[Dream] Cheap soundcard recommendations?

[Doofus McFluoro]

It is recreational use isnt it andrei?  Once again I am completely stunned
by an email that makes no sense to me.  So explain... you dont like
soundcards? What else would a home studio be using?

Not to be rude but if you really want to answer one of the posted mails and
give someone good advise it is wise to find out a little about their
circumstances.  I think we all know Andrei and know its home use he is
talking about home use.

Otherwise you just come of as being someone who thinks he is clever and
likes telling everybody.  I am sure thats not you at all... but thats how it
sounds.  Certainly you arent interested in explaining your mail so that the
rest of us techno mortals can understand.


On 3/14/07, Mark <dream at primatesynthesis.com> wrote:
>
> On 3/13/07, andrei.henry at utoronto.ca put forth:
> >then, i stumbled across the presonus firebox
> >(http://www.presonus.com/firebox.html) - firewire interface (the m-audios
> >were all PCI cards), 4 in (2 mic pres, 2 line-levels), 6 outs, everything
> >balanced, spdif digital.  more expensive, but has everything that i'm
> >looking for and more.
>
> Well, not knowing anything else about these devices, I would choose
> something that is in in a separate chassis that has its own power
> supply.  I don't like soundcards.  They are fine for recreational
> use, but imho, it is not cost effective for a manufacturer to get
> analogue circuitry to work well in such an environment.  What do PC
> power supplies produce??  A 12V supply for motors and such and 5V at
> upwards of 30A driving a bunch of noisy ass logic.  You want
> something you are actually going to hear connected to that??  If you
> wanted a soundcard that only had digital connections, then that would
> be a different issue.
>
> I could tell you to find out which converters they use, and use that
> as a basis of comparison, but even though that is common advice, it
> leaves out too many other factors.
>
> That Presonous Firebox looks OK.  The impedance specs are
> surprisingly good.  Having only 45dB of gain on the mic pre could be
> a bit limiting, but how often do you use microphones??  However, it
> does have phantom.
>
> The most important thing with any audio interface is compatibility.
> I would ask  around and see if someone else is using this thing with
> the same hardware and software that you plan on using, and find out
> if they are having any problems.
>
> On 3/14/07, phile put forth:
> >Just a thought man, but, .... BUT... if you have a friend who is
> >good with soldering stuff and generally with electronics have him
> >replace the opamps with something better -- black gates would be a
> >_very_ good choice -- you will see what a difference it makes ;)
>
> No offense, but that is very bad advice.  A "better" op amp often
> requires a different circuit around it.  Also, almost all new
> computer devices use surface mount technology, and reworking SMT
> without special equipment is very difficult.
>
> Nevermind, that afaik, Black Gate doesn't even make op amps, they
> market overpriced electrolytic caps.
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