Is a preamp soundcard necessary?

Author
BobbyZakaThaMaddsun
Max Output Level: -90 dBFS
  • Total Posts : 4
  • Joined: 2013/02/23 15:11:40
  • Status: offline
2013/02/23 18:17:51 (permalink)

Is a preamp soundcard necessary?

For quality purposes? Should I get a new soundcard or will the one installed on my windows vista work? Whats the difference between a pre-amp and a soundcard? I do strictly vocal work over beats so i'm looking for the best quality sound I can get. I realize a lot of this comes down to how I mix my projects but does a better soundcard give me a headstart?
#1

2 Replies Related Threads

    Kalle Rantaaho
    Max Output Level: -5 dBFS
    • Total Posts : 7005
    • Joined: 2006/01/09 13:07:59
    • Location: Finland
    • Status: offline
    Re:Is a preamp soundcard necessary? 2013/02/23 18:46:39 (permalink)
    Welcome to the forum and calm down :o)
    Throwing in questions every 15 minutes can irritate and confuse people. See how things work. Spend a day or two reading the manual (1500 pages) and doing the tutorials. 

    You do need a proper soundcard for fluent DAW work. It's firstly to make the system work, and secondly about sound quality. Stay away from USB-mics.
    A soundcard can include a pre-amp, but a pre-amp is never a soundcard. Soundcard is the one that changes analog signal to ones and zeros.

    SONAR PE 8.5.3, Asus P5B, 2,4 Ghz Dual Core, 4 Gb RAM, GF 7300, EMU 1820, Bluetube Pre  -  Kontakt4, Ozone, Addictive Drums, PSP Mixpack2, Melda Creative Pack, Melodyne Plugin etc.
    The benefit of being a middle aged amateur is the low number of years of frustration ahead of you.
    #2
    bobvila
    Max Output Level: -88 dBFS
    • Total Posts : 102
    • Joined: 2008/08/29 12:56:58
    • Location: Montana
    • Status: offline
    Re:Is a preamp soundcard necessary? 2013/02/28 15:14:01 (permalink)
    There are audio interfaces that have preamps and ones that don't. If you have external preamps you don't need the audio interface preamp, but you will want an audio interface instead of using the built in soundcard for better quality.

    www.stumblingfree.com
    www.facebook.com/stumblingfree

    Sonary X3 Producer Edition 64 bit, Windows 7 64, bit, Intel Q9660, 8 GB Ram, Echo Audiofire 12, Edirol PCR-M80, Groove Tubes The Brick, MAudio DMP3, Shure SM7B, Rode NT2A
    #3
    Jump to:
    © 2025 APG vNext Commercial Version 5.1