Anybody knows about any good external sound cards?

Scissorman · 02-08-2010, 04:27 AM

A while ago I bought a laptop, which, among other things, I use for making music. But the sound card I got with it is really poor, and it's getting really annoying to make music with it. As it's integrated into the laptop, it's impossible to replace it, so I was wondering if anyone could recommend any good external sound cards (that are, of course affordable). Thanks

noise · 02-08-2010, 05:14 AM

how good is good?

i've been using this Turtle Beach one for years. got it when the on-board sound in my laptop died. then when i retired my laptop, i started using it on my desktop.

pretty impressive for its price (and size). even offers digital 5.1 output!.

it's their cheapest one, but all are quite affordable...

http://www.turtlebeach.com/products/micro/home.aspx

Scissorman · 02-08-2010, 05:54 AM

It looks great, and it's cheap too! I just need something better than this realtek crap I got with my laptop...

noise · 02-08-2010, 06:09 AM

you'll definitely notice a difference, and the price is right.

see reviews here - very positive
http://www.amazon.com/Audio-Advantag...DateDescending

P A N · 02-08-2010, 11:59 AM

what do you mean by affordable?

Scissorman · 02-08-2010, 01:50 PM

I mean not $500,00 or something like that

Freebase Dali · 02-08-2010, 04:54 PM

M-Audio offers a pretty wide selection of external cards that feature multiple inputs/outputs for instruments and microphones.
They're specifically for recording, so you know you'll get better quality and functionality than with an onboard PC audio card.

P A N · 02-09-2010, 10:16 AM

yeah... under 500 i'd go with m-audio. it won't last more than 3 years, but hopefully by then you'll have outgrown it anyway. i run a PC with XP on it though, and i had an m-audio that i used on a mac, and it just flat out wouldn't work. everything showed up on the screen and all, but no signals were being carried.

Freebase Dali · 02-09-2010, 11:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by zevokes

yeah... under 500 i'd go with m-audio. it won't last more than 3 years, but hopefully by then you'll have outgrown it anyway. i run a PC with XP on it though, and i had an m-audio that i used on a mac, and it just flat out wouldn't work. everything showed up on the screen and all, but no signals were being carried.

How surprising...

Anyway,
What do you use now?

sheraton · 02-14-2010, 10:44 AM

again M-Audio black box

.

02-08-2010, 04:27 AM	#1 (permalink)
Scissorman art is sold for money Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Belgrade, Serbia Posts: 730	Anybody knows about any good external sound cards? A while ago I bought a laptop, which, among other things, I use for making music. But the sound card I got with it is really poor, and it's getting really annoying to make music with it. As it's integrated into the laptop, it's impossible to replace it, so I was wondering if anyone could recommend any good external sound cards (that are, of course affordable). Thanks __________________ facebook Last.fm The Music I make http://www.indabamusic.com/opportuni...missions/52856

02-08-2010, 05:14 AM	#2 (permalink)
noise thirsty ears Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Boulder Posts: 742	how good is good? i've been using this Turtle Beach one for years. got it when the on-board sound in my laptop died. then when i retired my laptop, i started using it on my desktop. pretty impressive for its price (and size). even offers digital 5.1 output!. it's their cheapest one, but all are quite affordable... http://www.turtlebeach.com/products/micro/home.aspx __________________ my flac collection

02-08-2010, 05:54 AM	#3 (permalink)
Scissorman art is sold for money Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Belgrade, Serbia Posts: 730	It looks great, and it's cheap too! I just need something better than this realtek crap I got with my laptop... __________________ facebook Last.fm The Music I make http://www.indabamusic.com/opportuni...missions/52856

02-08-2010, 06:09 AM	#4 (permalink)
noise thirsty ears Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Boulder Posts: 742	you'll definitely notice a difference, and the price is right. see reviews here - very positive http://www.amazon.com/Audio-Advantag...DateDescending __________________ my flac collection

02-08-2010, 01:50 PM	#6 (permalink)
Scissorman art is sold for money Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Belgrade, Serbia Posts: 730	I mean not $500,00 or something like that __________________ facebook Last.fm The Music I make http://www.indabamusic.com/opportuni...missions/52856

02-08-2010, 11:59 AM	#5 (permalink)
P A N DO LIKE YOU. Join Date: Feb 2010 Posts: 629	what do you mean by affordable?

02-08-2010, 04:54 PM	#7 (permalink)
Freebase Dali Partying on the inside Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 5,584	M-Audio offers a pretty wide selection of external cards that feature multiple inputs/outputs for instruments and microphones. They're specifically for recording, so you know you'll get better quality and functionality than with an onboard PC audio card. __________________

02-09-2010, 10:16 AM	#8 (permalink)
P A N DO LIKE YOU. Join Date: Feb 2010 Posts: 629	yeah... under 500 i'd go with m-audio. it won't last more than 3 years, but hopefully by then you'll have outgrown it anyway. i run a PC with XP on it though, and i had an m-audio that i used on a mac, and it just flat out wouldn't work. everything showed up on the screen and all, but no signals were being carried.

02-14-2010, 10:44 AM	#10 (permalink)
sheraton Groupie Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Scotland Posts: 9	again M-Audio black box .