later on.

skipping some parts that I don't know how to explain...

THD: < 0.002% (D/A) - 0.0023% (A/D) THD means Total Harmonic Distortion. When an analog gets converted to digital (A/D aka Analog to Digital) some distortion will occur because mathematically it is impossible to recreate every detail in an analog signal. Likewise, digital sound that gets converted back to analog (D/A aka Digital to Analog) will also receive distortion for the same reason. The smaller the percentage on either is better.

If anyone wants to correct me on these explanations or expand on them, I won't take offence.

^^ pretty good aquila

quote:

frequency response: 48kHz sample rate input: +/-0.3 dB, 22Hz to 22kHz output: +/-0.2 dB, 22Hz to 22kHz 96kHz sample rate: input: +/-0.4 dB, 22Hz to 40kHz output: +/-0.3 dB, 22Hz to 40kHz

If you look at the frequency response of the card you'll see that for the given sample rate the signal will be flat in the given frequency range up to about, for example, +/- 0.3 dB. So all frequencies should be heard well with minimum amplitud (volume) distortion. The smaller the dB fluctuation the better. Those specs look pretty good.

About the sample rate, there is still no standard, but the community is almost in consensus about 192 kHz being unnecessary overkill. 96 is very good.

About the dynamic range, the higher number the better. It gives an idea of how much "space" you've got for the signal, thus how far can a signal with a certain volume be from the system noise. A-weighted is just a way to make the numbers higher values by following a theory of how we (our ears) hear; or stat manipulation. Just use it to compare specs between cards, but remember to noticed if it is weighted (ther's alos u-weighted and others)

Hope I helped

you guys rock haha!
cheers and thanks for the great info. everything's explained.

That being said, recommend me a sound card for production. I'm looking at the m-audio audiophile 192 .. coz the price looks alright for what i'll be getting.

i don't know much bout professional soundcards. I won't go by a fixed budget either coz if something is worth the money then I don't mind going for it. Of course i ain't talking top-of the range studio stuff. Just something more powerful than average will do =>

Yeah and basically i need MIDI to support my controller (getting an evolution 449c) .. and that will well support my needs for a long time. (sick of using a MIDI converter for my SBLIVE)..

would appreciate if you guys could suggest a few models ?

budget please.

specify a maximum price you are willing to pay otherwise myself and many other people will start recommending big expensive 10 in/10 out boxes.

quote:

Originally posted by aquila software configurable for +4dBu and -10dBV signal levels some analog sources use different signal levels. some (ie microphones) are generally a LOT quieter than, say a CD player, and need to be boosted or padded (turned down) respectively.

No, +4 dBu and -10 dBV are both nominal line levels. The difference is that +4 dBu is the professional line level, while - 10 dBV is the one used in consumer devices. The problem is, that there is about 12 dB of difference between the two. To have optimal signal, you should adjust the sensitivity of the line input to "listen" for the right level.

For instance, if you use your inputs at -10 dBV, but connect a +4dBu machine to it, basically everything will get 12 dB too loud into it, so you risk overloading the inputs. On the other hand if you do the opposite, connect a -10 dBV machine to + 4dBu input, you risk not having enough level, which isn't good for signal/noise.

Oh, and the Omni I/O is another of M-Audio's products. Kind of a breakout box if you wish.

Thx for the corrections...I knew I was gonna be wrong somewhere

quote:

Originally posted by Derivative budget please. specify a maximum price you are willing to pay otherwise myself and many other people will start recommending big expensive 10 in/10 out boxes.

okay max 200 USD
but i'll also welcome cheap and bang for the buck items..

quote:

Just something more powerful than average will do =>

quote:

okay max 200 USD

you won't be getting any power with $200.

I'm in the same situation for that same amount. I've read this ? before and I've made the ? also in other forums. Honestly not much help received. Still undecided between
Tascam US-122,
m-audio audiophile firewire,
Alesis I/O 2
Emagic EMI 6|2

or waiting for mo' $....

Too much diffs between them to really compare. Hope for you better luck in deciding.

one of my choices is M-audio audiophile 192. Is the Firewire version a new one i haven't seen it on their site.

How much do those that u mentioned cost?

chk out

http://www.m-audio.com/products/en_...phile-main.html

All the above are at most $199


Oh yeah, small detail, I gotta laptop

so the audiophile firewire version is good coz its portable. yeah similar to the audiophile PCI version i reckon.

anyway I was just browsing through m-audio's site and saw that they maintain a difference between AUDIO interface and MIDI interface keyboards. WHAT'S the DIFF?!?!

They've listed the Ozone and Ozonic under Audio interface and all the rest like Evolution under the MIDI interface.

need some explanation here =)

quote:

Originally posted by rafale so the audiophile firewire version is good coz its portable. yeah similar to the audiophile PCI version i reckon. anyway I was just browsing through m-audio's site and saw that they maintain a difference between AUDIO interface and MIDI interface keyboards. WHAT'S the DIFF?!?! They've listed the Ozone and Ozonic under Audio interface and all the rest like Evolution under the MIDI interface. need some explanation here =)

Don't get audiophile!!!
That's a consumer card. Get an audio interface card with inputs/outputs such as this http://www.zzounds.com/item--MDOD1010LT
http://www.zzounds.com/item--EMU1212M

^^

quote:

Originally posted by TheAddict That's a consumer card.

Know of any non-consumer cards for laptops?

Don't want to offend EMU owners but don't get an emu card. I have seen many of them fail (used to be service engineer) and one even melt an nearly catch fire. Also the DSP/mixer software bundled with it causes much hassle and is not worth installing. The M audio audiofile Firewire will certainly be good enough quality for the type of applications you want to use it for and at that price you can't go wrong. It's also piss easy to install (done this 200+ times) and the drivers are stable and reliable. Don't get a medium price range audio interface, either spend less and get good value and decent quality (auiophile FW) or save up and spend more and go for something like a motu 828 (which rock!). Don't forget though, the audio interface you buy will depend on how many ins and outs you need as well other factors like : do you need mic pre amps?, digital out (spdif/optical, etc)?, bus powered or psu?, PCMCIA, USB (1 or 2), firewire, etc,etc.
rafale, the difference is that the midi interface keyboards have a built in midi interface (only) and the audio interface keyboard have a built in audio interface(soundcard)as well. These are usually via USB or firewire.

one last point - full duplex means that the drivers/harware allow recording and playback simultaneously

^^

quote:

one last point - full duplex means that the drivers/harware allow recording and playback simultaneously

WOW! Very important detail there. I (very naive) thought all cards could do that. I do plan on playback/recording simultaneously.
Thanks for pointing that out RANN.


Does anybody know of an external card that uses USB 2. My ports are USB 2 so why not take advantage. Just can't find any

I think some of the M-Audio Soundcards use USB 2? Isn't it?

quote:

Originally posted by don_q ^^ Know of any non-consumer cards for laptops?

I've recently heard of couple of them but I have to research so I'll get back at you.

quote:

Originally posted by DJ RANN ... rafale, the difference is that the midi interface keyboards have a built in midi interface (only) and the audio interface keyboard have a built in audio interface(soundcard)as well. These are usually via USB or firewire. ...

Does this mean that the Ozone will be able to be used as a standalone keyboard and does not need to be plugged to a PC to produce sounds?

Unfortunately not. It just means it is your sound card as well as your midi keyboard. It will have analogue ins and outs so you don't have to use a separate audio ineterface/soundcard and it's also got a built in midi interface. All you have to do is plug in a single usb or firewire lead for both midi and audio.

Digigram make high quality PCMCIA soundcards but I think these limit you as if you ever want to work on a desktop or somemone else's computer you won't be able to use it as nearly all non laptop computers don't have a PCMCIA socket. They also use a breakout cable from a tiny multipin connector and are very prone to break.

The audiophile USB is not bus powered, you have to use the AC power supply, making it less portable.

Do you have firewire sockets?

nah but if i need one in order to use a good setup then i'll get one.

i'm still puzzled bout the sound cards.. i was almost certain of getting the audiophile .. now with what u guys are saying there are so many brands that i haven't checked out yet.

isn't there an industry standard:

would make life easier lol

Rafale, I run an audiophile PCI card in my desktop and the quality is superb. The only things you have to ask yourself is if the Audiophile gives you enough ins and outs, and you don't mind that you have to power it by an external PSU. If the answer is yes then it will be perfect for you. M audio are the best consumer interfaces on the market, and if you really want to go more pro than them, get ready to shell out close to a grand for something like a motu unit.

Go for the audiophile!

quote:

Originally posted by rafale nah but if i need one in order to use a good setup then i'll get one. i'm still puzzled bout the sound cards.. i was almost certain of getting the audiophile .. now with what u guys are saying there are so many brands that i haven't checked out yet. isn't there an industry standard: would make life easier lol

You should better buy a Novation Remote 25

http://www.novationmusic.com/produc...&bArchive=False

The novation remote 25 is darn good, but it is also �100 more expensive, by then again you do get a keyboard with many knobs......

Djule, where do you record shop in CH? I come over at least 5 times a year?

i lost you there dude..

so you're saying:

1) the ReMote is a keyboard with a built in soundcard ?
2) so therefore i won't need to buy another soundcard for my pc?

How do i hook it up to my pc? I'm not sure if i've got the whole picture here.

If buying a keyboard with a built in soundcard means i dun have to buy a high end one for my pc then i'll just get a Nord Lead =P

Powered by: vBulletin
Copyright © 2000-2021, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.