I am looking for a good sound card to record Midi/Audio to be used with cakewalk, I came across this new SoundBlaster Audigy card http://www.soundblaster.com/products/audigyplatinum/specs.asp
What do you think of its specifications? Is it good enough for the purpose?
Any suggestions?

Thanks in advance

Maged

Maged: WHAT is your 'specific' purpose? Creating audio for games (3d efx etc) or recording CD quality music?

Is there a specific reason you need to have midi included on the card? I prefer running a midi cable to my keyboard and using those sounds instead (usually much higher quality than midi on a soundcard can provide).

The Creative Labs Audigy midi/audio soundcard is geared for computer based gaming & web audio, but for producing studio CD quality music via Cakewalk, I prefer a 'audio specific' soundcard like the Delta 66 from M-Audio. The cost is a little more (about $100), but you will really hear the difference. I personally think it's worth the extra investment. http://www.midiman.net/products/m-audio/delta66.php
I was actually recommended this card from the folks at Cakewalk. I am very happy with my Omni Studio w/ Delta 66 card. Cakewalk also supports efx plug ins which should provide more efx than available on the Audigy.

Checkout out this great Audio/Midi Soundcard forum:
http://www.audioforums.com/cgi-bin/ubbcgi/forumdisplay.cgi?action=topics&number=4&S UBMIT=Go

Also, here's an informataive audio soundcard review spec/comparision chart: http://www.pcavtech.com/soundcards/compare/index.htm

[This message has been edited by Scottyee (edited 11-27-2001).]

Scott,
Thanks very much for your prompt reply. I am basically looking for a good sound card to record CD quality music. I thought any 24 bit/96KHZ/100db sound card will do the job. I don't know exactly what you meant by SoundBlaster Audigy being geared for games?
In all cases, I'll do my homework and read all the links you sent me first.

Maged

Soundcards with 'built in' midi sound and efx are highly popular with game, video, and web developers. I find that soundcards which include built in midi sound & efx tend to 'trade off features for sound quality (noiser A/D-D/A converters, etc). The Audigy soundcard may work out fine for you, but if you want the best soundcard for recording a 'professional quality' CD, I recommend getting a 24 bit soundcard geared 'solely' for digital audio recording. Of course this is just my opinion. :;

Just thought I'd mention that the Audigy only plays back audio at 24/96 hz. It is still locked internally for recording at 16/48 hz just like the sblive series so if you choose to record at the cd standard 44.1 hz the Audigy will have to first process the audio at 48 hz and then covert it to 44.1 hz. I agree with Scott for quality recording buy a card designed to record from the get go.

Thanks Nobby

Scott,

Do you connect the keyboard straight to your sound card or do you use an intermediate mixer ? Do you get a lot less noise with the Delta66 card than you would with a soundblaster for instance?

Claude

Claude: For best sound quality, do all your mixdowns in the keyboard, bypassing an outboard mixer, and record (into Cakewalk Audio) directly thru the soundcard's audio inputs. If you think you might want to do some 'post mixing' later on, in Cakewalk Pro Audio, then record each keyboard track separately into Cakewalk separately

With my Delta 66 soundcard setup, I opted for the Omni Studio I/O. This box is specifically designed to work with the Delta 66 and allows you to record several tracks at a time. http://www.midiman.net/products/m-audio/omnistud.php

Thanks for the tip Scott!

This should definitely improves the quality of my recordings as I was getting lots of noises going through the mixer.
I had to use Keyboard->Mini-Disc and then Mini-Disc->sound card.
I'm going to look at the Delta66 sound card in closer details this week-end!
Cheers,
Claude

Thanks Scott, Vic for all of your valuable help. I did my homework and read all of the comparison charts, despite I feel the Audigy card is a great sound card and it has a very easy to use front I/O (which fits in 5 1/4 drive bay in a computer chassis) but I think I am better of with Delta 66.

Thank you...

Maged

I agree with scott. Mixer is truly needed for professional results. Unless of course, your sound card comes with built-in pre-amps and you need two kinds of pre-amps (line pre-amps and mic pre-amps). I have the SoloEX8 system and it has built in pre-amps (phantom power as well) for the first two inputs... but I would need a mixer for the rest of the 8 inputs. Delta 66 requires a mixer or external pre-amp box ( I think they call it the omni box)...

I have the Aardvark Direct Pro 24/96, and I'm very happy with it. 4 balanced mic/and or 1/4" inputs, 6 balanced outs with spdif (I never use that). Midi in/out. Phantom power, headphones, digital mixer, onboard reverb, compressor, and eq. You don't need an outboard mixer.

Larry

[This message has been edited by Beakybird (edited 11-27-2001).]

After going through the very useful sound card comparison chart that Scott sent us earlier, I found that not only the Audigy card plays back at 16 bit, the Aardvark Direct Pro 24/96 and other high end sound card are also 16 bit according to the same article: http://www.pcavtech.com/soundcards/DP2496/index.htm
Unfortunately, the Audigy card is not yet in this comparison chart as it was just released couple months ago.

Maged

Maged,

I think because the audigy card does not seem to be a professional card. It is not for serious professional recording.

I don't think so, this comparison chart rated SoundBlaster 64 PCI & 128 PCI as very good together with most of Turtle Beach products.
The Audigy card may not be the best in its world but it definitely has better specs than the SB 64 PCI.

it might be better, but still not professional. It is in the same class of sound blaster cards. Do not misunderstand me, it is possible to record with sound blaster cards and I know many people who do it, but they do realise it is not in the class of professional cards.

Hi SK880 User,
I didn’t misunderstand you or anything, I just said that the Audigy card will be included in this comparison chart in the future as they’re already comparing other SoundBlaster products.
I think for my need, and considering the best value for the money, I’ll go with Scott’s advice and buy a Delta 66 card.

Maged

yep, delta66 is a good card...