sound card with DSP chips

[andres_silva]

I want to buy a PC for record and edit audio. I heard that if I want to use Plug-ins (FX) (for example in Pro Tools software) and use them in real time, I need a sound card with DSP chips. Is that true? What are DSP chips? What sound card have them?

[tjaymadison]

Wlecome, andres! http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/biggrin.gif

DSP = Digital Signal Processing or Processor

It's a special-function chip on sound and other cards,
and allows faster processing without using the CPU.

Many cards from Creative or Diamond will have one.
Should be listed in the specifications if they do.


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"I am not able to rightly apprehend the kind of confusion of ideas that could provoke such a question."
-- Charles Babbage, mathematician, computer pioneer, analytical engine designer (1791-1871)
-- (Question: 'Pray, Mr. Babbage, if you put into the machine wrong figures, will the right answers come out?')



[This message has been edited by tjaymadison (edited 05-20-2001).]

[Adam Pintar]

If you want a good card for sound my sugesstion is one of the sound blaster live cards. More expensive they get the more features they have.

The live cards come with a processor on them and they also have digital out(fibre optics for hooking up to a newr amp with digital in) as long as being able to hook up to cdrom via the spdif which is higher quality for digital sound. There is also many upgrades and addon cards that attach to some of the live cards (that would be somthin you would have to research) which enable you to hook up many devices.

I have even heard of some of the sound blaster live platinum cards coming with a remot but are quite pricey but are very high in quality.

This manufacturer is Creative labs.

Creative is what my freinds use and they have some expansion card hooked up to the sound card (sb Live) which is hooked up too a sampler keyboard mixer and 2 turntables with bose speakers and the quality is excellent.

I personally have the sblive xgamer since I am into games and never had a problem with it.

Hope this helps
if any other questions feel free to email me.

forgot to add they also use a program called reason which has a lot of stuff and knobs for editing but cost about $1000 canadian from what they said.
Adam http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/smile.gif

[This message has been edited by Adam Pintar (edited 05-23-2001).]