hello, can you help me choose? .
I would like to buy a sound card in the second-hand market to save money.
its use is twofold:
microphone speaker measurements is the first function.
when I am not taking measurements its function is that of the DAC converter connected to the digital outputs of an audio player without a computer (I would also like to try the DSP to equalize). consequently the outputs of the sound card will go to a pair of speakers.
I would like a good quality of mic preamps, DACs and ADCs.
I don't want to penalize the sound card for prioritizing the type of connection that goes to the computer (USB, firewire, Thunderbolt).
besides USB2 I have a PCMCIA and expresscard port. i can always buy a converter
Hello and thanks
I would like to buy a sound card in the second-hand market to save money.
its use is twofold:
microphone speaker measurements is the first function.
when I am not taking measurements its function is that of the DAC converter connected to the digital outputs of an audio player without a computer (I would also like to try the DSP to equalize). consequently the outputs of the sound card will go to a pair of speakers.
I would like a good quality of mic preamps, DACs and ADCs.
I don't want to penalize the sound card for prioritizing the type of connection that goes to the computer (USB, firewire, Thunderbolt).
besides USB2 I have a PCMCIA and expresscard port. i can always buy a converter
Hello and thanks
we narrow down the search.
let's leave DSP aside for the moment, what are the interfaces with DAC in "computer absent" mode?
let's leave DSP aside for the moment, what are the interfaces with DAC in "computer absent" mode?
I don't know of any "soundcards" that allow for the DAC to take an external input directly stand alone. Some can work with the PC shuttling SPDIF but need the computer to do it.
I doubt that you will lose any quality using a USB audio interface such as the Presonus I use for such measurements. (using REW)
https://www.amazon.co.uk/PreSonus-AudioBox-USB-96-Interface/dp/B071W6YVDR
Or lower cost Behringer: (48kHz - broadcast standard is 24bit 48khz)
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/353395899183
https://www.amazon.co.uk/PreSonus-AudioBox-USB-96-Interface/dp/B071W6YVDR
Or lower cost Behringer: (48kHz - broadcast standard is 24bit 48khz)
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/353395899183
so i can't use a CD player used as a transport paired with the sound card's DAC without a computer?
I think you must verify the specs.
All sound cards have a USB input, some can use it only for control, but some can use it as music input.
My ADI-2 Pro Fs R can do both but thats > $1k.
Some soundcards also have an S/PDIF input.
Your best bet would be to check at a specified forum.
Or look at miniDSP's offerings.
Jan
All sound cards have a USB input, some can use it only for control, but some can use it as music input.
My ADI-2 Pro Fs R can do both but thats > $1k.
Some soundcards also have an S/PDIF input.
Your best bet would be to check at a specified forum.
Or look at miniDSP's offerings.
Jan
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of course you can. I use a low cost ADC to connect any audio source to my dac via the spdif input.
I use this one to test my dacs, rather than using a test cd or a laptop.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B087PZR4K3
If you want to use a mic, then use a mic preamp between the mic and ADC.
When you say sound card, are you meaning one for a laptop or pc, OR a standalone audio interface that does not need a laptop or pc?
Easiest way to achieve this is if your CD player has SPDIF (or optical) output and your sound card has SPDIF (or optical) input.
I have an old E-8310 lifebook laptop.
for standalone sound card I don't know what you mean, what I want I explained at the beginning, speaker measurements with microphone and CD player DAC when I don't have to take measurements
I have an old philips CD 723 that I would like to modify and turn it into a transport
So there is no reason to not use a USB interface such as the Presonus. There is no technical disadvantage, using USB compared to spdif, especially as room measurements are so dramatically affected by the actual room (dimensions) and speakers, as well as mic and mic position.
I use REW with my Presonus and it works as well. I cannot see how using spdif would give better measurements.
I would never use any laptops built in sound hardware.
I has coax spdif output but as our member peufeu has noted it is not bit perfect.
http://peufeu.free.fr/audio/extremist_dac/bit_accuracy/
I forgot about this very low cost ADC-i2s interface.
I bought one but haven't tried it.
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/193744231145
I bought one but haven't tried it.
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/193744231145
Member
Joined 2003
For measurement a USB audio interface is the ideal product, there's many to choose from, I recently upgraded from Steinberg UR22mkii to Motu M4. They offer TRS and XLR input, phantom power for condenser mic (measurement mics), individual input gain control, often there is some level / clip indication right on the device, and portability with just a simple USB connection to any computer.
For CD's, just spend $20-$40 on a external CD drive, rip the CDs to flac in a few minutes and then play directly from the PC.
For CD's, just spend $20-$40 on a external CD drive, rip the CDs to flac in a few minutes and then play directly from the PC.
Yes, will work with REW and has mic inputs.
I would check if drivers for whatever version of Windows you are using are available.
(I bought an old Tascam audio/midi interface but Win 10 could find drivers and Tascam didn't have any either, so it was useless.)
https://support.creative.com/Products/ProductDetails.aspx?page=2&prodID=15167&prodName=E-MU 0404 USB