Hello everyone!
Im a DNB producer and im going deep and deep everyday inside the world of music production.
But now i'm facing some problems on hardware/software, and i want to ask here some tips.
1. About Audio card or interface.
1.1 Do i need an external audiocard for my macbook pro or Tower PC?
Im producing with the built in audiocard of the mac, but someone told me that with an external audiocard i will have a cleaner and better sound, and i will hear some frequencies on the monitors that i cant hear with the built in.
It is true?
If yes, which kind of audiocard do i need? Dj audiocards are not for producers, exactly?
Is the Macbook pro Built in audio card enough?
1.2 If i'm using a pc tower, can i use a pci audiocard? it is enough the audiocard built in on my motherboard Asrock p45X3 Deluxe (http://asrock.com/mb/overview.asp?Model=P45X3%20Deluxe)? (intended for hard gaming)
1.3 I'm facing some overload with multiple Massive and drum racks on Ableton. 8.1
An external audiocard on my macbook pro will help the processor in anyway?
If yes, which kind of audiocard or interface do i need?
Sorry for all the questions but there are a lot of products on the net called "audiocards" and dont know which i need for produce music with a DAW, and if i need one at all.
A 3.5ghz core 2 duo processor will be enough for any ableton task? (im producing with a macbook pro but i have a gaming box in my home town)
2. About Monitors.
Someone suggested me to buy monitor with at least 5" sub, because i need all the frequences possible for produce good drum and bass.
It is true?
If yes which are the cheapest monitor i can buy (but good enough for produce good music)?
He suggested me krk rookit 5 has the entry level, saying to me that everything else behind is crap.
What about Alesis M1 Active 520?
Esi near08?
About Audio Card/interface and Monitors.
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savyurrecords
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Re: About Audio Card/interface and Monitors.
1. True
2. True
An audio interface will also allow you to have a lower latency when playing plug in instruments. It will also improve the overall sound. As to what interface to get I would advise to get one with as many inputs as you require. The DJ or Producer labels are pretty redundant and not mutually exclusive, therefore ignore the marketing terms. Really anything these days sounds pretty good, of course the more you pay the better but that is true of all things right. PCI is one of the fastest buses out there so if you have the proper slots and they are free there is no reason you couldn't use a PCI card. I feel though that the convenience of an external box for hooking up my various sound generators is better so I use firewire. USB is totally fine nowadays as well. It just depends on how much IO that you need. Most don't need very much at all.
Regarding speakers, look you cant cheat physics. In order to produce low frequencies you need a big box. I use the Alesis ones but to tell you the truth I don't do bass heavy music. They are adequate for my hobby but as I said before you get what you pay for. I would advise you to get a system with a sub. The best you can afford. Monitors make a huge difference.
2. True
An audio interface will also allow you to have a lower latency when playing plug in instruments. It will also improve the overall sound. As to what interface to get I would advise to get one with as many inputs as you require. The DJ or Producer labels are pretty redundant and not mutually exclusive, therefore ignore the marketing terms. Really anything these days sounds pretty good, of course the more you pay the better but that is true of all things right. PCI is one of the fastest buses out there so if you have the proper slots and they are free there is no reason you couldn't use a PCI card. I feel though that the convenience of an external box for hooking up my various sound generators is better so I use firewire. USB is totally fine nowadays as well. It just depends on how much IO that you need. Most don't need very much at all.
Regarding speakers, look you cant cheat physics. In order to produce low frequencies you need a big box. I use the Alesis ones but to tell you the truth I don't do bass heavy music. They are adequate for my hobby but as I said before you get what you pay for. I would advise you to get a system with a sub. The best you can afford. Monitors make a huge difference.
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zion1alpha
- Posts: 7
- Joined: Wed Aug 03, 2011 10:29 pm
Re: About Audio Card/interface and Monitors.
Hey thanks very much for the fast reply, now i have a better idea of what i need and why.
I dont need at all I/O because i do quite all with Massive and other sinth, and i'm going to buy with a friend Komplete 8 from N/I and i will have close to infinite sounds.
Maybe for vocal recordings, or if i will have to register my guitar for experiment what can happen.
Is this kind of audio cards good for DJing too?
What about Focusrite, Emu, Infrasonic, Alesis, M-audio? All of this brand have entry level audiocard around 100/130€.
Thanks for all, any other suggestion is appreciate.
I dont need at all I/O because i do quite all with Massive and other sinth, and i'm going to buy with a friend Komplete 8 from N/I and i will have close to infinite sounds.
Maybe for vocal recordings, or if i will have to register my guitar for experiment what can happen.
Is this kind of audio cards good for DJing too?
What about Focusrite, Emu, Infrasonic, Alesis, M-audio? All of this brand have entry level audiocard around 100/130€.
Thanks for all, any other suggestion is appreciate.
Re: About Audio Card/interface and Monitors.
Some good advice there, but I'm not 100% sure savyyourrecords is completely correct regarding the interface, although I'm hoping that someone can step in and let me know either way. It's true that you might get lower latency, but this is entirely dependant on the drivers and the type of interface. I don't think it will do anything at all about CPU load though - maxing out without an interface is still going to max out with one unless you start messing with your buffer settings.
In terms of overall sound - again, an interface will provide you better connections (XLR) to plug in your monitors, but the actual sound quality is going to be the same assuming the settings are the same. The preamps on the interface will definitely make a difference to the quality for when you're recording vocals / guitars etc in, but if you're just working with a soft-synth coming out of your interface to your speakers, it won't make a difference.
In regards to DJing, you want a minimum of 4 outs (one stereo set to the PA, one stereo set for monitoring / headphones). Like Savyurrecords said, the key thing is to decide the ins/outs you need.
I've got a Focusrite Saffire 6 - the preamps are well-known for being good, it's got 4 outs, but I hear that comparatively speaking the latency on it isn't great. Sounds like 2 in / 4 out would serve you fine, but shop around and compare the key points Savyurrecords mentioned.
As for subs, in an ideal world then a sub would be great. But be careful - if the room you are producing in isn't carefully arranged and treated, especially if the room is quite small, a sub might cause more trouble than it would solve. It's the hardest thing to gauge when producing, and gets most effected by the room. KRK5s go down deep enough for most genres, but DnB is definitely one that needs a little more attention to the deep lows. Maybe look at KRK6 without a seperate sub - but again, really depends on the room you're working in.
In terms of overall sound - again, an interface will provide you better connections (XLR) to plug in your monitors, but the actual sound quality is going to be the same assuming the settings are the same. The preamps on the interface will definitely make a difference to the quality for when you're recording vocals / guitars etc in, but if you're just working with a soft-synth coming out of your interface to your speakers, it won't make a difference.
In regards to DJing, you want a minimum of 4 outs (one stereo set to the PA, one stereo set for monitoring / headphones). Like Savyurrecords said, the key thing is to decide the ins/outs you need.
I've got a Focusrite Saffire 6 - the preamps are well-known for being good, it's got 4 outs, but I hear that comparatively speaking the latency on it isn't great. Sounds like 2 in / 4 out would serve you fine, but shop around and compare the key points Savyurrecords mentioned.
As for subs, in an ideal world then a sub would be great. But be careful - if the room you are producing in isn't carefully arranged and treated, especially if the room is quite small, a sub might cause more trouble than it would solve. It's the hardest thing to gauge when producing, and gets most effected by the room. KRK5s go down deep enough for most genres, but DnB is definitely one that needs a little more attention to the deep lows. Maybe look at KRK6 without a seperate sub - but again, really depends on the room you're working in.
Live 7.0.18 | Axiom 61 | Launchpad | Homous | Nanokontrol | Saffire 6 | Ibanez Jazzmaster Bass | Biscuits
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Re: About Audio Card/interface and Monitors.
An external sound card will not help your overloading and underruns. The only way to fix that is to either increase your ram or upgrade your processor.. or both.
But you probably dont need interface unless your preforming your music or cuing your dj mixes.
But you probably dont need interface unless your preforming your music or cuing your dj mixes.
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savyurrecords
- Posts: 320
- Joined: Wed Sep 02, 2009 10:38 am
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Re: About Audio Card/interface and Monitors.
To the OP. You might not need inputs but you do need at least an output, well two for stereo.
The quality of the sound coming from different digital to analog converters will sound different. How much depends on a lot of things. An audio interface will sound better than your built in sound card. I have been recording on PCs since the late 90s and I have always found that to be true. Have you guys used a 486 66 mhz PC to record an entire band?
Do you have to get an audio interface? No of course not, but I would advise it.
The quality of the sound coming from different digital to analog converters will sound different. How much depends on a lot of things. An audio interface will sound better than your built in sound card. I have been recording on PCs since the late 90s and I have always found that to be true. Have you guys used a 486 66 mhz PC to record an entire band?
Do you have to get an audio interface? No of course not, but I would advise it.
Re: About Audio Card/interface and Monitors.
I've had sets that are unusable due to CPU load w/out an interface, but are completely stable with one. From my experience I'd say an interface definitely takes load off of your processor.
levimoniz wrote:yes i'm a hypocrite and not intelligent
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zion1alpha
- Posts: 7
- Joined: Wed Aug 03, 2011 10:29 pm
Re: About Audio Card/interface and Monitors.
Answers are different and im still confused.
An audio card will not improve the CPU Load, and will not improve the sound quality of what i hear from monitors.
It will help only if i need to register sample from instruments or vocals.
This means that my tower pc or my macbook pro and 2 monitors will have the same impact in quality of sound and everything else if we assume i produce only with a Daw, samples and plug ins.
That's correct? Or i will hear something different from monitors if i plug a soundcard?
Is something about hz/bit rate or similar things? - i dont mind at all of latency, i dont use ableton for live performance.
I produce drum and bass and i need hardware that can give me all the bass frequencies and that can reproduce truly what i see on the spectrum.
So, someone knows if i truly need a soundcard or not?
How do i will plug 2 monitors on the computer?
Anyone of you knows what hardware do Nero use? - Sorry for all the noobs questions, my money like yours are limited and i want to spend it well
An audio card will not improve the CPU Load, and will not improve the sound quality of what i hear from monitors.
It will help only if i need to register sample from instruments or vocals.
This means that my tower pc or my macbook pro and 2 monitors will have the same impact in quality of sound and everything else if we assume i produce only with a Daw, samples and plug ins.
That's correct? Or i will hear something different from monitors if i plug a soundcard?
Is something about hz/bit rate or similar things? - i dont mind at all of latency, i dont use ableton for live performance.
I produce drum and bass and i need hardware that can give me all the bass frequencies and that can reproduce truly what i see on the spectrum.
So, someone knows if i truly need a soundcard or not?
How do i will plug 2 monitors on the computer?
Anyone of you knows what hardware do Nero use? - Sorry for all the noobs questions, my money like yours are limited and i want to spend it well
Re: About Audio Card/interface and Monitors.
If you want to produce professional sounding and quality music, then YES, you definitely need an audio interface and monitor speakers. If you just want to mess around, you absolutely do not.
For an interface: anything with 4 ins and 4 outs will suffice. However, I would always look for more than less, because you may outgrow it quickly. Suggestions: Focusrite 8i6 or NI Komplete Audio 6.
Monitors: Here you can go crazy spending money. If your doing DnB, your going to have a ton of lows, you want something 8", and a sub eventually. I'd start off cheap, monitors seem to hold value decently well so you can always sell them. Suggestions: KRK Rokit 8, or Yamaha HS 80M.
For an interface: anything with 4 ins and 4 outs will suffice. However, I would always look for more than less, because you may outgrow it quickly. Suggestions: Focusrite 8i6 or NI Komplete Audio 6.
Monitors: Here you can go crazy spending money. If your doing DnB, your going to have a ton of lows, you want something 8", and a sub eventually. I'd start off cheap, monitors seem to hold value decently well so you can always sell them. Suggestions: KRK Rokit 8, or Yamaha HS 80M.
Re: About Audio Card/interface and Monitors.
Dood,
dont worry about what Nero uses haha. That mufucker's a pro. he probably has thousands of dollars worth of the best quality studio equipment available. If you are looking for those super low frequencies, than yes, you would need an external sound card. To be honest though, you probably wont hear much of a difference in sound. The quality may be a little better. I bought an audio interface, but not for the external sound card. I bought my so i can dj and cue my music.
dont worry about what Nero uses haha. That mufucker's a pro. he probably has thousands of dollars worth of the best quality studio equipment available. If you are looking for those super low frequencies, than yes, you would need an external sound card. To be honest though, you probably wont hear much of a difference in sound. The quality may be a little better. I bought an audio interface, but not for the external sound card. I bought my so i can dj and cue my music.