Why do i need outputs on a PC audio card?

[Cold Truth]

what do i need outs on an audio card for? obviously they would be used to run through a mixer and through to a mixdown deck, but why would i do that? i can record, mix, and burn to disk all inside my pc, right? is there something else that i am missing?

 

[MadScientist]

maybe its just in case you wanted to run the output from your computer directly to a sampler like a mpc or something. You can do audio editing in protools then sample the sound into a MPC....I guess.

 

[vitaminman]

Truth,

Once again you answer your own questions...

The extra outputs, I believe, were designed so that people could use their computers as virtual ADAT-type decks (8 tracks) and send everything to an external mixer for mixdown to ANOTHER deck. At least, that's what I've been told. This was before computers were fast enough to do DSP processing and other fancy stuff. Lots and lots of CEP users did before v2.0 as v.1.2 didn't have effects in the multitrack.

I've often wondered that as well, why so many cards have lots of outputs and only 2 inputs...I asked once at another forum why such cards didn't exist, and you wouldn't believe the flurry of insults I got from older tape heads!

It would make total sense to me, to have lots of inputs, record everything onto the computer without having to unplug anything, and mix exclusively on the computer. In essence my card would act as my external mixer...

I have a Delta 1010, I use all 8 inputs on it but have NEVER EVER used outputs 3/4, 5/6 or 7/8, it's been nothing but a strict diet of 1/2, baby.

Take care,

Nick

 

[light]

how bout to listen to what your doing?

 

[vitaminman]

Hey,

Duh, I forgot: multichannel audio.

If you're making audio for something like a 5.1 playback system, you need to have at least 6 outputs on your card to route all the audio to the different speakers. Now THAT'S fun, having audio spin round and round your head under the control of a joystick!!

Take care

Nick

 

[Shonsteez]

Hey V -
Can you plug some links to some exceptional soundcards that arent rediculously expensive?...Ive been considering tha audiophile for a while. but dont like tha feedback about tha poor techsupport...Maybe you have some links to external firewire setups as well? - that would be usful!

 

[vitaminman]

Hey,

I always recommend that people get either M-Audio or Echo cards because they've been in the business for a long time and they have regular updates to their drivers. They also offer a wide range of cards with different numbers and types of outputs. From what I can tell, they sound pretty good and won't break the bank.

Oh, and they work with practically all softwares.

I have an M-Audio Delta 1010 and never needed tech support for it, for the most part it has been trouble free, except for its control panel which was a little buggy a few years ago.

Take care,

Nick

 

[Shonsteez]

Hey Nick -

What about this thing?

http://www.midiman.net/products/m-audio/fw410.php

I was wanting to get it cuz its firewire, but i cant really see very many in's?....I wanted it so that i could jus replace my existing soundcard, without actually replacing it - is that a good idea?......I was planning on having tha abilities to let my dj throw scratches into tha computer through tha 410, and record lyrics as well.

Steeze

 

[Cold Truth]

hey when you said "its been all 1/2 baby!" what did that mean, exactly? i am assuming that you are mixing down to tape or an external burner.... i ask because i always assume that i have what i need and then i find that i need another piece. all i want to know, FOR SURE, is wether or not i can do an entire track in cubase sx (i should be getting this tomorrow), vocals and all, and burn to a cd without a need for any other external hardware outside of the audio card (i am looking at the delta 1010 lt version) ...

 

[vitaminman]

Truth,

I meant that I've never used the 3/4, 5/6, 7/8 outputs. The 1/2 outputs are patched back into my mixer, which sends the audio out to my speakers.

Yes, you can do an entire track using only Cubase SX, my latest track Into Your Mind was sequenced, recorded, edited and mixed entirely in Cubase SX.

http://www.soundclick.com/bands/3/vitaminmanmusic.htm

Take care,

Nick

 

[dacalion]

Truth, I use the output on my PC card to {1.} run thru the main system and {2.} use external processors/sampler and CD-RW if I don't do it with the software on my computer. Even if I didn't do any external recording or processing, I'd still like to have the option if I needed it. An output is also good if you Network and have more than 1 CPU that you record on.

--dacalion