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Author Topic: I need a QUIET CHEAP soundcard Josh Jones Redhat Posts: 1207 From: Plano, TX Registered: Apr 2000 posted 11-26-2002 09:15 PM                        I bought a soundblaster 16, but it was just too noisy. I need something as quiet as the Audigy series in a 50-60 dollar range. Anyone have any ideas? Josh  |  IP: Logged Steve Scott Phenomenal Film Handler Posts: 1300 From: Minneapolis, MN Registered: Sep 2000 posted 11-26-2002 09:28 PM                     If they still make it, the Sound Blaster Live! Value has done well for me in the past years.  |  IP: Logged Daryl C. W. O'Shea Film God Posts: 3977 From: Midland Ontario Canada (where Panavision & IMAX lenses come from) Registered: Jun 2002 posted 11-26-2002 09:31 PM                        The SBLive Value has a pretty high noise floor too. Mind you it is similar to that of the Audigy IIRC.  |  IP: Logged Josh Jones Redhat Posts: 1207 From: Plano, TX Registered: Apr 2000 posted 11-26-2002 11:17 PM                        I dont need something that can do 5.1 channels either, just stereo. My Audigy card is dead quiet when you crank it up w/ no signal. I just dont want to spend 150 bucks on something with more features than I need. Josh  |  IP: Logged Michael Schaffer "Where is the Boardwalk Hotel?" Posts: 4143 From: Boston, MA Registered: Apr 2002 posted 11-26-2002 11:31 PM                        Maybe the D/A converter is switched off when the soundcard is not active. That would make it very quiet indeed. You could also play back a wav file with silence to make sure it is also as quiet when in action. Also check the noise level of the inputs by recording a piece of music with an input level setting with which it reaches full scale, then completely switch off the source and listen for the noise floor afterwards/check the level of the digitally recorded silence. Also record/playback full scale signals on the individual channels to find out if the channel seperation is ok.  |  IP: Logged Paul G. Thompson The Weenie Man Posts: 4718 From: Mount Vernon WA USA Registered: Nov 2000 posted 11-27-2002 02:37 AM                     Soundblaster 16 is . I still might have something that will work. Do you need it for a PCI or ISA slot?  |  IP: Logged Scott Norwood Film God Posts: 8146 From: Boston, MA. USA (1774.21 miles northeast of Dallas) Registered: Jun 99 posted 11-27-2002 07:27 AM                        As another (more expensive) option, consider a digital soundcard and an external ADC. PC hardware is full of RF interference inside the box and most analog sound cards all suffer from this. A broken DAT or MD machine could be used as a cheap ADC.  |  IP: Logged Manny Knowles "What are these things and WHY are they BLUE???" Posts: 4247 From: Bloomington, IN, USA Registered: Feb 2002 posted 11-27-2002 08:13 AM                     Buy a Macintosh. We don't need no stinking soundcards!  |  IP: Logged Daryl C. W. O'Shea Film God Posts: 3977 From: Midland Ontario Canada (where Panavision & IMAX lenses come from) Registered: Jun 2002 posted 11-27-2002 08:24 AM                        quote: Buy a Macintosh. We don't need no stinking soundcards! At one of my friends recording studios, I used to use a Yamaha digital sound card with his Macintosh all the time. It would have been difficult without it.  |  IP: Logged Manny Knowles "What are these things and WHY are they BLUE???" Posts: 4247 From: Bloomington, IN, USA Registered: Feb 2002 posted 11-27-2002 12:33 PM                     I guess it depends on what you're doing. From an audio perspective, film editing is probably the most taxing thing I do with my Macs, and I don't yet need more than 2 output channels at one time. I would need an audio card if I wanted to do multi-tracking (i.e. more than 2 channels). Alas, we're off-topic. This isn't helping Josh one bit, is it? Sorry, Josh.  |  IP: Logged Joe Redifer You need a beating today Posts: 12859 From: Denver, Colorado Registered: May 99 posted 11-27-2002 12:59 PM                        The built in sound cards on a Mac vary in quality. The one I have on my dual 1 gig MDD G4 is pretty good, but still lacks digital I/O. The one on my 450Mhz G4 distorted easily. I don't think there is an easy way to get 5.1 channels with a Mac... that is if you want to watch DVD movies in 5.1. You can easily mix 5.1 DVDs on a Mac though... much easier than on a PC. You'd think the Mac could play them back that way, but nooooo...  |  IP: Logged

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