Quote:
Originally Posted by Laogeodritt
I'm also looking to get a sound card (my current one is an integrated one). I'm not really sure if I should go for low-end professional cards such as the M-Audio Audiophile 2496, or for mid-end consumer cards. I do know, though, that for now, all of my input or output devices use the 3.5mm stereo plug (and one uses a 6.2mm, but I use a 6.2-to-3.5mm plug adapter for it). Are there any particularly advantages or disadvantages I should know about for each? Any recommendations? Again, my budget would allow for no more than $150 CAD or so.
(Looking at some of M-Audio's, I see they have a MIDI input/output... that could be useful.)
My current 2.1 speaker set is way too bassy, and there's no way to change that short of third-party software... I'm not sure if I should go for cheap monitors ($200-250 CAD or less) or for good consumer speakers around the same range. Given that I mostly work on music through headphones, I'm not sure whether monitors are justified, or how they compare to like-priced consumer systems. Any suggestions?
Thanks a lot,
Laogeodritt
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I think it all comes down to what you are doing. Are you using a sequencer or Finale/Sibelius, or do you just write tunes using a basic MIDI program? Do you use a sample library and need to create professional mixes? Sorry, don't know a lot about headphones...
As for sound cards, again it depends on what you are doing I think. If you are only using midi tracks then maybe you could get by with a consumer card. Professional cards are essential if you are recording directly using the inputs though (say guitar, vocals or a mic'ed instrument), because they have better quality analogue to digital converters. Also, if you are writing compositions which have dozens of tracks being played with sample libraries then a professional card may also help because I have a feeling they have bigger buffers so you can playback more complex audio without getting pops or clicks in the output sound. The following page has a good list of professional sound cards...
Beagle Home Studio Recording - Audio Card Advice. Also perhaps check out the website of the software package you are using for recommendations.
For speakers, if you say your current speakers are too bassy then I would go for a set of monitors. Monitor speakers are supposed to have a more "flat" frequency response so that it is easier to mix tracks and get a good even mix. I myself am looking at buying some monitors soon in a similar price range. I have been considering the Behringer MS20 and MS40 models, but haven't actually made the purchase yet. Also considering the Samson Resolv 40a which are a tad more expensive. I have been told that monitors in this price range won't necessarily give a totally flat response, and it may be necessary to spend a bit more to get this. But monitors will still probably have much more clarity than consumer speakers which are in the same price range (although you may be able to buy more powerful / louder consumer speakers for the price).