Soundcards

NorioDS

I know this has been discussed in here before but I'd like some more info on (external) soundcards that are good for recording.

First off, Creative sucks. Or so Alan would have us believe. I accept that but... what if... I just wanted it so I could record some ideas and have them sound better than what my laptop produces?

I'm asking because, ideally, I'd like to spend R300-R800 on (preferably) an external soundcard. I don't mind if it's not great quality, I just want something that works as I'm getting frustrated by not being able to record myself effectively right now.

Help?

Manfred-Klose

For about R400 you can buy an external sound card at a PC store, that is if they have one.

For about R1000 you can buy the Line 6 ux2 toneport, this soundcard is made for guitar players.
Go check it out, and it comes with software.

Renesongs

In your price range I would recommend M-Audio Jamlab, lookee here at all them features http://www.m-audio.com/products/en_us/JamLab-main.html. Marshall Music is selling at R850 but I'm sure they will knock off the extra 50 if you give them the slightest excuse.

Riaan

Norio
I happened to spot this on Cape Town's Gumtree, for R700:

http://capetown.gumtree.co.za/c-Stuff-for-Sale-musical-instruments-Edirol-UA20-W0QQAdIdZ56267719

Might be worth checking out.

Wessel

Sorry if i sound stupid but would the jamlab also stil be able to record vocals and other miced up instruments like the Fast track systems ?

Mr-M

Norio, I'd save up and get a decent card like the EMU 0202USB. It goes for R1700. Seen them at some of the Music Mates and at Turnkey. One of my mates in KZN raves about the quality he gets from one of these versus the other USB cards he's used before. Really good A/D converters for the price (i.e. sound quality - not all cards sound the same. R800 is not going to get you professional-sounding recordings), good I/O options and a good software bundle.

I've used the EMU 0404 PCI quite a bit and I can vouch for the quality of these cards.

Alot of I/O options (1/4" Jack, 1/8" Jack, XLR), 2-in, 2-out and a built-in headphone amp. Includes alot of software: Cubase LE, Sonar LE, Albleton Live Lite, Wavelab Lite and some soft-synths.

With this you'll be able to record a mic and a guitar simultaneously and you won't have to buy any extra software. The included soft-syths should get you recording complete tracks pretty quickly.

http://www.emu.com/products/product.asp?category=610&subcategory=611&product=15186

Renesongs

I haven't seen a USB soundcard in the under R1k that can handle mic as well , with mic/line gain switch, phantom power and all and all - but then maybe I haven't looked hard enough

NorioDS

Thanks guys ?

That Jamlab looks like a good option for my needs. Thing is, I just want to import a backing track or record some rhythm and then record myself playing over it and have quality that's decent. Certainly not professional or anything -- I just wanna use the ability to record myself to improve my song-writing and playing.

I'm afraid I have to treat this as more of a hobby for now until I have more time available to take it more seriously. That and I'd rather have a good solution now than an amazing solution in 3-6 months. The inability to record myself has really frustrated me up until now. I feel like it's the next step to improve my playing.

Thanks again dudes! And feel free to post more suggestions. It helps every future person who reads this!!

PS: I don't do the singing thing. (Not yet at least)

NorioDS

And it looks like Ubuntu supports the JamLab device. Cool!

http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=232484
http://ohioloco.ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=269278
http://www.m-audio.com/index.php?do=support.faq&ID=cf6f53946a5d2cfa3792487b2af97e61

Hmmm, and some peeps have even gotten Guitar Rig to work under Linux...

http://ferama.netsons.org/wp/index.php/2007/11/14/guitar-rig-on-ubuntu-gutsy-howto/

Is there a trial version of Guitar Rig?

Mr-M

Norio wrote: That Jamlab looks like a good option for my needs. Thing is, I just want to import a backing track or record some rhythm and then record myself playing over it and have quality that's decent. Certainly not professional or anything -- I just wanna use the ability to record myself to improve my song-writing and playing.

I'm afraid I have to treat this as more of a hobby for now until I have more time available to take it more seriously. That and I'd rather have a good solution now than an amazing solution in 3-6 months. The inability to record myself has really frustrated me up until now. I feel like it's the next step to improve my playing.

I hear you. I've gone that route before and been sorry, so I generally tend to recommend buying up, but if you don't have the budget and you're not willing to wait, then go for it. Is a PCI card not an option for you? You using a laptop? PCI cards tend to be more affordable and better specced vs USB cards.

Norio wrote: Is there a trial version of Guitar Rig?

Yup: http://www.native-instruments.com/index.php?id=gr3demo&L=1

NorioDS

Thanks Mr M ?

Unfortunately, still stuck with my laptop. It would be great if I had a spare PIII or something but I got rid of it ?

Thanks for the link!

Mr-M

If you're using Linux (which I didn't realise earlier, otherwise I wouldn't have made the suggestion I did) and you're using Ubuntu (which would mean you wouldn't be bothered about ASIO drivers), check this out:

http://www.soundtech.com/products/home-recording/stusbg10

Basically it's an audio interface built into the 1/4" Jack. Similar to the M-Audio Jamlab, not exactly studio quality, but smaller and way cheaper. These are around R400.

NorioDS

Thanks Mr M! You are one knowledgeable fellow! Good to have you here!

This seems to do the same thing as the JamLab but for MUCH less and without the amp modeling. Which makes me wonder -- surely I can plug directly from my amp into my laptop, right? I'd like to see if I can record the amp's sound before I try any modeling goodies.

Methinks I should update my "recording under linux" thread soon ?

Thanks again!

NorioDS

Is this the same thing?
http://www.soundz.co.za/ProductInfo.aspx?productid=SOUSM001

R300 - not bad.

Mr-M

A pleasure to help Norio!

Norio wrote: Is this the same thing?
http://www.soundz.co.za/ProductInfo.aspx?productid=SOUSM001

No, not the same thing. The pic & the description are different items but neither are the right one.

Can't find the guitar Lightsnake on the site (it's really hard to navigate on their site). Maybe email them or give them a call. It says "free delivery on all items" so if they can get it for you with free delivery why venture out looking for one? Unless of course a local store is cheaper...
For anything recording-related try Turnkey or Marshall in Woodmead first IMO.

NorioDS

Kewl, I'll check out Marshall. I usually go there and I can use this as an excuse to go try out a JS1200 at long last ?

Will also email soundz.co.za to see if they can organise the STUSBG10. Tx!

AlanRatcliffe

This is a great device to get your guitar into your computer to use modelling software, but if it's instrument level it's not going to cope with the line out from an amp.

NorioDS

Ja, I was wondering about that but at least it's cheap enough to experiment with.

JoeyBones

Sounds like a good starter pack. I'm trying to get my UX2 sorted for recording. Trying a few apps to see what gives me the best quality vs easiest to use.