PTS
06-28-2007, 06:33 PM
My system is a 3.0ghz 8400 Dell PC, 1gig of RAM, a Creative Soundblaster Audigy 2 ZS PCI soundcard, and an M-Audio Fast Track USB Interface. The software I use is Ableton Live 6.
I used to only use my Audigy 2 ZS soundcard as it's pretty good - the ASIO works well with the ASIO4ALL drivers, and I can get a pretty low latency (around 10 ms). But on the negative side, I have to use the mic input in the back of card (using a 1/8 plug adapter with 1/4 plug guitar cable) to record vocals, bass, and guitar, and the quality seems a bit lacking. It's clear but sounds a little flat and muddy (especially after hearing to quality of a USB connection). Also, for some reason guitars don't function how they should. The volume pot is erratic and crackles when turning it, and the tone pots don't work out all. I'm not sure why this is?
I thought it'd be a lot cleaner to record audio using a M-Audio Fast Track USB interface, and I was right! The guitar pots function properly now and the sound comes through VERY clean, huzzah! But, a bunch of new problems come long. Firstly, I can't get ASIO to work properly. You have to use the M-Audio ASIO drivers which feed a signal into the computer okay, but I get no sound! There's no option to have my Audigy soundcard output my signal with the M-Audio drivers, and I've also tried having the Fast Track output, but still nothing. I think I've tried every possibility to no avail. So, I'm forced to use MME/DirectX drivers which not only give me sub-par latency (about 30 ms in all) but also give me a recording that flutters and wavers in sound when played back (which I'm guessing is not a latency issue as it's the same at very high latency settings)
Can anyone give me some suggestions to fix my problems with either device, as I'm banging my head against the wall with this stuff. Or some suggestions to VERY solid and reliable hardware that is really easy to use with minimal fuss - I'm getting tired of the hardware headaches.
I'm fairly interested looking into firewire as I have some FW 400 and 800 inputs on my system, plus an FW 400 input on my Audigy 2 soundcard! If it's super reliable and easy to set up, I'm all about it.
I'm looking in the region of around $300 max, I'm only recording basic demos, not glossy pro studio stuff.
Thanks in advance!
Paul S.
I used to only use my Audigy 2 ZS soundcard as it's pretty good - the ASIO works well with the ASIO4ALL drivers, and I can get a pretty low latency (around 10 ms). But on the negative side, I have to use the mic input in the back of card (using a 1/8 plug adapter with 1/4 plug guitar cable) to record vocals, bass, and guitar, and the quality seems a bit lacking. It's clear but sounds a little flat and muddy (especially after hearing to quality of a USB connection). Also, for some reason guitars don't function how they should. The volume pot is erratic and crackles when turning it, and the tone pots don't work out all. I'm not sure why this is?
I thought it'd be a lot cleaner to record audio using a M-Audio Fast Track USB interface, and I was right! The guitar pots function properly now and the sound comes through VERY clean, huzzah! But, a bunch of new problems come long. Firstly, I can't get ASIO to work properly. You have to use the M-Audio ASIO drivers which feed a signal into the computer okay, but I get no sound! There's no option to have my Audigy soundcard output my signal with the M-Audio drivers, and I've also tried having the Fast Track output, but still nothing. I think I've tried every possibility to no avail. So, I'm forced to use MME/DirectX drivers which not only give me sub-par latency (about 30 ms in all) but also give me a recording that flutters and wavers in sound when played back (which I'm guessing is not a latency issue as it's the same at very high latency settings)
Can anyone give me some suggestions to fix my problems with either device, as I'm banging my head against the wall with this stuff. Or some suggestions to VERY solid and reliable hardware that is really easy to use with minimal fuss - I'm getting tired of the hardware headaches.
I'm fairly interested looking into firewire as I have some FW 400 and 800 inputs on my system, plus an FW 400 input on my Audigy 2 soundcard! If it's super reliable and easy to set up, I'm all about it.
I'm looking in the region of around $300 max, I'm only recording basic demos, not glossy pro studio stuff.
Thanks in advance!
Paul S.