standard Sound card vs specialized audio card

[TeleJr24]

A while ago I had my computer set up with Cakewalk Home Studio, some external hardware like a mixer, microphone and some effects, and I added an M-Audio Audiophile 2496 high fidelity audio accelerator card. Well, that computer crashed and now I have another computer. I've yet to put my home studio back together, but I'm thinking about it now.

What has delayed me, among other things, is re-installing the Audiophile 2496. When I used it in the other computer it worked fine, but I did have some issues that just made it a little harder to use than it should have been. My current computer has a built-in sound card called a SoundMAX. From what I've read on the internet, this built-in sound card is probably just as good if not better than my Audiophile.

Should I just use that and forget the Audiophile? Below is a link to a FAQ about it.


http://www.analog.com/Analog_Root/static/technology/audioVideo/soundMaxFaqsGeneral.html


If I just use the SoundMAX it would make things much simpler.

thanks!

 

[hanumanlangur]

Re: standard Sound card vs specialized audio card

FWIW, the 2496 is designed for good quality analog recording and playback, whereas even the nicer integrated chipsets are designed primarily with playback quality in mind. In your situation, I wouldn't think twice about putting the M-Audio card back in.

 

[J Moose]

Re: standard Sound card vs specialized audio card

The Audiophile only has RCA jacks though and the crystals & conversion are on the card, not a breakout box... which is the noisiest & least "pro" place to have them.

The MAudio card should sound better in theory, but possibly not in practice.

Therefore I have no real opinion.

If were me I'd get something with a breakout box and 1/4" balanced inputs like one of those presonus inspires or one of the bigger M-audio interfaces. They're certainly hip enough for home recording...

 

[Animal]

Re: standard Sound card vs specialized audio card

I've never had problems with noise on my audiophile 2496, though initially it was a little quirky setting it up. If you really can't tell the difference though between the quality of the on-board and the audiophile, you might as well sell the 2496 if it's giving you enough grief.