Alternative soundcard required....

GuruJockStrap · 9 Feb 2006 at 11:27

Currently have my Terratec DMX 6 Fire LT in my Shuttle, which I've downsized from my ATX case.

The problem I've got is the actual card does not have a microphone. I have to install another component into the next PCI slot and connect it to the PCI card. Obviously in a Shuttle, this is a no go.

Regretably, I'm now faced with selling this fantastic sounding card for something with a MIC port on the PCI card.

Bit out of loop with soundcards so not sure what to replace it with.

I paid £90+ for this card a while back and I'm not looking to spend anywhere near that amount again.

The system won't be used for gaming at all, but I will be using it to listen to MP3's and DVD's via my hi fi amp and speakers.

Quite tempted to pick up a second hand Videologic Sonic Fury/Turtle Beach Santa Cruz as I had one of these ages ago and was impressed by the audio quality.

Either that or I have seen:

Terratec Aureon 5.1's for £15-20
Terratec Terratec Aureon 7.1 for £32
Creative SB Audigy 4 PCI for £33

The Shuttle does have onboard audio which I suppose I could use if all else fails. But seeing as I'm hooked up to a hi fi amp and speakers and not tiny desktops, I better go for the PCI option.

Codmate · 9 Feb 2006 at 12:20

A cheaper and better solution may be to buy a Mic pre-amp (such as the M-Audio Audiobuddy - about £40) and hook it up to the line input.
http://www.dolphinmusic.co.uk/page/shop/flypage/product_id/1165

You could also look at getting a little mixer with pre's like this one (about £50):
http://www.soundslive.co.uk/product~name~Behringer-UB1002~ID~1910.asp

Taking the mic pre-amp off the soundcard and placing it outside the PC will enhance the quality of your recordings considerably.

Besides, the PCI cards you have listed are unlikely to be much better than the onboard sound mic input.

GuruJockStrap · 9 Feb 2006 at 12:25

I'm no musician by the way!

The MIC thing was purely for the use of a headset in things like Skype.

Don't care about the quality of the MIC as long as my music and films sound good through my amp and speakers, something which the onboard solution won't.

Codmate · 9 Feb 2006 at 13:45

GuruJockStrap said:
I'm no musician by the way!

The MIC thing was purely for the use of a headset in things like Skype.

Don't care about the quality of the MIC as long as my music and films sound good through my amp and speakers, something which the onboard solution won't.

In that case, why not use the onboard mic input for the microphone, and the SoundCard's outputs for playback?

This should be relativly easy to set up in Windows and your VOIP software.