Skip to main content ↑ ↓
Topic: Sound cards (Read 5706 times) previous topic - next topic

Sound cards

I bought Noteworthy so that my children, who all play in the school swing band, could arrange new pieces etc.

Their music teacher has become quite excited about the work that they have done and is proposing buying two or three copies for his senior students to use The problem is that he has asked me to set him up with three computers for the purpose and I am really not experienced enough to choose the sound cards. At least one of the machines needs to be of "Performance quality" so that six or eight part composition can be played through a sound system for groups to listen to. As well as replaying MIDI files uplifted from the keyboard, edited and replayed.

I have always used Sound Blaster which was good enough for my ear, but probably not on a good sound system. The teacher has a catalogue of some Turtle Beach cards. Can anyone make recomendations on make and model at under say GBP 150 ($200) on the basis that I know of nowhere where I can listen to one, so it will be a case of buy it and stick with it.

Any assistance greatfully recieved

Regards Dave Puttock Derby, England.

Re: Sound cards

Reply #1 –
I've heard the Turtle Beach is just great. Ensoniq has always had the most natural sounding sounds, though. Best bet might be to play them back through midi out to a keyboard. Most keyboards sound better than sound cards. Can you find a user's group where they're using different cards and get to listen to some? Or your local computer dealer?

Re: Sound cards

Reply #2 –
With really fast PII CPU and lots of memory in the computer a pci sound card is probably a winner.
Failing the super computer an awe 64 is pretty good value for dollars..(pounds)
Ensoniq is now another way to say Soundblaster (Tongue in cheek, corporate takeover by Creative Labs).

Re: Sound cards

Reply #3 –
j'habite en france et je parle trés peu en anglais. Je voudrais avoir une réponse en francais concernant le type de carte son que je peux employer sur mon micro. Merci de me repondre en francais si possible

Re: Sound cards

Reply #4 –
I have the TBS-2000, the basic card by Turtle Beach. I am quite happy with it. It's wavetable synthesis is very good to my ears. The SB products are priced low, relative to other cards, but based on what I've read, and heard, they are not the best quality cards. For example, the AWE-32 and 64 are both only half-duplex in hardward. I think you can do as well or better looking at the TBS-2000 or the Tropez sound cards for quality.

To give you some perspective on my opinion, I started my college career back in the late 70s as a music composition student. Although I switched to a somewhat more stable career field (economics) I've remained involved in music at the amateur, and occaisionally semi-pro level. I'm planning on purchasing Turtle Beaches' Pinnacle Project Studio for an all-in-one digital audio/midi work station.

The following URL has an execellent discussion about sound cards in general and which ones are suited to purposes.

http://www.borg.com/%7Ejglatt/tutr/midicard.htm

Re: Sound cards

Reply #5 –
If you need REALLY good sound quality that won't cost $$$$$$$$, get MIDInight Express and demo files at http://www.polyhedric.com

All you have to buy is the CD sampler library--MIDInight Express is free. The quality of this is astounding--especially for <$30!!! and you don't even need a fancy sound card. Get a SB 16 WAVeffects for $50 this will provide adequate sound for pieces under developement (in NoteWorthy) The only thing you can't do is follow the watch the score play. You must export to midi first in order to use MIDInight Express.

Re: Sound cards

Reply #6 –
I'm much better for my li'l brother 486 for that job.

Re: Sound cards

Reply #7 –
I've been very happy with my recently acquired "Audiotrix 3D-XG". It goes for about $390 CDN (or about $250 US - don't know what that would be in pounds).

You can check out the specs by visiting their web site at http://www.mediatrix.com.

Regards,
Fred Nachbaur