Sound Card Questions

[cstei255]

I'm completely new to this forum - so if I'm off topic pls forgive me. I do quite a bit of video editing on my computer, but have just wired my computer into my home audio system. Therefore, I care a lot more than I used to about the quality of sound that it produces.

I have a Sony Vaio (which works surpisingly well for video editing with Premiere), but my sense is that the standard card it came with should be upgraded.

Any thoughts and suggestions would be greatly appreciated...thanks.

[Joe Hannigan]

I like the VAIO (Yamaha) chipsets for basic audio, but they are indeed limited for what they do.

If you want to branch out for a bit better sound, more features, etc., you can't go wrong with the Sound Blaster Audigy (Platinum) Series. Stereo and 5.1 outs, both analog & digital. (You can hook it right up to a home stereo surround right and use either sets of outs. You can run it in stereo via a CD or VCR input, and run it in 5.1 via the analog or digital jacks. You also get a firewire port too.

It sports 24/96 specs, as well. VERY good bang for the buck. I had ZERO problem with putting the card into my Vaios and getting them to get along together.

Oh, and dump Adobe Premiere if you can. It's buggy, crashes, tough to work with, and will break your heart when it loses a day's work on you. (It will, sooner or later......) Sony Vegas 5.0 (seeing a trend here with Sony?) will knock you out, it NEVER crashes, and works easily, very user intuitive. Coupled with DVD Architect 2.0 is sold as a nice bundled package, and both will amaze you with stereo and 5.1 DVD production.

[cstei255]

Joe:

Thank you - I've done some research on the Sound Blaster Audigy and I'm very glad to hear that it likes the Vaio.

I've been working with Premiere for a few yrs now - you're right, I've had to deal with several issues - that is until I tried it on my Vaio - it's been flawless - I burn DVD's on DVDit software. But I'll make sure I study up on Sony Vegas----thanks for your feedback!

[macouno]

Soundblaster???

last thing I'd advise.

Have a look at Echo and m-audio... much better sound quality, and fair pricing.

[Joe Hannigan]

Sorry you're such an audio snob, macouno. <G>

Cstei is setting up a home audio system, and he's primarily doing video editing. SB has made some great cards in the last few years specifically for this market. (I was a total skeptic until I tried 'em, too.)

FWIW, there is NO difference in sound quality between the SB Audigy series and the M-Audio stuff. ZERO. NADA. Specs are specs, and they both line up comparably in every important way. (Plus there's that little thing called LISTENING to the outputs.)

Probably the only real thing different between the two is the configuration. The SB has sp/dif but you have to work at getting it off the pins on the cb - on the lower models, while it's there on the Platinum via RCA jacks on the breakout box.

The SB has mini jacks (which one would run via cables & adapters to the mixer) and the M-Audio has 1/4" jacks.
But with the Mackie 1202/SB combo, you'll get four mic pre's/line ins that are better spec's than the M-Audio. (I have both, I use both. They both sound the same, they both work flawlessly.) I use the SB/Mackie for the ins/outs of my video editing station (desktop), and the M-Audio for a second pair of mics to the firewire port on my laptop "live" recording rig.

But hey, don't take MY word for it. Spend your hard earned $$$ any way you like. <G> IMHO, either setup will give him a great sounding system for making his videos. The hardest part is simply choosing which path to take.