Almost any novice musician has faced the problem of choosing a sound card. Long gone are the years when everyone had the same sound card - Sound Blaster! Today, the range of equipment is simply huge, but choosing the right version of a sound card from this variety is not an easy task.
A bit of history.
Previously, most computers did not have a separate sound card, and many did not even think about outputting sound from a PC. Others could buy the only model on the market in those early years - the same SB from Creative. And the map really looked like a map.
Years have passed, and now sound cards look like boxes of various sizes with a bunch of different "spinners" that look almost the same to an inexperienced user.
Today we will learn how to understand this variety, select equipment in relation to your tasks, buy what you really need.
Types of sound cards
Let's divide sound cards into conditional categories (this will make it easier for us to understand them), analyze who each group is intended for and what basic functionality it has. This will help us determine what equipment you need to perform exactly the tasks that you set yourself.
1. Let's start with the simplest category of sound cards. These are devices designed to replace the ZK built into the motherboard in laptops and personal computers. They usually have a rather small body, often a non-disconnectable USB cable. The main task of these devices is to output sound from the computer. Optionally, there is the ability to connect a microphone / guitar, headphones. The quality of these devices is far from professional, but they also surpass the notorious AC97.
Such devices will help if a sound card suddenly fails in a laptop, or if you need to output sound to an external device with quality and delays that exceed the same RealTek.
Examples of such sound cards are the UCA series from Behringer, the U24XL and UGM96 from ESI.
External sound card for computer BEHRINGER UCA222
2. The next category is larger in size and wider in functionality. These sound cards already have on board a microphone preamplifier (often with phantom power), a high-impedance input for a guitar, and a headphone jack. Can provide Direct Monitoring, etc. However, these are still portable devices that you can take with you, for example, to the park to play music outdoors. They do not need external power, and the functionality is more than enough for most electronic musicians, aspiring rappers and independent composers. Also, this group of devices will be of interest to Youtube bloggers, because most of them hardly need to connect more than one microphone. The quality of the converters of these devices is one step higher, and the presence of a microphone preamplifier with phantom power will allow you to achieve more transparent sounding of vocals, more intelligible speech recording.
In the photo - Steinberg UR12 sound card for connecting one microphone
3. The third broad category consists of two-channel devices that have 2 inputs and 2 outputs as standard. This group includes both budget and much more expensive sound cards. In fact, they differ slightly from the previous group. The presence of two full-fledged inputs (often on combined connectors) allows you to write simultaneously 2 microphones, or 2 guitars, or a synthesizer / piano in stereo. Some devices of this group have not 2, but 4 outputs, which allows you to connect 2 pairs of monitors in a small studio or send sound to an external effect processor. Also of interest are devices that have digital S / P-DIF connectors as additional ones, which can be used to connect external devices, excluding conversion to analog.
M-audio M-Track, Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 / 2i4, Behringer UMC202 / UMC204, Steinberg UR22 / UR242, Roland Duo / Quad-capture are popular and loved by many devices that are perfect for a small home studio or musicians who need to write 2 channel at the input at the same time.
Pictured is a small home recording studio
4. We have come to the most functional, most powerful category of ZK. These are multichannel interfaces, most often made in a river or half-river case, with a bunch of different buttons, lamps, twists and from a distance they look like an airplane control panel.
In this category there are both budget devices, for example, Behringer FCA1616, M-audio M-Track Quad, Tascam US 4 * 4 / US 16 * 08, Focusrite Scarlett 18i8, Presonus audiobox 1818vsl, and professional sound interfaces from RME, Universal Audio , Avid, Prism sound, allowing you to record about 12-30 channels simultaneously. The cost of such equipment can reach hundreds of thousands of rubles, so these devices are mainly chosen by professional studios. Devices in this class are equipped with high-quality mic preamps for transparent and neutral sound. Such devices are characterized by low latency when working with audio. If you are a professional musician, if you need to write a live drum kit, choir, ensemble - these devices are just for you.
Professional sound card TASCAM US 16 x 08
Additional functions.
After we figured out the groups of devices, let's look at what they might have additional functions, the presence or absence of which will help you decide on the choice of the interface:
Not all devices are equipped with phantom powered mic preamps, so if you intend to use a condenser microphone, such a preamplifier is a must;
Not all devices are equipped with an instrumental input, if you only write vocals, if you are a vlogger or rap artist, it may not matter to you. For guitarists, this entrance is vital;
Some devices may have not one, but two headphone outputs, which will be very useful when recording vocals.
For some musicians, devices with a built-in DSP can be very helpful. This processor will allow you to apply some effects without connecting an external processor. List possible effects usually limited to a couple of reverbs, a compressor and an EQ, but that's enough.
Separately, I would like to note the Universal Audio Apollo devices, which have up to four DSP-processors on board, with the ability to use various plug-ins. The UA Store sells quality reverbs, equalizers, compressors, tape emulators, and other effect processors. They work on these cards almost without delay, allowing you to enrich the sound of your composition.
Apollo 8 Thunderbolt 2 Audio Interface
Finally.
Summarizing the above, when choosing an interface, you must decide on the following parameters:
Number of inputs / outputs. Do you need to write yourself a loved one or a choir?
- Their configuration. Writing a condenser microphone, a guitar, or both?
- The presence of separate controls for the main mix and headphones.
- Availability of multiple headphone outputs.
- Availability of digital inputs / outputs, MIDI interface, S / PDIF, ADAT.
- Ability to work without a power supply.
- The presence of a DSP processor.
- Convenient drivers, optional software.
By answering these questions, you can easily choose a sound card that best suits your requirements, has all the necessary functionality at the moment, and maybe even has some margin for the future.
Internal and external sound cards
Sound cards are divided into internal and external ones. External cards are connected to a computer via USB or FireWire. Internal cards can only connect inside system unit to the expansion slots (if any) PCI or PCIe. Internal cards with comparable quality are usually cheaper due to the lack of an external case. Disadvantage internal cards there is usually a great risk of being exposed to poor-quality computer power and numerous interferences. External sound cards are often easier to manage, with separate external volume controls for headphone output. Also, an external card can work with both stationary computers and laptops.
Internal ESI sound card [email protected] and external ASUS Xonar Essence One
Professional and household
Among themselves, sound cards are divided into home and professional. Professional cards use connector types typical of music equipment such as balanced Jack 6.3 and XLR, while consumer cards use RCA or Jack 3.5 connectors.
NuForce Icon uDAC-2 consumer sound card and professional E-MU 0404 USB
Creative Sound BlasterX AE-5
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Klipsch Heritage Headphone Amplifier
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What features should you pay attention to?
For external sound cards - external power supply or from the USB bus is used. Using external power supply the sound card can work better, because does not depend on the quality of the computer's power supply. In contrast, USB-powered cards are more mobile. do not require an additional outlet and can be operated while connected to a laptop on the go.
It is a special protocol for transferring data from programs to a sound card driver. ASIO allows you to transfer sound from the program to the sound card without distortion. The second opportunity, demanded only by musicians, is to exhibit minimum level delays for signaling from the program to the sound card, which is important when playing live instruments. As practice shows, the delays of internal cards are significantly lower than that of external ones, so serious sound cards for musicians are internal.
This is a free driver that adds ASIO support to any sound card. From the standpoint of sound quality and data transmission accuracy, the driver, unfortunately, does not provide bit-by-bit transmission and is necessary in cases where the sound card does not have its own ASIO support, and the program with which it is working can output a sound stream only in ASIO.
For Windows 7 and 8, there is an alternative sound transmission option without distortion via WASAPI, but it is supported by fewer sound programs. WASAPI is an alternative to ASIO for accurate music reproduction.
Microphone support and phantom power
Modern microphones are divided into dynamic and electret microphones. The first type of microphones does not require phantom power and such a microphone will work with both a household home and a professional sound card. The second type of microphone requires phantom power, which for household microphones is in the region of 5 V, and for professional microphones from 12 to 48 V. For this reason, household electret microphones cannot be connected to professional cards (phantom power will be too high and the microphone may be damaged), and a professional microphone connected to the consumer card will not work due to insufficient phantom power.
Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen. Today we are going to talk about how to choose a good sound card for your computer or laptop. It would seem that such a simple device, and there are many different models on the market, you can simply take and install the first one that comes across. However, in reality it is not that simple. The problem of this choice is primarily faced by those who often listen to music, like to watch movies through a PC, or play 3D games. The best sound card is capable of transmitting a high-quality signal without any problems, but which one is actually the best, let's look at it in more detail.
What you should pay attention to first of all
Everyone knows that most modern motherboards contain a good integrated sound card. It is quite suitable for everyday use for those people who do not need high-quality sound. Of course, if a person wants to completely plunge into the world of sound effects, then not a single even the coolest integrated sound card will allow him to do this. Here it is necessary to talk about external devices of this type. It is common knowledge that DTS Digital Surround and Dolby Digital are standards that will allow you to watch movies in surround sound. Even if an inexpensive sound card can read these standards, it will allow you to watch movies with a minimum amount of noise and distortion in sound. This is very important in order to achieve a sense of presence when watching a movie. The presence of the standard - EAX ADVANCED HD allows you to get surround sound in the most advanced games.
EAX ADVANCED HD standard
Thanks to this component, all sounds that will come from the speakers will become much more realistic. Both analog and digital inputs can be present here. The first one almost always works with interference that is almost impossible to eliminate due to its design features... The digital input, on the other hand, excludes their education almost one hundred percent. You should always remember this when it comes about choosing a cool sound card. It is worth noting the fact that some integrated systems have connectors for high-frequency signal transmission, and it is these that are recommended to be used for work. The amount of interference in this case will be minimal.
Type of
Another problem that every person who decides to purchase a popular sound card will have to face is its type. However, the choice in in this case not great. There are two types of devices - external and internal.
Internal
The second type should not be confused with the integrated one. Almost any budget sound card is plugged into the PCI slot inside the system unit. It takes up a minimum of space and does not contain any additional wires. A very convenient option that most people use.
External
The external version of the device also has the right to exist. It is a separate unit that is installed externally. personal computer... It is worth noting the fact that it has relatively small geometric dimensions, therefore it does not create any additional interference during operation. A large number of different pins can be located on an external card, which significantly expands its functionality. Moreover, she is the only possible option connecting the 5.1 system to a laptop. It is she who is the very connecting link between him and sound system.
Functionality
All modern sound cards are divided into specific types depending on their functionality. Any device must have at least 8 connectors, each of which performs a specific function. These include: a connector for connecting to an external device, that is, a computer or laptop, an output to the front and rear speakers, to the center channel, to a microphone, to headphones, a line channel, as well as a number of additional connectors that can be useful for certain cases.
Sound card connectors
Of course, the functionality of good sound cards depends on what they are used for. For living conditions the three types of cards that have been listed above will be enough. If we are talking about the computer of a professional musician, then here you should think about the possibility of connecting additional devices and high quality production of the board itself. Of course, this cannot but affect the cost of the device. In terms of the price-quality ratio of a sound card for a person who just listens to music and watches movies, an option with high-quality connectors of the above types is suitable.
Sound card for a musician
And for musicians, high-quality sound cards are created, which are quite expensive. You can find about such devices great amount information on specialized resources on the Internet. The forum about sound cards will tell a novice musician which particular option you need to pay attention to when buying. We bring to your attention dear readers a small rating of inexpensive but high-quality sound cards for a computer.
Rating of the best sound cards for a computer
That is, in a nutshell, everything you should look for when buying a sound card. And another small tip: after you have decided on the model of the map, it will not be superfluous to read on thematic forums reviews of its real owners. Do not forget to look at Youtube, there are video reviews of maps. And now I present to your attention a small rating of the best internal sound cards in the inexpensive segment.
ASUS Xonar HDAV1.3
Internal sound card ASUS Xonar HDAV1.3 with connection type - PCI-E, has p Number of DAC and ADC -24 bit, and oh Signal-to-noise ratio of DAC and ADC -120 dB. Maximum frequency of stereo DAC, multichannel DAC and ADC - 192 kHz. The card has 4 analog inputs and 4 analog outputs. In addition, it has an optical input, coaxial output and HDMI 1.3 output / output. The device supports standards: EAX - v. 2, ASIO - v. 2.0 and OpenAL. According to reviews, this is a wonderful sound card for watching movies with a 7.1 audio system.
ASUS Xonar DG
Internal sound card ASUS Xonar DG with a connection type - PCI 2.2, has the ability to output multi-channel audio. The card has a 24-bit DAC with a maximum stereo frequency of 96 kHz. The device has an optical output, 4 analog inputs, 6 analog output channels and 3 analog output connectors. The model offers clear and surround sound, supports the EAX - v. 2 and ASIO - v. 2.0. According to reviews, this is one of the best sound cards for listening to music through headphones. The owners of the device on the forums recommend installing the drivers not from the disk. but from the Internet.
ASUS Xonar DGX
Internal sound card ASUS Xonar DGX with connection type - PCI-E, has the ability to output multi-channel audio. The card has a 24-bit DAC with a maximum stereo frequency of 96 kHz. The device has an optical output, 2 analog inputs, 6 output analog channels, 3 output analog connectors and a connector for connecting to the front panel of a PC. The model supports the standard - EAX v. 5. To connect it, you need a PCI-Express slot on motherboard... On the card itself there is a 7-pin (2 by 4 and one empty) output, where plugs for output to the front panel, headphones and a microphone are attached. The card understands that if you insert the headphones in front, the speakers in the back are turned off. The card owners recommend downloading the drivers to the card from the Asus website, and not from the disk. The model has a high quality separate headphone amplifier.
Creative Recon3D PCIe
Internal sound card Creative Recon3D PCIe with connection type - PCI-E has the ability to output multi-channel audio. The card has a 24-bit DAC with a maximum stereo frequency of 96 kHz. The device has an optical input / output, 4 analog inputs, 6 output analog channels, a connector for connecting to the front panel of a PC, 3 output analog connectors and an independent headphone output connector. Model supports standards - EAX v. 2 and OpenAL ... The card has flexible settings from Windows, and according to reviews, it has proved itself to be excellent for the sound accompaniment of 3D games, striking with the quality of sound effects. She behaves similarly when watching movies. Playing music with a card through any Hi-Fi headphones up to $ 200 fully reveals their potential.
Installed external sound card for laptop USB makes it possible to significantly improve sound quality - especially since laptop manufacturers usually do not supply them with high-quality audio systems.
An integrated card is usually not enough to get flawless sound, and in simple models computers sometimes cannot even count on normal sounding audio recordings and legible sound track film.
Why do you need an external sound card?
The decision to purchase an external sound card should be made in the following cases:
- get good sound on your laptop when needed. The problem can be solved by connecting audio speakers, but this will only increase the sound volume, but not the quality;
- in case of failure of the main, built-in card.
Features of external models
Typically, an external card for sound reproduction is small device the size of a flash drive or card reader. Strengthens the likeness and way of connecting to a laptop - via USB.
More expensive models reach external dimensions hard disk, and the most productive have dimensions comparable to the laptop itself.
The capabilities of any external card include:
- sound enhancement compared to the built-in laptop system;
- connection of one or more microphones, headphones or audio speakers.
The functionality of the more expensive models includes volume buttons and indicators. Top models are characterized by the presence of various connectors and interfaces, for example, analog output channels and coaxial output, although their dimensions are much larger than that of compact sound cards.
The advantages of external sound cards are as follows:
- a dramatic improvement in the quality of playback and, when choosing a suitable model, audio recording;
- mobility, allowing you to connect an external card to any other computer - both stationary and portable. Also, the device often connects to a tablet or phone;
- a sufficiently large assortment of models in order to choose both a functional and an affordable device;
- easy sound adjustment, including volume, timbre and bass using buttons on the card body. On a laptop without an external sound device, this can only be done programmatically.
For low-power and old laptops, the card can take the load off the processor. Indeed, due to the fact that sound processing occurs with the help of an external device, the computing power of the computer itself is freed. As a result, the equipment heats up less, and its efficiency increases.
Map selection
When choosing a sound card, it is worth considering several characteristics, depending on the tasks that the device must perform:
- for home use one audio input and one audio output is enough. For a compact home theater - at least two. And when used as a professional device for sound recording, it is worth choosing a model with 3-4 pairs of connectors, although it will cost more;
- the bitness of the sound card must be at least 24 bits;
- the ratio of signal and noise parameters is at the level of 100-114 dB;
- to work with musical instruments an interface is required to enable the connection of these devices.
It is desirable that the external card supports the Digital Theater System or Dolby Digital sound standard, which allows reading multichannel audio and video tracks - this can be important when watching movies.
Support for the ASIO audio transfer protocol is optional but allows for increased convenience professional work with sound.
EAX technology can provide environmental sound effects, which will be a good advantage for the player using gaming applications with multichannel sound.
The most profitable option
A sound card like Dynamode C-Media 108 (7.1) can be an excellent choice for getting high-quality sound.
The advantages of the model are compactness, ease of use, robust housing and the minimum cost (about 300 rubles), and among the minuses - a relatively small functionality. This sound card is worth buying for a laptop that has a broken built-in sound card. With its help, it is quite possible to connect a 7.1 audio system - the sound will be better than when plugged into a regular jack, but not as high quality as when using more functional models.
Portable Home Theater Card
The advantages of the external sound adapter ASUS Xonar U7 are in the following characteristics:
- the presence, in addition to the usual mini-jack connectors for headphones and a microphone, also an eight-channel analog output, which improves the sound for a home theater audio system;
- full compliance with all parameters for a good sound card - sound 24 bit / 192 kHz and signal-to-noise ratio at 114 dB, resistance range up to 150 ohms;
- ease of connection and configuration.
The cost of this card, which can be called not a bad option for fans of watching movies with good quality, does not exceed 3000 rubles.
Game card
Those who like to play games, where the sound quality is as important as the video parameters, will appreciate the capabilities of the Bahamut model.
This external card from Thermaltake works with both Windows and MacOS and has an attractive appearance and the presence of buttons on the body for turning on and off connected devices (headphones, microphone, speakers).
When connecting the card, be sure to install the drivers (included), and in the process of using - update them in a timely manner. The cost of the model is in the middle range - from 2500 to 3000 rubles.
Universal option
Not a bad option for an external sound card with average cost is the Creative Sound Blaster Play 2.
Despite its small size, this device provides surround sound and allows for virtually interference-free audio recording. SBX Pro Studio technology delivers a noticeable volume boost over the built-in card and delivers a 3D sound experience for all types of audio systems, from headphones to 7.1.
Among other advantages of the card is convenient control through the corresponding application. At the same time, on the body of the device itself there are no buttons for controlling the sound. True, the absence external management provides a compact footprint, making it easy to carry your Sound Blaster Play 2 from place to place. The cost of the gadget in online stores does not exceed 2,500 rubles, but you can find options for 1,600 rubles.
Card for a musician
The FOCUSRITE SCARLETT SOLO STUDIO 2ND GEN can be a great choice for music and recording people. Moreover, its small size provides high degree mobility, allowing you to move the device with a laptop or transport it in transport.
The device is different:
- high quality playback and recording;
- compact and durable metal body;
- stylish appearance;
- compatibility with laptops running different operating systems;
- the ability to simultaneously record from a guitar and a microphone;
- a common volume control for all outputs (headphones and speakers);
- complete set with all devices necessary for recording - a condenser microphone, studio headphones and connecting cables.
In addition to this model, there are many others interesting options to record and play sound. However, in terms of the ratio of cost and capabilities, this one can be called one of the best and most affordable. You can buy it online for about 20-22 thousand rubles.
Starting and shutting down the map
It doesn't take long to connect an external card. You just need to connect the device to your laptop (using a cable or just plug it into the USB input). Next, you need to wait for the laptop to determine the external card and automatic installation drivers, and only then connect headphones, a microphone or speakers to it. If the system does not find the required software in its database or the device requires the use of only its own programs, they are installed from the disk or from the manufacturer's official website.
Advice: for high-quality sound reproduction, it is desirable that the connector supports USB 3.0 technology. And, if your device has two options for USB inputs (2.0 and 3.0), you should choose the second one to connect the card.
Possible problems
When installing an external sound card on a laptop, the following problems may occur:
- The laptop does not "see" the device;
- Card is installed, but no sound is played.
The first problem can be solved by reinstalling it into the next USB connector (if the card works, then the cause of the malfunction is an inoperative input) or connecting to another computer. If this does not help to restore the card's operability, it is worth reinstalling its drivers (downloading from the network or from the disk that comes with the equipment). The latter method allows you to cope with the second problem. The inability to start an external sound card may indicate its malfunction or a factory defect.
To enjoy all the benefits of video high resolution and the most modern computer games, both a powerful processor and a powerful graphics adapter are required. However, very often users forget that for full immersion high-quality multichannel sound is also required in the atmosphere. At the same time, codecs, drivers and the built-in sound card will not help much in such a matter. A serious device is needed. The article will describe how to choose a sound card. Useful Tips when choosing, they will also not be ignored.
Built-in chips
Sound devices soldered directly on the motherboard of the system card are unable to compete with discrete hardware. First of all, the codec installed on the motherboard actively uses processor resources during its operation, which reduces overall performance by several percent.
It happens that the built-in sound card is located in close proximity to high-current power lines. The electromagnetic field created by them leads to an increase in interference and interference. The embedded hardware architecture has been simplified to the maximum.
How to choose a sound card for your computer?
There are many types of hardware for audio output, all of which can be roughly divided into two types: music cards and multimedia.
The first group is used for recording, reproducing and processing audio information. This makes them narrowly focused, and such devices are intended mainly for musicians. They can be installed both inside the system unit and connected to the USB connector. The price of this type of equipment is high.
Multimedia sound cards will suit a wider range of users. They are ideal for both stereos and speakers with five and seven channels. Codecs are already built into the sound card and do not require additional customization; in addition, in addition to codecs, the device has its own processor, which favorably affects the performance of the computer.
Main characteristics
In order to choose a sound card for your computer, it is imperative that you familiarize yourself with the basic characteristics of the device. First of all, the board is installed. Its main task is to process a digital signal and create its analog equivalent. This device is essentially the brain of an audio card.
DAC parameters
How to choose a sound card for a computer, what characteristics should a DAC have? A 16-bit DAC with a maximum sampling rate of 48 kHz is almost always sufficient. The last digit indicates how often the converter reads the signal during recording or playback.
It is believed that this parameter should be twice as high, which will be reproduced. According to this theory, we can say that for almost any recording, 44.1 kHz is enough; this level is twice as high as the threshold for human-audible frequencies. However, tests show that the rule is not always executed as written on paper, which means that it makes sense to choose a device with a higher sampling rate for greater sound fidelity.
Marketing gimmicks
I must say that the numbers written in the brochures are not always true, they are often greatly exaggerated. For example, a card with a declared sampling rate of 98 KHz may sound much worse than a device with more modest numbers. "How to choose the right sound card if you can't trust the specifications?" - the user will ask. When studying the technique, pay attention to the company that made the DAC. The best are Ti-Burr Brown, Wolfson, Texas Instruments.
In addition to the manufacturer, it is worth finding out and serial number DAC. He points to the "advanced" model. That is, what more figure, so modern development... You can check the code name of the chip only on the manufacturer's website.
If several are installed on the audio card, it is desirable that they all be the same. Often a high-quality DAC is used for the central channels, and an inexpensive one for those around. This reduces not only the price of the end device, but also the quality of multichannel sound.
EAX
Before choosing a sound card for your computer, ask if your hardware supports EAX technology. Also, be sure to check which version you are using. To date, the oldest is 5.0.
If we talk in simple words, EAX - "audio positioning" technology. The closest analogue is DirectSound3D. It controls the coordinates of the audio source in 3D space. V computer games This system is used most often, with its help effects are added to the game that create the illusion of the distance of the sound source and its location relative to the listener (left, right, back).
To what has already been said, it should be added that EAX emulates reflections and reverberations. This gives the user a feel for the parameters of the game world. For open world, a cramped room and an empty multi-story building, the nature of the same audio recording will be different.
ASIO
ASIO is a protocol used to transfer audio information with minimal latency. Enrollment in special applications almost impossible if ASIO does not support a sound card for your computer. How do you choose the best option?
This technology is a must for musicians. If the computer is used not as a recording studio, but as a multimedia combine, ASIO can be considered an optional function.
Midi interface
If the user is going to write arrangements, then what should a sound card for a computer have in this case, how to choose suitable device? Important feature audio cards - availability of midi-inputs and outputs. They are used to connect synthesizers and musical keyboards.
With the help of such an interface, not an analog signal is sent to the sound device, but information about which key is pressed, whether it is fully lowered, with what force and speed the user pressed it. All data is transferred to the program, and the program is already playing the sound. Moreover, the possibilities of these programs are enormous. You can use those that emulate real instruments (for example, piano, guitar, drums), or you can create your own unique and unlike anything preset.
Phantom Power
If you intend to use a capacitor, you should be aware that not every sound card for a computer can work with such equipment. How to choose the right device? It's simple - just ask about phantom power on the audio card. Remember, dynamic microphones require this element to be absent! Phantom power can damage them.
Instrument and line inputs
If you are going to install an audio card for recording an electric guitar in your computer, it must have an instrument input (also known as high impedance).
Its resistance level is high enough (about 1 megohm), which makes it possible to transmit a signal from the instrument to the computer without loss. If you connect your guitar to the normal input, you will lose a significant part of the overtones and low frequencies to make the sound dull. In this case, not a sonorous beautiful sound will be recorded, but a dull sound with a loss of low frequencies. A large microphone jack is often used as a connector.
Line In is required to connect various stereo devices (player, turntable) to the audio card. Typically, each channel has its own connector. You won't be able to connect a guitar or a microphone to it, the recording volume in this case will turn out to be very quiet.
Built-in preamplifier
A preamplifier is another module that can be supplied with a sound card for a computer. How to choose the right one and which one is better - with or without him?
First you need to figure out what a preamplifier is. The amplitude of the signal that goes from the microphone to the input is very low. For recording, you have to amplify it, and then stabilize the volume. It is this function that is assigned to the preamplifier. Not all audio cards have it. Even if your device has a microphone input, the preamp may not be there. Then the software does its job. However, in this case, the amplitude not only of the useful signal increases, but also of noise with interference.
Choosing a sound card for your PC: is a preamp required?
For musicians or announcers, having a preamp is a great bonus. But in this case it was not without a fly in the ointment. The quality of built-in amplifiers is almost always quite modest, while the price rises significantly due to such a built-in element. I must say that adding an additional device similar type you can always, so you shouldn't add it to the must-have list.
Conclusion
Since it is impossible to choose a sound card without wasting time, you will have to familiarize yourself with big amount offers from different stores of computer equipment. Of course, if you have no desire to study numbers, you can go the other way - by comparison. To do this, you need to listen to the same audio recording on different devices... In this case, the one that sounds the most pleasant will be appropriate.
Remember that the audio board is only part of the sound reproduction system. You also need a high-quality amplifier and solid speakers. Without them, all efforts aimed at selecting equipment will be in vain.
