Sound Cards

Cara Carriveau · **Voice Talent** Joined: 18 Jul 2006 Posts: 10

I am trying to finish my home studio and running into problems. I purchased a new laptop with Windows Media Center on it...and I have since found out it will not work with my audio card, the m-audio firewire 410. I'm even more troubled because I according to the m-audio customer service department my new laptop will not work with ANY external soundcard. Evil or Very Mad

Does anyone know if Windows Media Center works w/an external soundcard...and if so, what would you recommend?

I have an older computer (desktop, Windows XP) that I may be able to put in my studio, but the noise concerns me.

Thanks for any help you can give me!

Brad Venable · Posted: Tue Oct 31, 2006, 08:29 (GMT) Post subject:

Cara,

I do all my recording on a Dell Inspiron E1505 with Adobe Audition 1.5 (the same as Cool Edit Pro, but with improvements by Adobe), and my external sound card is an M-Audio Fast Track Pro, and I love it.

I personally disable Windows Media Center because of personal preference, but I have never had issues with that configuration at all. Maybe it's because you're playing with fire(wire) and they don't get along for that reason. I'm sticking with USB on mine, and no problems...even with hot-swapping from the interface to the onboard audio.

Maybe sell the firewire interface and go USB...or is there a reason that you are using it (besides the extra cash)?

Hope I can help...drop a message back if you'd like to talk further.

Brad Venable

http://www.bradvenable.com
http://bradvenable.voice123.com

Michelle Ann Dunphy · **Voice Talent** Joined: 13 Sep 2005 Posts: 181

What kind of problems are you having?

I have a new computer and am trying to use a PreSonus Inspire (firewire) and it's digitally clipping for me at -6db.

Brad Venable · Posted: Wed Nov 01, 2006, 15:31 (GMT) Post subject:

Michelle,

Personally, I'm not having any problems. I record stuff at lower levels, especially when having to do screams and battle cries, then I just bump the levels with Adobe Audition.

The trick I find is to get the noise floor as low as possible, while getting the signal (my recording) as high as possible...so I guess I wouldn't see the pre/DAW clipping at -6 to be problematic.

Brad Venable

http://www.bradvenable.com
http://bradvenable.voice123.com

Cara Carriveau · **Voice Talent** Joined: 18 Jul 2006 Posts: 10

Brad,

Thanks for the reply. I was "sold" on the firewire by a salesguy at Guitar Center...he told me that the audio quality is by far superior than using the usb. Is that not true? It does freak me out a bit that I need to have the computer completely turned off to unhook or hook up the firewire so I don't fry the motherboard. I am afraid it will get knocked out or I'll forget and pull out the wire and fry the computer! USB is certainly easier in that regard.

I actually got Comp Usa to replace my laptop, since I had told their sales guy about hooking up the m-audio firewire and he sold me a basically useless computer with that device. Nice of them since the laptop is now 3 months old. So I'll get one with windows xp (professional?) rather than windows xp media center. Probably an HP. Any suggetions?

I am using soundforge, and testing vegas.

Barry Seymour · **Voice Talent** Joined: 15 Sep 2004 Posts: 60

The bit about having to turn off the PC to connect/disconnect FireWire sounds bogus. One of the big selling points of these new interfaces (USB and FireWire) is that you should be able to connect/disconnect external components while the OS is running; as you plug things in, the system should recognize them. It's called 'hot-swapping.' This is what happens when I plug in my iPod or an external hard drive to my USB port or when I connect my digital camcorder via the FireWire port.

I know nothing about your rig, but judging from what I read I question either the Guitar Center guy's advice, the gear he sold you or both.

Brad Venable · Posted: Thu Nov 02, 2006, 06:38 (GMT) Post subject:

One thing that is generally true is question those at Guitar Center. In my experience, the people that work there are all flash, no substance. Note I say generally.

I have an M-Audio Fast Track Pro. I love it, and the only way I'll change is by getting something uber-cool like an Apogee or something else pretty expensive.

Barry is right, Cara...I question both the intelligence of the GC dude and the interface itself. Personally, from what I hear...the M-Audio firewire stuff is good, but has issues with laptops. That's just from reading a lot of reviews.

My 2 pennies. Smile

Brad

Cara Carriveau · **Voice Talent** Joined: 18 Jul 2006 Posts: 10

Yeah, I heard about the problems with the M-AUdio fireweire & laptops AFTER I purchased the box and laptop. I also recently found out that the guy that sold me the soundcard "doesn't work there anymore" (fired?) so I think if I complain enough maybe I can exchange it for another card. Don't know.

But I guess I should go ahead and at least exchange my laptop for one with Windows XP Pro...I am under the impression that you cannot hook up ANY external sound card to WIndows XP Media Edition which does me no good at all.

I also have a desktop so I'll try to hook up the m-audio today or tomorrow. I also had trouble with that computer & that soundcard last time I tried, which leads me to beleive I may have a faulty soundcard.

Thanks for all of you help. Much appreciated! Laughing

Barry Seymour · **Voice Talent** Joined: 15 Sep 2004 Posts: 60

Cara: Windows Media Center is merely Windows XP with some additional programs that let you record and view video. I really don't think WMC is part of the problem. I'd concentrate on figuring out what the problem is with the M-Audio unit or the firewire port on the laptop. Check with M-Audio and the PC manufacturer to see if they have updated device drivers, either for the firewire port (PC) or the M-Audio.

Jerome Pennington · **Voice Talent** Joined: 12 Oct 2006 Posts: 7

Here's part of a transcript of a live chat between Microsoft Windows Media Center MVPs (Most Valuable Professional) and users from January 2005:

Nick_MS (Expert):
Q: I have a Sony MCE 2005 computer and not happy with the sound quality of the on board processor. I wonder if you know any external sound that I can use (it appears that most manufacturers do not support MCE 2005).
A: MCE does not require any special type of audio card; it should work with whatever sound card you have installed, so you can choose to install whatever card you wish.

Stefan Chinell · **Voice Talent** Joined: 06 Apr 2004 Posts: 16

Generally, I have found Firewire to be more stable than USB. Certainly the transmission speed is many times higher. And yes, it is recommended to connect the box before turning on the computer. Myself I use Terratec FW Phase24 wich I think is good value for money. Many connectors and even insert jacks. A very handy little toolbox.

Stefan Kinell
Sweden