Whats a good Sound card for mixing and mastering?

[astaroth]

Or are they all the same? Right now im using the headphone out of the POD HD500 and its pretty hissy. I record via USB input from the POD so I do not really need another interface. I mix and master using Jerry Harvey custom in-ears. The only soundcard I have is the onboard card which doesnt really sound very good to my ears.

Maybe bros here could recommend me sth that is neutral sounding with good frequency response, basically good for monitoring.

 

[kongwee]

Bro, all soundcards are different. Not really sure who does good headphone amp. Normally people start about $200 depending how many input they need. For your case, if only do mixing and mastering, and you don't need any input. You need a very good DAC. I only know a brand call Benchmark DAC, http://www.benchmarkmedia.com/ , when you wanna step in to the high end area. It cost 4 digi. Used to cost around S$1.5k, but now very high price. If buy on DAC, you need a headphone amp too. Anything cost lower, I dunno really know. Of cos your usual presonus, line 6, zoom,...etc will do too.

 

[astaroth]

Wow thats steep. I was thinking since I do not need inputs and already have good monitoring earphones, I could get something thats is more mixing and mastering oriented.

 

[blueprintstudios]

Different soundcards got different DA/converters etc. that means if I were to mix/export on a realtek onboard soundcard vs zoom h2 vs echo audiofire4 vs RME fireface/apogee etc I believe strongly they will sound different.

for mixing/mastering, you'll need a DAWorkstation > audio interface > monitor speakers+soundtreatment/headphones

I vote echoaudio/rme if you're on PC. if you're on mac, then it's all digidesign protools/apogee etc

 

[kongwee]

=astaroth

Well, I can only help you that much. I don't research that area much. A dedicated DAC is must for setting up a good monitor(speaker or headphone). Product like Benchmark DAC-1, you do find them in local studio. This is a DAC that I used to promote. http://audiohub.com.sg/audio-news/a...al-to-analog-converter-usb-dac/#axzz1MjJiwRaP . Do you think common audio interface package will put a DSP in every output?

 

[astaroth]

=blueprintstudios

Yepz right now I only lack that interface. Who are the retailers in SG for echo audio and rme? Would like to audition some of those.

 

[blueprintstudios]

astaroth : RME i'm not sure, can check with resolution.sg or www.hungbros.com , echo audio is Kevin Swizer, you can find under international dealers on their website www.echoaudio.com

 

[astaroth]

Alright thanks! I'll check em out.

 

[Cheez]

Yes, RME at resolutions. It's quite costly. Echo is easier on the wallet.

 

[kongwee]

RME got Babyface, still high but with 22 channels still ok for the price.

 

[MadWerewolfBoy]

the hiss you hear from the pod hd has something to do with the phones out impedence. apparently it has a range that only works well with headphones of certain resistance, can't remember the range, but iirc, it doesn't matter whether it is high range or low range one, all of them have varying values.

try it with another pair of headphones or ear phones to see if the hiss is still present. when you plug in the pod via usb, the pod becomes your "sound card". you can try changing the settings of your com's sound card but the changes won't be reflected in the sound being reproduced by the pod.

 

[astaroth]

the hiss you hear from the pod hd has something to do with the phones out impedence. apparently it has a range that only works well with headphones of certain resistance, can't remember the range, but iirc, it doesn't matter whether it is high range or low range one, all of them have varying values.

try it with another pair of headphones or ear phones to see if the hiss is still present. when you plug in the pod via usb, the pod becomes your "sound card". you can try changing the settings of your com's sound card but the changes won't be reflected in the sound being reproduced by the pod.

Yea the problem is I only have one proper earphone to monitor on. If I'm not wrong the Pod settings cannot be adjusted to reduce the hiss (but I may be wrong), hence I'm looking for alternatives solutions.

 

[astaroth]

In case anyone is interested to know, I ultimately went with the Echo Audiofire 2. Delivered straight to my door step, can't say no to that. Shall test it out right now.

 

[blueprintstudios]

great choice! I'm on an Echo AudioFire 4. love it.

 

[astaroth]

I hope it outlasts my old EMU 0404 lol. Btw do you use it regularly just for normal music listening on speakers? I was wondering whether it is prudent to do that, as I'm afraid it may shorten its lifespan.

 

[blueprintstudios]

you're on desktop or laptop? it's bus powered or ac powered?

sorry can't help you there, I use it everyday more for recording/mixing work way more than I use it for "regular use" , if I'm not mixing then I'm taking a damn break for my ears then my AF4 will be turned off and I do have a habit of turning off my computer fully to give it a break after abuse once in a while.

in my opinion, use it if you need it I guess? if it's a quick movie/gamer break (I do those) then back to recording/mixing then I'd just use the audiofire. if not I'd turn off and plug into my onboard soundcard.

 

[astaroth]

Im on desktop, bus powered. Yea thats what I thought too but to un-power it i need to remove the cable continuously, there's no master power switch.

 

[blueprintstudios]

oh then you're better off just leaving it in and using it for everything. unplug/plugging does crap for the connection point and may screw up the firewire port/cable.

 

[astaroth]

But I'm having a peculiar problem now, both output ports are giving me the left channel audio only. Is there some setting that I missed?

 

[astaroth]

Just realised each channel is mono, damn, gotta get new cables. Is there a way to switch of the Audiofire's inputs and use my POD HD as input instead? I can't select it in Sonar. Seems like ASIO is preventing it.