inexpensive soundcard for output only?

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jason
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2008/05/22 09:19:18 (permalink)

inexpensive soundcard for output only?

I just finished putting together a pretty powerful computer to get back into recording and playing music. I use an external usb unit for inputs into my computer and Im looking for a decent soundcard for the monitors that is inexpensive. Usually I dont mind using the onboard audio, but this mobo has horrible latency. I would like to have a card that can do around 5ms or less for playing live. I dont need the inputs but they dont hurt either.
Does anyone have any suggestions for something like this? I would like to get something for around $100, but I would spend up to $200 if I had to.
Thanks
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    Spaceduck
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    RE: inexpensive soundcard for output only? 2008/05/22 09:34:39 (permalink)
    I don't know of any pro audio soundcards that are output only, but in your price range you could get an Echo Mia (I've seen them on ebay for as low as $60 because it's been discontinued). 5ms latency, according to this review in Sound on Sound. And Echo uses some of the best A/D D/A converters in the biz. Just ask anyone who uses a Layla which, I think, has the same chips.
    #2
    Beagle
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    RE: inexpensive soundcard for output only? 2008/05/22 10:17:20 (permalink)
    jason,
    In my opinion, that's not a good plan. using two soundcards will typically give you problems, mainly because they have different clocks, but also because they will have different drivers which will introduce different variables.

    why wouldn't you want to use the USB soundcard for monitoring also? all of the usb soundcards should have OUTPUTS that you can connect your monitors to.

    http://soundcloud.com/beaglesound/sets/featured-songs-1
    i7, 16G DDR3, Win10x64, MOTU Ultralite Hybrid MK3
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    #3
    jason
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    RE: inexpensive soundcard for output only? 2008/05/22 15:22:10 (permalink)
    I dont want to be dependant on the external component for the ouputs. I wont be using that midi/audio for everything or always have it when i need the output.
    #4
    Beagle
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    RE: inexpensive soundcard for output only? 2008/05/22 16:42:40 (permalink)
    you will have problems trying to use both an internal and an external, tho, because of the different clocks and drivers. you could loose track sync and you will have horrible latency trying to use the one card for input and another card for output.

    http://soundcloud.com/beaglesound/sets/featured-songs-1
    i7, 16G DDR3, Win10x64, MOTU Ultralite Hybrid MK3
    Yamaha MOXF6, Hammond XK3c, other stuff.
    #5
    Spaceduck
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    RE: inexpensive soundcard for output only? 2008/05/22 16:52:42 (permalink)

    ORIGINAL: Beagle

    you will have problems trying to use both an internal and an external, tho, because of the different clocks and drivers. you could loose track sync and you will have horrible latency trying to use the one card for input and another card for output.


    The M-Audio Delta 1010 has wordclock I/O... would that take care of the problem (provided that the usb interface also has wordclock)?
    #6
    jason
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    RE: inexpensive soundcard for output only? 2008/05/25 13:56:19 (permalink)
    I ended up getting an emu 1212m. I will just switch between the usb and pci card for whatever I am doing. I can also expand the 1212m with thier audiodock in the future. That works out perfectly for me because I have the few outputs onboard for when i dont want to take a bunch of hardware, but I can also plug in the audiodock(when I get one) for more inputs. Its also nice to buy an inexpensive card and be able to expand in the future.
    As for latency, it was fine at 2ms playing the sonar sample project, at < 50% average cpu load, as well as doing bfd lite and amplitude lite together. I would try lower if they had the option.
    Thanks for your advice.
    Now to move on to the next piece....
    #7
    mudgel
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    RE: inexpensive soundcard for output only? 2008/05/26 05:50:07 (permalink)
    Sorry to say your reasoning is a little wrong.
    audio IO is not expandabe by just getting more devices and somehow magically making them, all work together with a "clock"
    Just having a clock will not solve the major problem of drivers from 2 or more different companies for 2 different devices. It will also limit you to using WDM drivers only as ASIO drivers will not allow you to run more than the one device. The only time this is not the case is when the driver is specifically written to allow multiple similar devices from the same manufacturer to run together. Like multiple M-Audio delta, RME FF800's etc. The drivers are written to allow multiple device to be seen byt the PC and SONAR. They are all typically firewire or PCI devices not USB.


    Mike V. (MUDGEL)

    STUDIO: Win 10 Pro x64, SPlat & CbB x64,
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    Screen: Raven MTi + 43" HD 4K TV Monitor.
    Keyboard Controller: Native Instruments Komplete Kontrol S88.
    #8
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