New Sound Card with Old Software???

[Mark2]

Thinking about an upgrade to a sound card with 24bit/96kHz AD/DA converters (from current 16bit/48kHz), but....

Will I be running into a problem with any potential audio editing software which may not be able to handle the card's output??

Have run into something similar with flatbed scanner and associated photo editing software.

Thanks

Mark

[ErnieK]

Hi there Mark and WELCOME to the forums.

If it is the same make as existing one you MIGHT get away with it, but more than likely you would run into problems.

If you are installing new card uninstall software from old one first, then remove the card from within Device Manager (best done in safe mode). Switch off computer and insert new card. At boot up new card will be found, you can then install software/drivers for it at that point.

[Mark2]

ErnieK

Appreciate the welcome and information....

After looking at the 'candidate' software I'm interested in, I did note that it does support the higher end card. So looks like I'm in business and when/if the time comes I'll follow your advise wrt installation.

Now a quick follow-up quesiton... why are some folks (and maybe me) using these types of cards???? If I read correctly, CDs are 16bit/44.1kHz. A possible reason???.... If I do some noise editing, might end up with better product if I record using higher sample rate (and greater number of bits) then reduce both to cut the CD????

vr

Mark

[ErnieK]

Hi mark
As I am totally tone deaf I only go with default setting for music so question is beyond me.

[Mark2]

I hear ya!!! :)

Mark

[steveo]

What card are you looking at and what editing software are you referring to? Some audio programs have problems with certain soundcards so this becomes a important match.

Why am I using this kind of setup?

We do a lot of recording on the PC so I need a soundcard that can handle multiple inputs without locking up the PC or frying the card. Add to that I need a audio program that can handle several tracks (and plug-ins) at a time without lagging behind or freezing up the PC. The current setup I have delivers on all fronts but it was trial and error along the the way. 24-bit/96kHz delivers a exceptional sound quality.


If I do some noise editing, might end up with better product if I record using higher sample rate (and greater number of bits) then reduce both to cut the CD????

What you describe is easily done, of course, but as soon as you begin reducing sampling rate/bit size you begin to lose sound quality. You may not hear it without quality speakers it but it is happening. To see how drastic the difference is, take a audio file at 320 and reduce it below 160. Go further down the scale and the audio file sounds like crap.

Ogg Vorbis delivers better quality than Mp3 without increasing file size and will probably replace Mp3, becoming the new standard.

good luck

[Mark2]

Have committed to buy Diamond Cut DC5 software. Still holding off on the possible sound card. Was pointing towards the M-Audio Audiophile 2496.

Probably ought to explain what I'll be doing with this....

Touching up audio on videotape during transfer to DVD
Transfering LP and Cassettes to CD
Creating CD compilation disks

Would appreciate your opinion if going with a 24/96 would be overkill for my needs

Thanks

Mark

[steveo]

I would say that 24/96 isn't overkill at all.

The Delta cards, starting with the 2496, are big among the home studio recording buffs because they are cost effective while delivering quality sound and it's usually a toss up between Delta's or Audigys in this particular price range. Delta 2496 also comes with a good looking software package including a mixing program that may be worth a try before buying a seperate program like the Diamond.

Other cards such as Turtle Beach (http://www.turtlebeach.com/site/) or Lynx (http://www.lynxstudio.com/products.html) (a bit pricey) should be given consideration as well.

I've never used Diamond Cut DC5 but it looks a lot like the software I use. You might want to give this (http://www.diamondcut.com/ubbthreads/ubbthreads.php) a look and see what people who have bought it are saying.

Good Luck