Re: need recommendation on PC sound card (=?ISO-8859-2?Q?Pawe=B3_Ku=B6mierek?= )


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 10:10:54 -0500
List-Archive:<http://lists.mcgill.ca/scripts/wa.exe?LIST=AUDITORY>

--001636e0a66e18c988048031d897 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=UTF-8 Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable Hi Rob, for most uses any sound card from the semi-pro market should be sufficient. 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.com, 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 wit= h stereo line level input and output, but if you need more inputs or outputs, another kind of output (mic preamp, instrument level, headphone), analog volume controls, higher sampling rates or bit depths, then there will still a lot of options, but read the specs. As for external vs. internal - these days decent internal cards are usually very immune to PC 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 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 connect = - the box in your desk and you don't have to work behind your computer (some 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> wrote= : > 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 for > an internal PC high quality sound card that will be used to output audito= ry > stimuli in my experiments. Would also be nice if there is an accompanying > software development kit. Any suggestions are greatly appreciated. Thanks= . > > > 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. 2000 > 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 > > > --001636e0a66e18c988048031d897 Content-Type: text/html; charset=UTF-8 Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable <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&#39;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&#39; audio connections are usually = easier to connect - the box in your desk and you don&#39;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 class=3D"gmail_quote">On 22 February 2010 09:07, Neil Waterman <span d= ir=3D"ltr">&lt;<a href=3D"mailto:neil.waterman@xxxxxxxx" target=3D"_bla= nk">neil.waterman@xxxxxxxx</a>&gt;</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><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&#39;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&#39;int= =C3=A9gration humain-syst=C3=A8mes</div> <div style=3D"MARGIN: 0px">Defence R&amp;D Canada Toronto | R&amp;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><br> --001636e0a66e18c988048031d897--


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