Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE: I need a QUIET CHEAP soundcard

This is topic I need a QUIET CHEAP soundcard in forum Film-Yak at Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE.

To visit this topic, use this URL:
https://ft-forum.com/ft/cgi-bin/ubb/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=8;t=001493

Posted by Josh Jones (Member # 447) on 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

Posted by Steve Scott (Member # 630) on 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.

Posted by Daryl C. W. O'Shea (Member # 1303) on 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.

Posted by Josh Jones (Member # 447) on 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

Posted by Michael Schaffer (Member # 1204) on 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.

Posted by Paul G. Thompson (Member # 655) on 11-27-2002, 02:37 AM:

Soundblaster 16 is [bs]

. I still might have something that will work. Do you need it for a PCI or ISA slot?

Posted by Scott Norwood (Member # 30) on 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.

Posted by Manny Knowles (Member # 1171) on 11-27-2002, 08:13 AM:

Buy a Macintosh. We don't need no stinking soundcards! [Wink]

Posted by Daryl C. W. O'Shea (Member # 1303) on 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. [Smile]

Posted by Manny Knowles (Member # 1171) on 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.

Posted by Joe Redifer (Member # 3) on 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...