Sound cards with front panel i/o

amateur viking · 1 Feb 2011 at 10:03

Hi folks, I'm looking to upgrade the sound in my computer (currently using onboard/RealTek) and I'm haveing a bit of trouble finding a product that fits what I need, so I thought I would pick your collective brains.

Basically I'm looking for a decent (not necessarily spectacular) PCIe sound card (simple so far!). What I would really like (and have so far been unable to find) is one with a 5 1/4" front panel I/O with 6.3 mm jacks - i.e. the kind you'd use for an electric guitar (any other bells and whistles a bonus).

Usage is for (non-competitive) gaming and primarily as a practice amp/effects processor/recording playback. Ideally I'd like to spend less than £150 but could stretch the budget for the right product.

The last dedicated sound card I had was the original Audigy Platinum which had exactly the kind of front panel I'm talking about - but that was ten years ago (feeling old). And the closest I can find is the Creative Fatal1ty X-Fi Titanium (it at least has a front panel), but seems a bit too game focused and less music orientated - if that makes sense.

Any help greatly appreciated.

AV

Divide by Zero · 1 Feb 2011 at 10:32

Hey,

As a guitarist, i can say i would never want to plug my guitar straight into my PC. I went down that road once when i was younger and it was just pants.

I then went down the road of using a mixing desk and that was pretty cool. i recorded some stuff and it came out OK but it was clunky and hard work.

I bought a POD X3 a while back and that has totally changed the way I do music now.

The POD X3 is amazing as a stand alone effects / amp modeling unit - but when you USB it into your PC it becomes even more amazing. It also has a very fast ASIO, which makes it ideal for using as your soundcard to record music, even MIDI. The POD X3 blows the heck out of anything else I tried for music recording, even my M-Audio sound card which has 10 ins, 10 out, midi etc.

If I was you, I would start saving and get a POD (or soemthing similar) for music.

PS, I also have the Creative X-Fi Fatal1ty Titamium Champion and it is amazing. But as you said, it is more for games as i really dont think the Creative ASIO is up to much. It does have 2x RCA inputs, which would be ideal for hooking in a mixer, but as I said above, that is a faffy way to go and I would aviod.

There are other products out there too, like Guitar Port and probably loads more, seriously start looking at them. But keep in mind, it is so much better to have a separate gaming sound card and audio production device - while logic says that one thing could do both as it's just sound - the nature of the beast is very different.

amateur viking · 1 Feb 2011 at 11:14

Fantastic, thanks!

You're right in that I thought a single solution would be ok for both gaming audio and my amateurish guitar-based machinations, but having had a look at some of your suggestions (Pod x3 looks awesome! Not sure I can stretch to one though) I think I shall have a look at getting something for each.

Thanks again!

PhillyDee · 1 Feb 2011 at 11:15

You could alwyas make your own with panel mount jack sockets.

Divide by Zero · 1 Feb 2011 at 16:35

PhillyDee, the physical connection is not the problem... as you could simply have a conversion cable - the problem is making the signal usable and sound any good.

Plugging a guitar into a PC is easy... it's getting it to sound any good that is the harder part.

Divide by Zero · 1 Feb 2011 at 16:45

Also, there are other products that do good USB to Guitar, the POD X2 is cool, they go for less than £100 on a popular auction site. If you want to go cheaper, Berhinger have a pre-amp for under £40 new, though connection will be different.

Take some time reading up on preamps.

kedge · 1 Feb 2011 at 18:09

amateur viking said:
The last dedicated sound card I had was the original Audigy Platinum which had exactly the kind of front panel I'm talking about.

I still have the audigy 2 zs with the front panel. I used to plug my semi acoustic guitar into the line in/mic in 2 on the front panel, the sound was good enough with creatives basic sound settings but never really tried it out in cubase or any other sequencer. I now use free fruity loops slayer with a midi controller, much more creative but obviously you don't feel the beauty of the strings.

PhillyDee · 1 Feb 2011 at 18:12

Divide by Zero said:
PhillyDee, the physical connection is not the problem... as you could simply have a conversion cable - the problem is making the signal usable and sound any good.

Plugging a guitar into a PC is easy... it's getting it to sound any good that is the harder part.

Just fulfilling this bit:
What I would really like (and have so far been unable to find) is one with a 5 1/4" front panel I/O with 6.3 mm jacks - i.e. the kind you'd use for an electric guitar (any other bells and whistles a bonus).

Pick a auitable sound card. Make the front panel. This is the better solution!

.temp · 1 Feb 2011 at 20:46

i used to stick my guitar straight into my computer (had midi connections on front)...it was terrible

i'd never recommend going straight into the computer. get a pod or something similar to do the guitar processing...the software is usually pretty good too