Ableton Forum

Hi,
I'm new to using Ableton, and something RE sound card is not clear to me, even if some other members posted probably something similar before here.
My laptop comes with SoundMAX Integrated Digital HD Audio (16 bit) installed,
but I'd like to know if this is sufficient to start learning Ableton options, components and start recording digital sound.
In the beginning I don't intend to use midi and similar components, but should I consider external sound card to capture higher sound quality of sound blocks I intend to build with Ableton?
Thanks for any suggestions and ideas.
Cheers, Balonny!!

If by "capture" you mean recording external audio into Live, then yes, you will probably want to get an external sound card (Audio Interface). But it sounds to me like you want to be creating sound within live (and maybe other software). If that's the case, your internal sound card will work fine, to start. The audio quality won't be super high, but it shouldn't be unlistenable. Long story short, you can absolutely start learning Live with your internal sound card. But if you get really into it, you'll probably be looking for an external audio interface before long.

Hope this helps, and welcome!

Chris

Thanks Chris, much appreciated and will help me to start learning my way around Ableton. Will probably ask more "strange" questions during first weeks.

@ funken, hi and thanks for getting back to me on that one... well now I'm really just trying to figure out what is what, and later on when I'm confident in using ableton better I will get an audio interface and some mid range (price wise) midi keyboards..

Hi Balonny,

Two basics if you want to 'record':
- any sound you generate in your computer/ableton can be recorded without any loss in quality.
- any sound you generate outside (via external hardware or instruments) will need a link to your computer - a soundcard.
So forget about the soundcard issue if you just started and still need to find out how you will use your software (recording, producing, playing live...)

But maybe you just want to connect your computer to your monitors - then of course the quality of the soundcard is important. Or better the quality of the converter built into the sc. (the converter converts the digital signal into sound) In this case I would recommend any soundcard using Cirrus Logic converters, e.g. Native Instruments or Apogee, depending on your budget.
Now if you want to buy a soundcard consider two things:
- is it just to transfer sound from your computer to speakers (you only need a simple soundcard with line out), or
- is it to combine sounds from ableton with external instruments (then you need a soundcard with line ins, where you can plug in e.g. a synth or guitar and rout the sound into your software)?

I myself play live (house) and use as little gear as possible, this is my choice when I have to travel in order to play, it's cheap, it's very small and has the same sound quality as any other soundcard from NI.
http://www.native-instruments.com/#/en/ ... r-audio-2/

Does that help?

Ralph Prollé
http://soundcloud.com/ralphproll

Hi Ralph,
This couldn't be more clear, exactly the kind of advice and suggestions I needed at this point in time.
It was important for me to start of the right foot, and such insightful explanations helps me great deal.
Thanks a bunch!!!!
Balonny

word! I started myself using a crappy PC and my old DJ headphones
it's better to wait spending a lot of money on gear until you know what exactly you want and can do instead of ending up with stuff that does not match your needs.
You're welcome, have fun with your music
Ralph

I agree Ralph, it's better to understand how things work at first, and only afterwards take the next step.
Cheers!!