Sound Card or Audio Interface? l Recording Studio Guide
THE DIGITAL RECORDING STUDIO:
A Practical Guide to Music Recording By: James@audiomecca, Copyright 2007.
Sound Card or Audio Interface?
Choosing what is best for your needs
Choosing
between an audio interface or an internal sound card can become
complicated for anyone who's not completely sure they KNOW what they
want. FYI: Feeling overwhelmed by the selection and additional options
can turn people away from building a home recording studio, and it is
normal to feel this way. You are entering an unfamiliar realm of music
equipment. In this situation it helps to remember that the gear -
is neccessary to provide the means. Music recording equipment are
the tools used to facilitate your every sonic expression. If this is
why you have been researching the equipment, then don't be deterred by
this new territory of recording equipment. If music production is not
something you really want to pursue, then I
would start out with a demo of some music software first. Either way, I
have written these articles to provide the basic structure of what's
involved in the modern
recording studio, and how to these components work. I make statements
that are factual, and will inform you when things are preferential. We
have built this site to be a credible source of useful
information. My articles aim to provide factual reference to the
equipment and functions in a recording studio, explain common
techniques for using this equipment, and give some tips I have learned
in my production experience and education. Check some of our other articles on the subject of recording music here.
(Click on the highlighted music terms to learn their definitions in our music dictionary.)
This section will explain the following main topics:
- Understanding
the functions of a sound card/audio inteface.
- Understanding
the difference between the sound card and the audio interface.
- Understanding
what you need, to get the best sound card you can afford.
What is a sound card and what does it do?
- A sound card is a
chip that installs into your computer.
- A sound card receives audio signals and
converts them into digital audio.
The conventional Sound Card is a chip that is installed into
your computers PCI slot.
An
Audio Interface does the same thing. It converts input audio signals.
It is just in the form of a hardware interface that connects to your pc
or mac. An audio interface is an external device that receives an
analog signal, and sends it to your music software application in its
digital
form. For example; by plugging a microphone into an audio
interface with a
compatible audio sequencer, an audio interface can convert the analog
microphone signal and record a digital audio file onto a track. This
can be
done with a sound card as well.
Mobile and Rack-mount Interfaces
Just
about every pro
audio manufacturer offers audio interfaces in both a portable and
rack-mount unit. Portable interfaces are easy to transport and are
conveinant for the traveling-music-man. They are also nice to start out with because they are very simple to use, and can take a few um, accidents. There are big
advantages in mobility. Projects can be pieced together in many different
places. Having equipment that is flexible enough to meet the demands of
creativity can be an important factor for spot recording and production of that
nature. I’ve found most portable interfaces to be surprisingly durable. (I
took one to Iraq with me and it still works fine.)
Rackmount is a larger hardware unit intended to slide into a rack of
other rackmount music equipment. These interfaces are less resistant to
bumps and bruises. They are engineered to be secured in a
permanent/semi-permanent living space. These interfaces can boast top
notch analog to digital converter, and impressive microphone preamps.
This qualitative improvement will obviously raise the prices; as will
in/outputs, conversion rates, and extras on the interface.
Most quality audio interfaces can give you pretty good bang for the
buck. Portable audio interfaces promote their ease of use, and they can
help you start out and then upgrade when you notice you need to do so.
They are resiliant (in my experiences) to on-the-road battle scars. Rackmount models are reasonably priced and can provide a powerful tool to professionalswho know what they're doing. Their are lower end rackmount models, some
to be had at good deals, but most of them are not plug and play - per
say.
Connection Options
Audio Interfaces can
interact with your pc via:
-
Fire-wire: Speed
-
USB: Plug and play quick
-
PCI: More tracks and no need for attach/unattachment, because it is installed.
-
(Some high-end studios use state of the art HD Sound Cards that are capable of the
highest possible sampling rate and bit
depth.)
In most cases
they all produce similar sound quality, (with exception to the pro HD
card) but offer different advantages with each connection option.
There are two components within both of these devices which
factor into making a unit - produce superior/inferior audio recordings.
- Drivers – Software that ships with your
product.
- Digital
Audio Converters – The conversion of audio to digital audio, for editing and processing on
your PC. (See my Analog to Digital
Converter section for more on this subject.)
Some audio interfaces may have built in Preamps, which can
be an added benefit and may help produce a better recording. (See my Preamps section for more on this
subject.)
As I mentioned earlier there are areas in which both the
audio interface and sound card
excel. Of course, you must research that the audio
interface/card is compatible with your set-up. You should also evaluate whether
or not you want to do more portable (on the road) or stationary (in the studio)
recordings. (Respectively)
If
your just starting out and looking for something with
good sound quality, reasonable prices, and can withstand a few
accidental BANGs! A portable audio interface will give you many
options to start with
and expand on. If your looking to record solely from your home or project
studio with a generally large track count – A traditional sound card or PCI
chip with a breakout box will offer stable conversion and a large track count
at very fast speeds.
- Most importantly the A/D D/A Converter, which touches the
sound, is the most important component in both. This is the thing that
transfers the input audio and transforms it into digital audio. (See my
Difference between Audio and MIDI section for more details.) BUT, if you are
going to use dedicated a/d/a units, you can go for other specifics like number
of input/output, control surface integrated units and etc.
In Conclusion:
- Make sure you have a handle on the concepts of both before
looking for specifics.
- Research the compatibility of the interface/card and your
PC/Laptop.
- Keep in mind you are really looking for good: A/D/A/Converter and Driver within the
unit.
Remember, if you are just starting out: This is one
important component among a number of important components involved in a
quality recording studio. So assess your budget/needs carefully.
Good luck,
James
