ksned
Max Output Level: -90 dBFS
- Total Posts : 4
- Joined: 2016/03/08 11:25:01
- Status: offline
Sound card for DAW
So I recently started working with DAWs and I use digital instruments 99-100% of the time and I recently purchased Sylenth1 and have been having problems. I suspect it's the sound card, I have an onboard one and am looking for a bit better one. Any ideas?
|
Wood67
Max Output Level: -64 dBFS
- Total Posts : 1348
- Joined: 2008/10/27 08:57:36
- Location: Brighton, UK
- Status: offline
Re: Sound card for DAW
2016/03/08 12:07:22
(permalink)
Welcome to the forum ksned. This is a common question (in fact there's a similar thread going on right now), and you will receive a lot of suggestions.
The best place to start is with your budget, and the connection you plan to use (USB, Firewire etc). At around the USD100 level you will find external USB soundcards from folk such as Focusrite that will probably more do than do what you need, as well as including a couple of line ins should you wish to attach a mic or guitar input. As you move up the budget you will find the RME Babyface (that's where I am now) that have better A/D converters, SPDIF and lower latency, and an increasing number of inputs/outputs.
I don't know exactly what your requirements are, but I would *suggest* an external USB soundcard, with 2 mic/line ins, a pair of balanced outputs and a headphone output. Something like the Focusrite Scarlet 2i4 maybe? That would certainly be a world of improvement over the stock audio card in the pc.
<EDIT> for poor grammar, spelling and other stuff that makes Strummy mad!
Wood Studio One 3 Pro, (Sonar Platinum), Intel i7, Win10 Pro, 32Gb ram, RME Babyface Pro, Behringer X-Touch, Presonus Faderport, Akai MPK49, Arturia KeyLab25, KRK Rokit 5 monitors, and other sonic surprises.
|
batsbrew
Max Output Level: 0 dBFS
- Total Posts : 10037
- Joined: 2007/06/07 16:02:32
- Location: SL,UT
- Status: offline
Re: Sound card for DAW
2016/03/08 12:20:58
(permalink)
'SOUND CARDS' have given way to usb or firewire interfaces.
do a google search on pcie cards, versus usb interfaces,
that will give you an indication of what's available and how much it will cost.
|
Wood67
Max Output Level: -64 dBFS
- Total Posts : 1348
- Joined: 2008/10/27 08:57:36
- Location: Brighton, UK
- Status: offline
Re: Sound card for DAW
2016/03/08 12:21:09
(permalink)
Actually, before you do any of that stuff above it would help if you add your system specs to your signature as well. That will tell us your pc configuration, DAW version and other gear you are using. If you're running an off-spec PC then the soundcard isn't really going to help much.
Also what are the problems you are seeing? Drop outs, crackle/pop sounds - those could be the soundcard. Complete system freezes are more likely to be system (ram/processor related).
btw, I have a fully working SPS-25 that I don't need following the RME upgrade. It will work with W10 with a slight dodge to get round the driver signature and is otherwise a great unit to start with.
Wood Studio One 3 Pro, (Sonar Platinum), Intel i7, Win10 Pro, 32Gb ram, RME Babyface Pro, Behringer X-Touch, Presonus Faderport, Akai MPK49, Arturia KeyLab25, KRK Rokit 5 monitors, and other sonic surprises.
|
ksned
Max Output Level: -90 dBFS
- Total Posts : 4
- Joined: 2016/03/08 11:25:01
- Status: offline
Re: Sound card for DAW
2016/03/08 12:53:58
(permalink)
The largest plugin I have is Sylenth1 and it is the only one that seems to cause the problem. I use FL Studio 12, and at random moments when the VST is incorporated in the project it will freeze or stop playing sound shortly before or after showing a pop up saying there was a violation of the fruity wrapper. The specs I can remember are it has an i5 6600 processor, 16gb 2666 memory (I think vengeance). And I am not 100% sure on what type of connection I want, likely a USB connection. I have contacted Lennar Digital though and they said it's likely related to my sound card or the system. Thanks for the replies and help!
|
TheMaartian
Max Output Level: -47.5 dBFS
- Total Posts : 2774
- Joined: 2015/05/21 18:30:52
- Location: Flagstaff, AZ
- Status: offline
Re: Sound card for DAW
2016/03/08 13:20:31
(permalink)
Mind if I ask you what you're doing on this forum? Shouldn't you be on the FL forum?
Intel i7 3.4GHz, 16 GB RAM, 2 TB HD Win10 Home 64-bit Tascam US-16x08 Studio One 4 Pro Notion 6 Melodyne 4 Studio Acoustica 7 Guitar Pro 7 PreSonus FaderPort Nektar P6 M-Audio BX8 D2 Beyerdynamic DT 880 Pro NI K9U XLN AK, AD2 AAS VS-2, GS-2, VA-2, EP-4, CP-2, OD Toontrack SD3, EZK
|
ksned
Max Output Level: -90 dBFS
- Total Posts : 4
- Joined: 2016/03/08 11:25:01
- Status: offline
Re: Sound card for DAW
2016/03/08 13:23:32
(permalink)
I couldn't find any help on that forum so I came to the second most knowledgable people xD
|
dwardzala
Max Output Level: -61 dBFS
- Total Posts : 1470
- Joined: 2008/05/26 19:18:33
- Status: offline
Re: Sound card for DAW
2016/03/08 13:27:48
(permalink)
☄ Helpfulby Mesh 2016/03/08 14:57:46
ksned
I couldn't find any help on that forum so I came to the *first* most knowledgable people xD
Fixed that for you.
DaveMain Studio- Core i5 @2.67GHz, 16Gb Ram, (2) 500Gb HDs, (1) 360 Gb HD MotU Ultralite AVB, Axiom 49 Midi Controller, Akai MPD18 Midi Controller Win10 x64 Home Sonar 2017.06 Platinum (and X3e, X2c, X1d) Mobile Studio - Sager NP8677 (i7-6700HQ @2.67MHz, 16G Ram, 250G SSD, 1T HD) M-Box Mini v. 2 Win 10 x64 Home Sonar 2016.10 Platinum Check out my original music: https://soundcloud.com/d-wardzala/sets/d-wardzala-original-music
|
ksned
Max Output Level: -90 dBFS
- Total Posts : 4
- Joined: 2016/03/08 11:25:01
- Status: offline
Re: Sound card for DAW
2016/03/08 13:29:23
(permalink)
just messing around geez... most hostile too? anyways the inquiry wasn't about the DAW it was about the sound card...
|
TerraSin
Max Output Level: -55.5 dBFS
- Total Posts : 1975
- Joined: 2005/08/05 00:27:13
- Location: USA
- Status: offline
Re: Sound card for DAW
2016/03/08 14:32:28
(permalink)
There are a ton of options available. It comes down to how much you want to spend on it and what you need it to do. The Focusrite would probably be the best bet for you if all you're doing is in-the-box stuff as most of the processing will be done by the computer itself. This is what I'd look at: http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/Scarlett2i2
|
Mesh
Max Output Level: 0 dBFS
- Total Posts : 27360
- Joined: 2009/11/27 14:08:08
- Location: Online right here!
- Status: offline
Re: Sound card for DAW
2016/03/08 14:46:42
(permalink)
Wood67
Welcome to the forum ksned. This is a common question (in fact there's a similar thread going on right now), and you will receive a lot of suggestions.
The best place to start is with your budget, and the connection you plan to use (USB, Firewire etc). At around the USD100 level you will find external USB soundcards from folk such as Focusrite that will probably more do than do what you need, as well as including a couple of line ins should you wish to attach a mic or guitar input. As you move up the budget you will find the RME Babyface (that's where I am now) that have better A/D converters, SPDIF and lower latency, and an increasing number of inputs/outputs.
I don't know exactly what your requirements are, but I would *suggest* an external USB soundcard, with 2 mic/line ins, a pair of balanced outputs and a headphone output. Something like the Focusrite Scarlet 2i4 maybe? That would certainly be a world of improvement over the stock audio card in the pc.
<EDIT> for poor grammar, spelling and other stuff that makes Strummy mad!
+1 I have the 2i4 and it's a fantastic little unit......no issues whatsoever. Great for the under $200 range. 
Platinum Gaming DAW: AsRock Z77 Overclock FormulaI7 3770k @ 4.5GHz : 16GB RAM G.Skill Ripjaws X 250GB OS SSD : 3TB HDD : 1TB Sample HDDWin 10 Pro x 64 : NH-D14 CPU Cooler HIS IceQ 2GB HD 7870Focusrite Scarlett 2i4The_Forum_Monkeys
|