Subject: Re: need recommendation on PC sound card From: =?ISO-8859-2?Q?Pawe=B3_Ku=B6mierek?= <pawel.kusmierek@xxxxxxxx> Date: Mon, 22 Feb 2010 10:35:23 -0500 List-Archive:<http://lists.mcgill.ca/scripts/wa.exe?LIST=AUDITORY>--00504502ad5fa8c7250480322f13 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=UTF-8 Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable On 22 February 2010 10:30, Neil Waterman <neil.waterman@xxxxxxxx> wrote= : > As for immunity to PC noise I'm sorry I disagree. Try running an interna= l > sound card and making a 24-bit recording that really uses the full 24-bit > range... good luck. > Well I doubt that any device, external or internal, can even approach 144dB dynamic range in its analog path. :-) > I guess it depends what you are trying to do really. > Definitely. Pawel > > On Feb 22, 2010, at 10:10 AM, Pawe=C5=82 Ku=C5=9Bmierek wrote: > > Hi Rob, > > for most uses any sound card from the semi-pro market should be sufficien= t. > Look for manufacturers such as M-Audio, E-mu, Lexicon, PreSonus, MOTU, > Tascam), or simply go to an online store such as http://www.sweetwater.co= m, > http://www.musiciansfriend.com, http://www.zzounds.com/, and look for > recording interfaces. Any of these should support 44.1-48 kHz at 16-bit w= ith > stereo line level input and output, but if you need more inputs or output= s, > another kind of output (mic preamp, instrument level, headphone), analog > volume controls, higher sampling rates or bit depths, then there will sti= ll > a lot of options, but read the specs. > > As for external vs. internal - these days decent internal cards are usual= ly > very immune to PC noise it I would not say it's an issue. On the other ha= nd, > USB cards in some (rare) configurations may have a little trouble running > smoothly, Firewire cards are reported to be more reliable. I took me some > time to get my M-Audio FastTrack Pro (a USB card) to run without glitches= , > whereas none of M-Audio PCI interfaces gave me any problems. On the other > hand, external interfaces' audio connections are usually easier to connec= t - > the box in your desk and you don't have to work behind your computer (som= e > PCI cards have external breakout boxes though). Fore some people, an > advantage of USB cards is that they tend to have manual analog volume > controls and mic preamps. > > Hope that helps, > > Pawe=C5=82 > On 22 February 2010 09:07, Neil Waterman <neil.waterman@xxxxxxxx>wro= te: > >> Hi Rob, >> >> Is there a particular reason you need an INTERNAL card? Generally the >> internal environment of a PC is not conducive to high quality sound (far= too >> many sources of electric and magnetic fields for the analog audio stages= to >> remain clean). A much better option would be an external USB soundcard. >> Since these units keep the analog audio outside of the PC chassis things >> generally go rather better. Whether there are any external units that >> provide SDK support is beyond my knowledge though. >> >> FWIW I am current using a PreSonus Audiobox USB and like it a lot. >> >> Regards, Neil >> >> >> On Feb 21, 2010, at 7:12 PM, G. Robert Arrabito wrote: >> >> Dear listers, >> >> I did a quick search on the last two years of the auditory mailing list >> archives on pc sound card recommendations and didn't find much on the >> topic so hence my post to the list. I am looking for recommendations fo= r >> an internal PC high quality sound card that will be used to output audit= ory >> stimuli in my experiments. Would also be nice if there is an accompanyin= g >> software development kit. Any suggestions are greatly appreciated. Thank= s. >> >> >> Rob >> >> -- >> G. Robert Arrabito, M.Sc. >> Defence Scientist | Scientifique de la d=C3=A9fense >> Advanced Interface Group | Groupe des interfaces avanc=C3=A9es >> Human Systems Integration | Section de l'int=C3=A9gration humain-syst=C3= =A8mes >> Defence R&D Canada Toronto | R&D pour la D=C3=A9fense Canada Toronto >> 1133 Sheppard Ave West , PO Box 2000 | 1133 Ave Sheppard Ouest, C.P. 200= 0 >> Toronto, ON M3M 3B9 Canada >> >> Robert.Arrabito@xxxxxxxx >> Telephone | T=C3=A9l=C3=A9phone (416) 635-2033 >> Facsimile | T=C3=A9l=C3=A9copieur (416) 635-2013 >> >> Government of Canada | Gouvernement du Canada >> >> www.drdc-rddc.gc.ca >> >> >> > > --00504502ad5fa8c7250480322f13 Content-Type: text/html; charset=UTF-8 Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable <br><br> <div class=3D"gmail_quote">On 22 February 2010 10:30, Neil Waterman <span d= ir=3D"ltr"><<a href=3D"mailto:neil.waterman@xxxxxxxx">neil.waterman@xxxxxxxx= asti-usa.com</a>></span> wrote:<br> <blockquote style=3D"BORDER-LEFT: #ccc 1px solid; MARGIN: 0px 0px 0px 0.8ex= ; PADDING-LEFT: 1ex" class=3D"gmail_quote"> <div style=3D"WORD-WRAP: break-word"> <div>As for immunity to PC noise I'm sorry I disagree. Try running an i= nternal sound card and making a 24-bit recording that really uses the full = 24-bit range... good luck.</div></div></blockquote> <div>=C2=A0</div> <div>Well I doubt that any device, external or internal, can even approach = 144dB dynamic range in its analog path. :-)</div> <div>=C2=A0</div> <div>=C2=A0</div> <blockquote style=3D"BORDER-LEFT: #ccc 1px solid; MARGIN: 0px 0px 0px 0.8ex= ; PADDING-LEFT: 1ex" class=3D"gmail_quote"> <div style=3D"WORD-WRAP: break-word"> <div>I guess it depends what you are trying to do really.=C2=A0</div></div>= </blockquote> <div>=C2=A0</div> <div>Definitely.</div> <div>=C2=A0</div> <div>Pawel</div> <div>=C2=A0</div> <div>=C2=A0</div> <div>=C2=A0</div> <div>=C2=A0</div> <blockquote style=3D"BORDER-LEFT: #ccc 1px solid; MARGIN: 0px 0px 0px 0.8ex= ; PADDING-LEFT: 1ex" class=3D"gmail_quote"> <div style=3D"WORD-WRAP: break-word"><br> <div> <div class=3D"im"> <div>On Feb 22, 2010, at 10:10 AM, Pawe=C5=82 Ku=C5=9Bmierek wrote:</div><b= r></div> <blockquote type=3D"cite"> <div class=3D"im"> <div>Hi Rob,</div> <div>=C2=A0</div> <div>for most uses any sound card from the semi-pro market=C2=A0should be s= ufficient. Look for manufacturers such as M-Audio, E-mu, Lexicon, PreSonus,= MOTU, Tascam), or simply go to an online store such as <a href=3D"http://w= ww.sweetwater.com/" target=3D"_blank">http://www.sweetwater.com</a>, <a hre= f=3D"http://www.musiciansfriend.com/" target=3D"_blank">http://www.musician= sfriend.com</a>, <a href=3D"http://www.zzounds.com/" target=3D"_blank">http= ://www.zzounds.com/</a>, and look for recording interfaces. Any of these sh= ould support 44.1-48=C2=A0kHz at 16-bit with stereo line level input and ou= tput, but if you need more inputs or outputs, another kind of output (mic p= reamp, instrument level, headphone), analog volume controls, higher samplin= g rates or bit depths, then there will still a lot of options, but read the= specs.</div> <div>=C2=A0</div> <div>As for external vs. internal - these days decent internal cards are us= ually very immune to=C2=A0PC noise it I would not say it's an issue. On= the other hand, USB cards in some (rare) configurations may have a little = trouble running smoothly, Firewire cards are reported to be more reliable. = I took me some time to get my M-Audio FastTrack Pro (a USB card) to run wit= hout glitches, whereas none of M-Audio PCI interfaces gave me any problems.= On the other hand, external interfaces' audio connections are usually = easier to connect - the box in your desk and you don't have to work beh= ind your computer (some PCI cards have external breakout boxes though). For= e some people,=C2=A0an advantage of USB cards is that they tend to have man= ual analog volume controls and mic preamps.<br> </div> <div>=C2=A0</div> <div>Hope that helps,</div> <div>=C2=A0</div> <div>Pawe=C5=82<br></div></div> <div class=3D"gmail_quote"> <div class=3D"im">On 22 February 2010 09:07, Neil Waterman <span dir=3D"ltr= "><<a href=3D"mailto:neil.waterman@xxxxxxxx" target=3D"_blank">neil.= waterman@xxxxxxxx</a>></span> wrote:<br></div> <div> <div></div> <div class=3D"h5"> <blockquote style=3D"BORDER-LEFT: #ccc 1px solid; MARGIN: 0px 0px 0px 0.8ex= ; PADDING-LEFT: 1ex" class=3D"gmail_quote"> <div style=3D"WORD-WRAP: break-word"> <div><span style=3D"TEXT-TRANSFORM: none; TEXT-INDENT: 0px; BORDER-COLLAPSE= : separate; FONT: 12px Helvetica; WHITE-SPACE: normal; LETTER-SPACING: norm= al; COLOR: rgb(0,0,0); WORD-SPACING: 0px">Hi Rob,</span></div> <div><br></div> <div><span style=3D"TEXT-TRANSFORM: none; TEXT-INDENT: 0px; BORDER-COLLAPSE= : separate; FONT: 12px Helvetica; WHITE-SPACE: normal; LETTER-SPACING: norm= al; COLOR: rgb(0,0,0); WORD-SPACING: 0px">Is there a particular reason you = need an INTERNAL card? Generally the internal environment of a PC is not co= nducive to high quality sound (far too many sources of electric and magneti= c fields for the analog audio stages to remain clean). A much better option= would be an external USB soundcard. Since these units keep the analog audi= o outside of the PC chassis things generally go rather better. Whether ther= e are any external units that provide SDK support is beyond my knowledge th= ough.</span></div> <div><br></div> <div><span style=3D"TEXT-TRANSFORM: none; TEXT-INDENT: 0px; BORDER-COLLAPSE= : separate; FONT: 12px Helvetica; WHITE-SPACE: normal; LETTER-SPACING: norm= al; COLOR: rgb(0,0,0); WORD-SPACING: 0px">FWIW I am current using a PreSonu= s Audiobox USB and like it a lot.</span></div> <div><br></div> <div><span style=3D"TEXT-TRANSFORM: none; TEXT-INDENT: 0px; BORDER-COLLAPSE= : separate; FONT: 12px Helvetica; WHITE-SPACE: normal; LETTER-SPACING: norm= al; COLOR: rgb(0,0,0); WORD-SPACING: 0px">Regards, Neil =C2=A0</span></div> <div> <div></div> <div> <div><br></div><br> <div> <div>On Feb 21, 2010, at 7:12 PM, G. Robert Arrabito wrote:</div><br> <blockquote type=3D"cite"> <div style=3D"MARGIN: 0px">Dear listers,</div> <div style=3D"MARGIN: 0px; MIN-HEIGHT: 14px"><br></div> <div style=3D"MARGIN: 0px">I did a quick search on the last two years of th= e auditory mailing list archives<span>=C2=A0 </span>on pc sound<span>=C2=A0= </span>card recommendations and didn't find much on the topic so hence= <span>=C2=A0 </span>my post to the list. I am looking for recommendations f= or an internal PC high quality sound card that will be used to output audit= ory stimuli in my experiments. Would also be nice if there is an accompanyi= ng software development kit. Any suggestions are greatly appreciated. Thank= s.</div> <div style=3D"MARGIN: 0px; MIN-HEIGHT: 14px"><br></div> <div style=3D"MARGIN: 0px; MIN-HEIGHT: 14px"><br></div> <div style=3D"MARGIN: 0px">Rob</div> <div style=3D"MARGIN: 0px; MIN-HEIGHT: 14px"><br></div> <div style=3D"MARGIN: 0px">--</div> <div style=3D"MARGIN: 0px">G. Robert Arrabito, M.Sc.</div> <div style=3D"MARGIN: 0px">Defence Scientist | Scientifique de la d=C3=A9fe= nse</div> <div style=3D"MARGIN: 0px">Advanced Interface Group | Groupe des interfaces= avanc=C3=A9es</div> <div style=3D"MARGIN: 0px">Human Systems Integration | Section de l'int= =C3=A9gration humain-syst=C3=A8mes</div> <div style=3D"MARGIN: 0px">Defence R&D Canada Toronto | R&D pour la= D=C3=A9fense Canada Toronto</div> <div style=3D"MARGIN: 0px">1133 Sheppard Ave West , PO Box 2000 | 1133 Ave = Sheppard Ouest, C.P. 2000</div> <div style=3D"MARGIN: 0px">Toronto, ON M3M 3B9 Canada</div> <div style=3D"MARGIN: 0px; MIN-HEIGHT: 14px"><br></div> <div style=3D"MARGIN: 0px"><a href=3D"mailto:Robert.Arrabito@xxxxxxxx= a" target=3D"_blank">Robert.Arrabito@xxxxxxxx</a></div> <div style=3D"MARGIN: 0px">Telephone | T=C3=A9l=C3=A9phone (416) 635-2033</= div> <div style=3D"MARGIN: 0px">Facsimile | T=C3=A9l=C3=A9copieur (416) 635-2013= </div> <div style=3D"MARGIN: 0px; MIN-HEIGHT: 14px"><br></div> <div style=3D"MARGIN: 0px">Government of Canada | Gouvernement du Canada</d= iv> <div style=3D"MARGIN: 0px; MIN-HEIGHT: 14px"><br></div> <div style=3D"MARGIN: 0px"><a href=3D"http://www.drdc-rddc.gc.ca/" target= =3D"_blank">www.drdc-rddc.gc.ca</a></div> <div style=3D"MARGIN: 0px; MIN-HEIGHT: 14px"><br></div></blockquote></div><= br></div></div></div></blockquote></div></div></div><br></blockquote></div>= <br></div></blockquote></div><br> --00504502ad5fa8c7250480322f13--