Old soundcard = bad sound ?

[AppO]

Hi,

Just a basic question... I use a 15 years old Turtle Beach soundcard on my PC. Does it affect the quality of my MPT tracks based on samples ? Will I hear a tremedous improvement, if I catch a brand new card ?

Thanks !

AppO

:wink:

[KrazyKatz]

I have half an answer for you.

If you are recording from a mic or synth to P.C through the card, then soundcard definitely makes a difference ( better converters for analogue to digital ). However, that means buying a professional card designed for recording.

If you're using other pre-recorded samples than I'm not sure.

[bvanoudtshoorn]

There will be a definite difference in the sound that you hear. And that will mean that you'll deal with your tracks according to that sound, so they'll sound different. But the soundcard itself won't affect the samples themselves, only how they sound when played on that particular soundcard.

[Saga Musix]

Basically, it will sound the same on all devices since all mixing is performed in software. However, old soundcards may not support 44khz oder 16bit playback and other "effects" that improve quality.

[LPChip]

I know that soundcard, because my dad had it in one of his older pc's.

If you can upgrade, do!!!

In the time, I've had many different soundcards, and most were even good ones.

In the IT era, I had a Gravis Ultra Sound. Went to a Creative AWE 32 Soundcard, then to a SB Live, SB audigy and I now have an SB X-Fi Elite pro.

Each soundcard is better than the previous, and with each purchase, my songs became alot better. Not just because it sounds nicer, but as bvanoudshoorn points out, by not hearing the sound, you don't hear your mistakes that much either. My XFi now even plays noise if a sample has it, which allows me to seek for good samples, but even tracking using bad samples is better now becaues it just sounds good.

Do note tnat the same applies to speakers. If you upgrade your speakers regulary (say, on a 2 or 3 year bases) you will see how much of a difference this makes. Unless ofcource you already have studio monitors.

[AppO]

Thanks to all. Things are more understandable for me. Jut one last question : does the quality of the card affect the quality of the wav rendering ?


AppO

[Saga Musix]

as said, mixing is performed in software. this also means that the WAV is calculated in software, too. The difference only becomes obvious if you listen to the music. the bytes in your WAV file remain the same.

[maleek]

Following Jojo, the short answer to your question AppO is: No