Studio Monitors to Computer Sound Card?

[guitarman13]

Would I be able to plug studio monitors directly into the sound card on my computer? I think I would be able to, but I think it is only either passive or active monitors that will work this way; i don't know. I have a Creative Audigy 2ZS Soundcard.

[David McCarroll]

It's only active monitors with their own built in amplifiers - the output of your soundcard should be line level, which is barely enough to power headphones.

Almost every company makes self powered monitors these days - check out Mackie for starters.

Cheers

David

[guitarman13]

So only active monitors will work right? Would the monitors sound good plugged into my soundcard?

[Darin]

Powered reference monitors are affordable. Like the Alesis M1 Actives's. Check them out. They are made to go near your computer monitor and are bi-amped with loads of power. Also, consider the Lexicon Omega external 24bit sound card. Also very affordable and comes with Cubase and some nice plugins.

PRS Tremonti SE > Boss CS-3 > XT Live > JSX head > Legacy 2x12 > SM57 > Lexicon Omega > Dell running Cubase>mixed on Alesis M1 Active near field reference monitors.

http://www.chriswoodwardmusic.com/PRS SE/Un Nu U-01.mp3 (guitars recorded with NO eq or effects added post recording)
http://www.chriswoodwardmusic.com/PRS SE/Dorm Room.mp3

Later, Darin