recommend a good external usb soundcard?

[demetri_j]

Hi, can anyone recommend a quality usb soundcard for ripping vinyl that can do at least 24bit rips?

[Dimal]

Hi, can anyone recommend a quality usb soundcard for ripping vinyl that can do at least 24bit rips?

G'day "demetri_j"...

I can highly recommend the E-MU range of products. They produce a number of USB connected items covering a range of specifications and cost. You don't mention your budget constraints but you can purchase them direct from Creative's own website or from a number of online retailers, for more competitive pricing.

All the best...

Mal.

[demetri_j]

thanks mate. I was looking at the Creative Sound Blaster X-Fi Surround 5.1 Pro USB Sound Card powered by THX TruStudio Pro. Seems reasonably priced

[Dimal]

G'day again "demetri_j"...

At the other end of the quality spectrum, in the "consumer" list of offerings is the the "Asus Xonar Essence One", details here... http://tinyurl.com/4ymtu2v

It's a very flexible and decent product, and would probably do what ever you needed for years to come.....

Mal.

[demetri_j]

yeah I saw that one and its way too expensive for me $$$. I read a review on Amazon about Creative and was a little disappointed by the following but I don't really understand the reasoning:

"Other: This card claims 24/96 capability. I did tests and found that for both playback/recording, the card rolls off to -3dB at 48khz, on-par with specs. It is a similar case, rolling off slightly in the infrasonics, -3dB at 3hz. As for the 24-bit claim, the resolution is 24-bit, BUT signal/noise ratio is slightly over 100dB, effectively limiting the dynamic range to the equivalent of 17-bit. Due to dither, the psychoacoustic dynamic range will approach 19 bits. This is NOT an issue for most people. You still obtain the benefits of 24-bit, including a reduction in quantization noise, just not through the full dynamic range. In other words, the card will not be the limiting factor in most systems.

I intend to use this card to record. I was a bit wary of buying a card directed towards normal consumers, but after testing it looks like it will be a non-issue. I'll have to do further testing to confirm this. "

[Werner]

was a little disappointed by the following but I don't really understand the reasoning: ...

As for the 24-bit claim, the resolution is 24-bit, BUT signal/noise ratio is slightly over 100dB, effectively limiting the dynamic range to the equivalent of 17-bit. "

Due to thermal noise and at the signal levels commensurate with consumer (and pro) systems it is physically impossible to build an ADC or DAC with true 24 bit resolution and dynamic range.

You can make a chip with a 24 bit architecture, meaning that all the parts are in place that would make it 24 bit in an ideal world, but it will always perform to a lower standard, again, due to that innate noise.

For instance I have a Tascam DV-RA1000 recorder. It sports a BB PCM1804 ADC, which was the best single-chip ADC available at the time. Its noise-based performance is around 18 bit.

I also have a Beis standalone ADC, with a next-generation chip and moderately-freaky analogue input stages, and it performs at 19 bit.

dynamic range to the equivalent of 17-bit. Due to dither, the psychoacoustic dynamic range will approach 19 bits.

This is wrong. Dither slightly reduces the dynamic range, but even this notion is moot since it is outright stupid (illegal?) to operate a digital audio channel without dither. What he means is dither combined with noise shaping, which can indeed bend the noise to lower levels in the midrange, compensating with higher levels in the treble. But this only with a source (ADC-sourced) that has better resolution/SNR to begin with, so it won't help an ADC that is thermally limited at 17 bit.

Such texts are par for the course in this world with internet-educated 'experts'.

[Dimal]

Hmmm, interesting stuff Werner...

Always a pleasure to read information from someone who "knows" what it means...

Mal.

[demetri_j]

thanks Werner. I found this as well which correspondes to what you say http://www.earlevel.com/main/1996/10/20/what-is-dither/

ok, so basically then this card is no more inferior than others as far th bit level. If I'm ripping vinyl , isnt that a source high enough/better resolution as you say? Finally, I read also to select 32bit float when recording. I take it that isnt something that is a feature of the soundcard, but more the recording software, right? Thanks

[rkay5]

Hi,
Do not get a Sound Blaster sound card they are fine for movie play back and for gameers but no good for music recording.I have a E-MU 0404 usb and it works great I also have a E-MU 1212m PCIe with a 1616 Micro dock all are 24bit 192KHz sampling.I record most of the time 32bit float 96KHz with Wavelab 6.1 and the files sound great.Have a look at the E-MU 0204 USB Audio interface can be had for $125 at Amzon.

[Dimal]

I found this as well which correspondes to what you say http://www.earlevel.com/main/1996/10/20/what-is-dither/

Good find with this site Demetri - Lots of great info in there...

ok, so basically then this card is no more inferior than others as far th bit level. If I'm ripping vinyl , isnt that a source high enough/better resolution as you say?

This looks like a decent enough performing unit at this budget point mate. Should do a good job....

Finally, I read also to select 32bit float when recording. I take it that isnt something that is a feature of the soundcard, but more the recording software, right? Thanks

Exactly. It just allows for a much smaller degree of error when performing process functions. Most decent DAW software will do this by default and there's no need to spend a heap of money there either.

Plenty of (true) 24bit capable DAW app's to be had for $50 or less. Audacity (Free) is great too but in Windows, is unable to record beyond 16bit. Even though it seems to be recording at 24bit, the lower 8 bits are nothing but padding (all set to '0'). I've got Cakewalk 'Pyro' Audio Editor which covers all the basic needs pretty well and is available for less than $50...

Mal.

[demetri_j]

thanks again. The e-mu 0404 pcie is internal not external right?

[Werner]

http://www.tnt-audio.com/sorgenti/rip_it_1_e.html

http://www.tnt-audio.com/sorgenti/rip_it_2_e.html

http://www.tnt-audio.com/sorgenti/rip_it_3_e.html

http://www.tnt-audio.com/sorgenti/rip_it_4_e.html

[demetri_j]

thanks. rkay5, dumb question but on the E-MU 0204 0404 and 0202 where is the input to plug RCAS from the preamp/turntable into the card? SHoudn't there be a little 3.5mm input like there is for that Soundblaster?

[Dimal]

http://www.tnt-audio.com/sorgenti/rip_it_1_e.html

http://www.tnt-audio.com/sorgenti/rip_it_2_e.html

http://www.tnt-audio.com/sorgenti/rip_it_3_e.html

http://www.tnt-audio.com/sorgenti/rip_it_4_e.html

Wow! You're THAT Werner.....

Excellent stuff mate. Love your website...

Mal.