Sound Blaster Audigy (sp?) opinions...

[Kev Brigden]

Has anyone got/used this sound card???

I've seen it for what looks like a fairly good deal... It's got loads of free software such as Cubase VST, Fruityloops, AcidDJ, and some other wav. editing stuff...

is it worth getting for recording purposes??? Where the hell do I plug in my KORG AX1500??? Is it into that stand alone box???

cheers

KeV

[JESTER700]

It's supposed to be OK. Many say try the TB Santa Cruz instead. Neither are pro level, so it depends on your use. For demos it should be fine.

[Exotic Shredding]

Hey man, I have it on my computer and i have been using it since it came out. It is a great sounding card. Lots of input options. Great for home projects. Its actually 16bit though. And i can only get the latecy to about 20ms. Its awesome for surround sound though! Quake was never better. Im upgrading to a better recording platform with my band, and now im going to have to upgrade to a recording soundcard as well so i can mix and master the files on something that can handle the same quality we record in at. (48khz at 24bit)

[davester1234]

Check out what I've done using it.
http://artists.mp3s.com/artists/425/dave_s.html

[Polaris20]

It's not really meant for professional audio. You're better off with An M Audio Audiophile, or what I have, the Echo Mia.

The Audigy's cool, but it's a consumer card.

[Kev Brigden]

Are there any home pages for these brands? Id like to check em out...
Oh, I suppose I'd probably ask if they are available in the UK??? How much would they go for approximately???

cheers

KeV

[Polaris20]

http://www.echoaudio.com

http://www.midiman.com

I think they're both available across the pond. Price USD is between $160$200, but I'm sure there's an import penalty for you guys.

[Kev Brigden]

in rip-off Uk, that is almost a certainty

On a side note

Check out what I've done using it.
http://artists.mp3s.com/artists/425/dave_s.html

You did that on a Sound Blaster Audigy? what software did you use??? that sounds amazing!?!

[grrrpoop]

Originally Posted by Kev Brigden

in rip-off Uk, that is almost a certainty

On a side note

You did that on a Sound Blaster Audigy? what software did you use??? that sounds amazing!?!

I have to agree wholeheartedly that dave possesses godlike Vai-mimicry skills. I downloaded Vai's version to compare and I prefer daves! Stupendous amounts of skill mate. I hate you.

Sound Blaster Audigy can be used to great effect (as proven) but there are similarly priced cards which may be "better". For example:

Terratec's DMX 6fire 24/96 has an Audigy-like 5.25" drive plate making the IO available at the front of the PC. Also, it has an aluminium finish meaning it'll look nice with Lian-Li and Coolermaster cases (if you're into PC tech in that way.. ahem..). Lower ASIO latency than Audigy (which is good, and important for Cubase and other software in some cases). Price in UK should be around £165 (SoundsLive, Newcastle)

M-Audio's Audiophile 2496 beats Audigy for audio quality and has lower ASIO latency. Similar features (digital IO etc) although it doesn't come with a "LiveDrive" style device for easy IO access. Price here in UK should be around £149 (SoundsLive, Newcastle)

There are other cards by M-Audio (Delta 44 or 66) and Terratec (EWS88MT or EWX 24/96) which may be suitable, depending on your price range. Other manufacturers include Creamware (Luna II looks good, £269).

Any of the above cards (including Audigy!) will be great for recording with. All come with good software packages. To plug in your AX1500 I'd imagine you'd hook up its output(s) to the appropriate inputs on the souncard. The M-Audio Audiophile for example comes with seperate 1/4" analogue inputs for L/R audio input

Hope that wasn't too much info! Also be nice if any of it actually helps! lol

[Kev Brigden]

sorry for the slow replies guys I've been having to get my sister off the internet with a crowbar,

Hmm,

I'll check out the cards you mentioned and see what comes up

cheers for the info m8

KeV

[Anonymous]

doesnt an outboard device like the MOTU 828 substitute the need for another card? you can run the 828 via firewire.

[DLHelfand]

Audigy 2 is coming out and looks like it is made to please the recording crowd. The specs are definitely better, I am waiting to see how it is myself. It is 24 bit and supposedly has latency of 2ms and some great specs. Check out the website.

[DLHelfand]

Here are the specs for the Audigy 2:

http://www.americas.creative.com/pro...sp?product=472

Audio Performance

Signal-to-Noise Ratio with AES17 filter (A-Weighted)

2V Rated Output 1V Rated Output
Stereo Output 106dB 102dB
Front and Rear Channels 106dB 102dB
Center, Subwoofer, and Rear Center ~90dB ~86dB
Total Harmonic Distortion + Noise at 1kHz 0.004% 0.004%
Frequency Response <10Hz to 46kHz <10Hz to 46kHz



Technical Specifications

High Definition Audio Quality for Playback and Recording 24-bit Digital-to-Analog conversion during playback with sampling rates of 8, 11.025, 16, 22.05, 24, 32, 44.1, 48, and 96kHz in 5.1 mode and up to 192kHz in stereo mode
24-bit Analog to Digital conversion during recording in 8, 16 or 24-bit at sampling rates of 8, 11.025, 16, 22.05, 24, 32, 44.1, 48, and 96kHz
SPDIF (Sony/Philips Digital Interface) input at up to 24-bit / 96kHz quality
SPDIF output up to 24-bit at 48 or 96kHz
ASIO drivers for low latency (=2ms) multi-track playback and recording at 16-bit/48kHz)
Wave-Table Synthesis and Midi Features
Creative Hardware synthesizer (2x16 Channels) with 64-voice polyphony featuring E-MU®'s patented 8-point interpolation technology for accurate sample reproduction
Creative Software synthesizer - multi timbral wave-table (16 Channels)
SB1394™ Connectivity
IEEE® 1394 / FireWire® / i-Link® compatible interface with up to 400Mbps transfer rate

Sound Blaster Audigy 2 Platinum On-Board Connectors Line level out (Front / Rear / Center / Subwoofer /Rear Center)
Digital Out for 5.1 support (6-channel SPDIF Output)
Line in
Microphone in
SB1394™/ FireWire® port
Telephone Answering Device in
Analog / Digital CD Audio in
15-pin MIDI / Joystick port extension header
Internal SB1394 header to Sound Blaster Audigy 2 Internal Drive
AD_EXT extension header to the Sound Blaster Audigy 2 Internal Drive

Sound Blaster Audigy 2 Platinum Internal Drive Front Panel Connectors Headphone Out (1/4" Stereo Jack with Volume control)
Line In 2 (1/4" Stereo Jack, shared with Microphone In 2)
Microphone In 2 (1/4" Jack with Gain control)
MIDI In (mini DIN)
MIDI Out (mini DIN)
Optical SPDIF In and Out
Coaxial SPDIF In and Out
Stereo Auxiliary In (2 x RCA/Coaxial Jack)
SB1394 port
Infra-red Receiver

[AlexBHome]

2ms ASIO drivers have been promised from the get-go by Creative but I haven't yet tested any ones that work all that well.

Basically, the Audigy2 will be a very low end professional sound card and a very high end consumer card, similar to the Audigy and Live! cards, with a few added sprinkles of features. If you're in a bedroom studio and are just starting out, definitely get it and FEEL THE PAIN muahah (Creative makes great cards but they're not oriented for pros..sort of the Jem555s of pro sound cards). If you're running a basement recording rig and have been through the PC ropes I'd recommend going up a notch to a Hammerfall card.

-Alex

[DLHelfand]

Well my Soundblaster live has died, so I need a new soundcard for music, games, etc anyway. Looks like I will get the Audig 2 Platinum for that stuff and will try it with Cubase and Sonar. If it doesn't work well with those then I will pick up an M-Audio or Echo for the recording. Will keep you posted.