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Need sound card specs defined
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| rafale |
hey guys.. could u explain what these mean in layman english for me pls?
I know roughly what they mean but more clarity would help as well.
These are an example of specs i've seen :
4 x 4 24-bit/96kHz full-duplex audio interface - is there an audible difference if it is 24-bit/192kHz ?
4 x 4 analog I/O - analog meaning...?
software controlled 36-bit internal DSP digital mixing/routing - ?
software configurable for +4dBu and -10dBV signal levels - >
zero-latency monitoring - i know this is good but other cards i've seen do not mention this. or is there a way to see this in numbers?
greatly expandable with Omni i/o - what is Omni ?
frequency response: 48kHz sample rate
input: +/-0.3 dB, 22Hz to 22kHz
output: +/-0.2 dB, 22Hz to 22kHz
96kHz sample rate:
input: +/-0.4 dB, 22Hz to 40kHz
output: +/-0.3 dB, 22Hz to 40kHz
- is this the standard rate? or is 96 and 192 the standard?
dynamic range: 103dB (A-weighted) (D/A) - ??
99dB (A-weighted) (A/D)
THD: < 0.002% (D/A) - ??
0.0023% (A/D)
thanks heaps!! i'm sure this wld help with others' understanding as well!
cheerSss |
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| aquila |
It's best if you actually already know how digital audio works. Do a google search for digital audio or something first...
24-bit/96khz vs 24-bit/192khz. basically this is down to the resolution of the sound. Simply put, the higher the numbers, the more accurately the original sound will be reproduced.
Analog means audio that's not digital. Like the signal a cable carries between a microphone and a mixer.
36-bit internal DSP digital mixing/routing while the soundcard can output 24bit sound, the processor can handle a higher resolution internally and then mix it down again to 24-bit. this helps with overall quality when two or more sounds are mixed together.
software configurable for +4dBu and -10dBV signal levels some analog sources use different signal levels. some (ie microphones) are generally a LOT quieter than, say a CD player, and need to be boosted or padded (turned down) respectively.
zero-latency monitoring basically you can hear a sound source instantly
greatly expandable with Omni i/o not too sure what this means, but since omni means multiple, I guess they're saying you can add more inputs and outputs later on.
skipping some parts that I don't know how to explain...
THD: < 0.002% (D/A) - 0.0023% (A/D) THD means Total Harmonic Distortion. When an analog gets converted to digital (A/D aka Analog to Digital) some distortion will occur because mathematically it is impossible to recreate every detail in an analog signal. Likewise, digital sound that gets converted back to analog (D/A aka Digital to Analog) will also receive distortion for the same reason. The smaller the percentage on either is better.
If anyone wants to correct me on these explanations or expand on them, I won't take offence. |
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| don_q |
^^ pretty good aquila
| quote: | frequency response: 48kHz sample rate
input: +/-0.3 dB, 22Hz to 22kHz
output: +/-0.2 dB, 22Hz to 22kHz
96kHz sample rate:
input: +/-0.4 dB, 22Hz to 40kHz
output: +/-0.3 dB, 22Hz to 40kHz |
If you look at the frequency response of the card you'll see that for the given sample rate the signal will be flat in the given frequency range up to about, for example, +/- 0.3 dB. So all frequencies should be heard well with minimum amplitud (volume) distortion. The smaller the dB fluctuation the better. Those specs look pretty good.
About the sample rate, there is still no standard, but the community is almost in consensus about 192 kHz being unnecessary overkill. 96 is very good.
About the dynamic range, the higher number the better. It gives an idea of how much "space" you've got for the signal, thus how far can a signal with a certain volume be from the system noise. A-weighted is just a way to make the numbers higher values by following a theory of how we (our ears) hear; or stat manipulation. Just use it to compare specs between cards, but remember to noticed if it is weighted (ther's alos u-weighted and others)
Hope I helped |
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| rafale |
you guys rock haha!
cheers and thanks for the great info. everything's explained.
That being said, recommend me a sound card for production. I'm looking at the m-audio audiophile 192 .. coz the price looks alright for what i'll be getting.
i don't know much bout professional soundcards. I won't go by a fixed budget either coz if something is worth the money then I don't mind going for it. Of course i ain't talking top-of the range studio stuff. Just something more powerful than average will do =>
Yeah and basically i need MIDI to support my controller (getting an evolution 449c) .. and that will well support my needs for a long time. (sick of using a MIDI converter for my SBLIVE)..
would appreciate if you guys could suggest a few models ? |
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| Derivative |
budget please.
specify a maximum price you are willing to pay otherwise myself and many other people will start recommending big expensive 10 in/10 out boxes. |
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| Dj Thy |
| quote: | Originally posted by aquila
software configurable for +4dBu and -10dBV signal levels some analog sources use different signal levels. some (ie microphones) are generally a LOT quieter than, say a CD player, and need to be boosted or padded (turned down) respectively.
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No, +4 dBu and -10 dBV are both nominal line levels. The difference is that +4 dBu is the professional line level, while - 10 dBV is the one used in consumer devices. The problem is, that there is about 12 dB of difference between the two. To have optimal signal, you should adjust the sensitivity of the line input to "listen" for the right level.
For instance, if you use your inputs at -10 dBV, but connect a +4dBu machine to it, basically everything will get 12 dB too loud into it, so you risk overloading the inputs. On the other hand if you do the opposite, connect a -10 dBV machine to + 4dBu input, you risk not having enough level, which isn't good for signal/noise.
Oh, and the Omni I/O is another of M-Audio's products. Kind of a breakout box if you wish. |
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| aquila |
| Thx for the corrections...I knew I was gonna be wrong somewhere :rolleyes: |
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| rafale |
| quote: | Originally posted by Derivative
budget please.
specify a maximum price you are willing to pay otherwise myself and many other people will start recommending big expensive 10 in/10 out boxes. |
okay max 200 USD
but i'll also welcome cheap and bang for the buck items.. |
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| don_q |
| quote: | | Just something more powerful than average will do => |
you won't be getting any power with $200. :(
I'm in the same situation for that same amount. I've read this ? before and I've made the ? also in other forums. Honestly not much help received. Still undecided between
Tascam US-122,
m-audio audiophile firewire,
Alesis I/O 2
Emagic EMI 6|2
or waiting for mo' $....
Too much diffs between them to really compare. Hope for you better luck in deciding. |
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| rafale |
one of my choices is M-audio audiophile 192. Is the Firewire version a new one i haven't seen it on their site.
How much do those that u mentioned cost? |
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| rafale |
so the audiophile firewire version is good coz its portable. yeah similar to the audiophile PCI version i reckon.
anyway I was just browsing through m-audio's site and saw that they maintain a difference between AUDIO interface and MIDI interface keyboards. WHAT'S the DIFF?!?!
They've listed the Ozone and Ozonic under Audio interface and all the rest like Evolution under the MIDI interface.
need some explanation here =) |
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