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Audiophile 2496 (internal) vs. Audiophile USB
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| RoBDaWG |
Hi, I want to make the trance that sounds just like my favorite DJ, DJ Tiesto, I already has Fruity Loops, how do I use it?
....Okay just kidding :)
But seriously... On my desktop (a custom built PC) I currently have the M-Audio Audiophile 2496 for a sound card.
I was thinking of swapping that out for the Audiophile USB (link below)
http://www.google.com/products/cata...IwAg#ps-sellers
If I'm correct I think it's actually discontinued, but there are plenty of them brand new still floating around the internet.
My main reason for this is that it had a headphone jack. So when it's late at night I can plug a set of cans right into the interface and still go off the M-Audio device. Now if I want to use my headphone I have to plug it into the desktop (which involves trying to get behind it) and use the [HOLY the hottest piece of ass I've seen in a month just walked into my job... sorry...] onboard sound which sucks.
Plus I figure I could always use the USB with a laptop, at a friend's house, etc...
So basically what I'm asking is....
Are there any drawbacks to using a USB interface that would make an internal PCI card more desirable? Really I'm just a hobbyist, I mess around in FL Studio when I'm in the mood too, I'm not really concerned with milliseconds of latency or anything like that. I use KRK Rokit 5 monitors.
I'm sure the USB would be fine for my needs I'm just curious some of your opinions are. |
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| alanzo |
| quote: | Originally posted by RoBDaWG
Hi, I want to make the trance that sounds just like my favorite DJ, DJ Tiesto, I already has Fruity Loops, how do I use it? |
Not funny. :|
But don't get an Audiophile USB. It's not a good product and lacks a lot of the capabilities of the original. USB soundcards are a bad idea in general. |
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| Eric J |
| quote: | Originally posted by alanzo
But don't get an Audiophile USB. It's not a good product and lacks a lot of the capabilities of the original. USB soundcards are a bad idea in general. |
Agreed. PCI/PCIe/PCI-X based audio interfaces are always better options simply because of the higher available bandwidth on the PCI buss architecture.
Unfortunately, number of these devices is slowly dwindling as manufacturers ditch PCI-based interfaces in favor of cheaper to manufacture Firewire and USB based interfaces.
If you are just a hobbyist and have no real aspirations of doing serious audio work, just stick with what you have. If you ever want to get serious, then look to audio interfaces from manufacturers other than M-Audio. |
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| RoBDaWG |
| quote: | Originally posted by alanzo
Not funny. :|
But don't get an Audiophile USB. It's not a good product and lacks a lot of the capabilities of the original. USB soundcards are a bad idea in general. |
Thanks for the input... I really like the idea of it having a headphone input, that's really a huge reason I'm considering external. My computer case has a headphone input on the front of it but unfortunately I don't think the internal Audiophile I'm currently using has headers (I think that's the word) to run a wire to the headphone jack. I know the motherboard does, hence that jack is currently connected to the onboard soundcard. If I were able to connect it to the Audiophile I'm sure I would have done that when I built the computer a while back, I'm anal about that kind of stuff.
Is there any way you may be able to recommend that I could use my headphones w/o having to switch to the onboard audio device, because when I do, the CPU load goes through the roof.
P.S. Famicom is up there as one of my favorite tracks, never gets old too me. |
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| RoBDaWG |
| quote: | Originally posted by Eric J
Agreed. PCI/PCIe/PCI-X based audio interfaces are always better options simply because of the higher available bandwidth on the PCI buss architecture.
Unfortunately, number of these devices is slowly dwindling as manufacturers ditch PCI-based interfaces in favor of cheaper to manufacture Firewire and USB based interfaces.
If you are just a hobbyist and have no real aspirations of doing serious audio work, just stick with what you have. If you ever want to get serious, then look to audio interfaces from manufacturers other than M-Audio. |
Any specific external interfaces you might suggest?
Like I was saying to Alan, being able to switch between my monitor speakers and headphones while still using one sound device is my main concern.
Basically, I graduated, my lease is up, my roommates and I are going separate ways, and the sound of me tweaking the same 8 bars at 3:00 in the morning is probably not gonna fly with the friends I'm most likely moving in with, LOL. |
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| Eric J |
| quote: | Originally posted by RoBDaWG
Any specific external interfaces you might suggest?
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That's entirely dependent on budget. Audio interfaces range from $99 all the way up to 5 figures. IMO, Echo makes the best low-budget interfaces, but remember low budget means LOW-budget. Your audio interface is one of the three most important pieces of your setup, so it is wise to buy the best one you can afford if you are serious. If this is just a hobby, then just stick with what you have, as stated above.
| quote: | Originally posted by RoBDaWG
Like I was saying to Alan, being able to switch between my monitor speakers and headphones while still using one sound device is my main concern.
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Why don't you look at getting a monitor control station if this is what you need? There are tons of these in a large range of prices.
Check here:
http://www.sweetwater.com/c417--Mon...ent/popular/all
Samson makes one that's $99 with headphone outputs and multiple monitor selections. It is probably not going to be outstanding sound quality or anything, but its not going to be any worse than what you already have. Plug the audio interface outs into the monitors control station and go from the monitor control station to your monitors. |
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| RoBDaWG |
| quote: | Originally posted by Eric J
Why don't you look at getting a monitor control station if this is what you need? There are tons of these in a large range of prices.
Check here:
http://www.sweetwater.com/c417--Mon...ent/popular/all
Samson makes one that's $99 with headphone outputs and multiple monitor selections. It is probably not going to be outstanding sound quality or anything, but its not going to be any worse than what you already have. Plug the audio interface outs into the monitors control station and go from the monitor control station to your monitors. |
OOOOOO.... I was totally unaware of these, I'm gonna do some research. Thanks man, really appreciate it. |
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| alanzo |
| quote: | Originally posted by RoBDaWG
Thanks for the input... I really like the idea of it having a headphone input, that's really a huge reason I'm considering external. My computer case has a headphone input on the front of it but unfortunately I don't think the internal Audiophile I'm currently using has headers (I think that's the word) to run a wire to the headphone jack. I know the motherboard does, hence that jack is currently connected to the onboard soundcard. If I were able to connect it to the Audiophile I'm sure I would have done that when I built the computer a while back, I'm anal about that kind of stuff.
Is there any way you may be able to recommend that I could use my headphones w/o having to switch to the onboard audio device, because when I do, the CPU load goes through the roof.
P.S. Famicom is up there as one of my favorite tracks, never gets old too me. |
Thanks for the kind words and you bring up a PERFECT example. I made Famicom in a university dorm room with a copy of Cubase SX3, Vengeance Samples, a UAD card, Audiphile 2496, Sony MDR 7506s, and a Nord Lead 3 keyboard. That's it.
This is what I used to get a headphone output out of my Audiophile:
You want to make sure the 1/4 output is in Stereo and that it's an RCA => 1/4 cable. If it's the other way around you may run into issues. |
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| RoBDaWG |
| quote: | Originally posted by alanzo
This is what I used to get a headphone output out of my Audiophile:
You want to make sure the 1/4 output is in Stereo and that it's an RCA => 1/4 cable. If it's the other way around you may run into issues. |
wowwwww i totally noobed... such an obvious answer, lol... i've got a buncha of those too, i know they're 1/4" to RCA, gotta see if it makes a difference but good call on that, thanks... |
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