Sound card for surround monitoring at DVinfo.net
DV Info Net

Go Back   DV Info Net > The Tools of DV and HD Production > All Things Audio

All Things Audio
Everything Audio, from acquisition to postproduction.

Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread
Old February 9th, 2006, 11:36 AM   #1
Trustee
 
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: Brookline, MA
Posts: 1,447
Sound card for surround monitoring

Can anyone recommend an XP-compatible sound card with separate outputs for each channel? I will not be doing any recording; just sound mixing my own film soundtracks. I use Sony Vegas 6 and my receiver is a Kenwood VR-409 (to be used for driving the speakers). I am looking to spend around $100. My budget is tight, and I know I can't expect anything professional, but it will beat rendering AC3 files to pass through my Audigy.
Emre Safak is offline   Reply With Quote
Old February 9th, 2006, 04:59 PM   #2
Inner Circle
 
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: switzerland
Posts: 2,133
any audigy with 5.1 computer speaker (the logitech one are great) will allow you to edit real time with monitoring of 5.1 sound.
you just need to install the ASIO drivers and use a program that support it.
ACID PRO 4 is very easy on this.
You get a square box with the loudspeaker icons at each corner, and you just need to drag the cursor in the box to have the sound going from one speaker to another.
Giroud Francois is offline   Reply With Quote
Old February 9th, 2006, 05:12 PM   #3
Trustee
 
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: Brookline, MA
Posts: 1,447
How does it work, Giroud? I have the original Audigy (with only one stereo-mini connector), connected to a receiver through a coaxial cable. This is only good for stereo, unless I passthrough AC3 (which you can't do in real-time). Is it not possible to use my existing set of speakers?
Emre Safak is offline   Reply With Quote
Old February 9th, 2006, 05:29 PM   #4
Major Player
 
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Melbourne, Australia
Posts: 241
Emre,
You need a sound card with 5.1 analogue outputs. Pretty much any card with these outputs should work - you just pick the features/quality/cost you need. You need to connect your reciever by analogue 5.1 connections.

As you pointed out, spdif is only good for 2 channel PCM unless it is compressed to AC3 (or DTS).

Once you have everything connected you'll need to setup the audio properties in vegas to send the right channels to the right speakers, etc.

Cheers.
Kyle Ringin is offline   Reply With Quote
Old February 9th, 2006, 05:47 PM   #5
Major Player
 
Join Date: Jun 2005
Posts: 424
I used to have a Soundblaster Audigy 2 ZS on my old XP computer and it was an awesome card - beautiful, crisp and clear sound.
I think I got it for around 120 CAD brand new, so it should be right within your budget and it has an analogue output (3.5mm) for each channel.
Andrew Khalil is offline   Reply With Quote
Old February 9th, 2006, 06:11 PM   #6
Trustee
 
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: Brookline, MA
Posts: 1,447
Are m-audio and Turtle Labs any good?
Emre Safak is offline   Reply With Quote
Old February 9th, 2006, 06:14 PM   #7
 
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Stockton, UT
Posts: 5,648
M-Audio and Turtle Beach are more or less at opposite ends of the spectrum. The lowest grade M-Audio tools are about the same as the top end Turtle Beach, which are about equal to an Audigy.
Audigy cards color the sound, and they're not at all accurate. They do sound good. Like Bose speakers. Great for consumers, useless for authoring.
__________________
Douglas Spotted Eagle/Spot
Author, producer, composer
Certified Sony Vegas Trainer
http://www.vasst.com
Douglas Spotted Eagle is offline   Reply With Quote
Old February 9th, 2006, 06:19 PM   #8
Trustee
 
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: Brookline, MA
Posts: 1,447
m-audio it is... Are there any consumer solutions to getting real-time digital output from a sound card to a receiver? What about professional ones (out of curiosity)?
Emre Safak is offline   Reply With Quote
Old February 9th, 2006, 10:04 PM   #9
 
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Stockton, UT
Posts: 5,648
Some of the pro cards have optical output, but I don't know if they'll connect to a receiver or not. Never tried. Receivers are colored too, so useless for accurate sound authoring. Of course, if it's what you got, it's what you got, and what you got is better than having nothing. Audio snob that I am, my first solo album was recorded on a little Tascam 422 recorder, and it sold 600K copies. My first surround sound project was an industrial site that rebuilds Caterpillar motors, and that was authored on small plastic computer speakers. Listening to it 4 years later, it's terrible. But the client was happy. :-)

Anyway, the 410 (M-Audio) has optical out.
__________________
Douglas Spotted Eagle/Spot
Author, producer, composer
Certified Sony Vegas Trainer
http://www.vasst.com
Douglas Spotted Eagle is offline   Reply
Reply

DV Info Net refers all where-to-buy and where-to-rent questions exclusively to these trusted full line dealers and rental houses...

B&H Photo Video
(866) 521-7381
New York, NY USA

Scan Computers Int. Ltd.
+44 0871-472-4747
Bolton, Lancashire UK


DV Info Net also encourages you to support local businesses and buy from an authorized dealer in your neighborhood.
  You are here: DV Info Net > The Tools of DV and HD Production > All Things Audio

Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search

 



All times are GMT -6. The time now is 04:52 PM.


DV Info Net -- Real Names, Real People, Real Info!
1998-2024 The Digital Video Information Network