need a little help

It's been a while since I used Sonar, but  I really liked it years ago.  I purchased X1 Studio, and I am having trouble getting the sound quality i expected.  I'm hoping it is just a setting that I can adjust.  Any help would be greatly appreciated. 

I have imported files, and recorded files and they both sound similar.  It sounds like the bass is cranked.  Lots of popping.  Music played through other programs sounds fine.  I tried adjusting the buffer slider, and it seemed to help a little as I slid it to safer, but it never sounded quite right.

Here are a few bits of info.  Thanks in advance for any advice you may have.

Toshiba Laptop
Intel Core i7
8 mb RAM
Realtek Hi Def Audio

CJ is absolutely right on.  It would be like buying a Porche and filling it with kerosene and wondering why it doesn't perform well.  There are many affordable interfaces now that will do a sterling job.  A quick search will give you plenty to ponder.

How many tracks do you want to record at any 1 time. I've had good luck with the Maudio Fast Track Ultra with a windows system. It has several configurations in one box. AND IT's USB 2.0 not USB 1.1.
 
1.  2 Hi-Z inputs, 2 mic pre's and 2 line ins
 
2. or 4 mic pre's and 2 line ins
 
3. Or USE an actual mixer and the 6 line ins in the back.
 
4. IF YOU DON't use the external power supply, you only get 2 tracks from the power of the computer.
 
Also, what speakers are you listening to your material through?  Headphones, laptop speakers, small pc speakers, computer audio enthusiast speakers or studio monitors...each type of speaker gives different sound styles.  some are heavy bass, some are tinny and small sounding. 
 

Many computer interfaces work in stand alone mode, and are quite capable of acting as a mixer if you don't need too many inputs at once.  Just be sure that any mixer you get has both D/A and A/D conversion.  Some don't.  Many of us use both mixers and computer interfaces in our setups.  In the right hands they can be a killer combination.

scrimshank117


That is what i figured.  Let me ask this.  I have a digitech guitar pedal with USB.  I played bass through the pedal using the usb line to get it into sonar.  It sounded great.  I also recorded a drum track from the drum machine on the same pedal.  It too sounded great.  Would an inexpensive usb mixer also give me similar results?  

Thanks for the help.