SoundCard

[biohegedus]

Hi,

I have a Sony net md mz-nf810. I am using it to record life music.

I would like to transfer the music to computer (D/A->A/D conversion).

I have a very old CREATIV soundcard (at least the chip is Creative 5507?). It was working fine except that the card itself produce some noise. Other characteristics of this card: I can plug-in speakers w/o power plug (I am sorry I am not an electronics expert); it has 4 minijack out/in-let.

Because of the noise produced by this card, I would like to replace it to a new soundcard. But I do not know which one should I choose. Several months ago I read somewhere at www.minidisc.org that I need some special sound card for this. ???

I tried the built-in soundcard (on the motherboard), but I also tried a Soundblaster several months ago (I do not remember which one). But the problem is always: the output produced by the minidisc is very low for the input of the sound-card. I tired both the 'in' and 'mic' inputs; if I set the recording 'volume' to high, I can hear some music, but generaly everything is very silent...

I would appriciate some advice for a good (and cheap) soundcard.

Thanks in advance,

Tamas

[A440]

You should be able to find this for $80 or less.

http://www.m-audio.com/products/en_us/Transit-focus.html

Or this will simply give you a line-in and mic-in input, which is all you need.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00006BAL...glance&n=172282

Is the music recorded on the disc itself very quiet?

You have to figure out a way to get a louder recording: higher manual volume, a more sensitive microphone, etc.

Or is your MD unit possibly a European model with limits on output volume?

Search for "hack" in the forums.

Edited December 11, 2005 by A440

[Christopher]

What about the Chaintech AV710? Cheap and powerful.

[A440]

AV-710 is internal, for a desktop. The others are outboard via USB.

[biohegedus]

The music is rcorded on the disk at a good sound level. I can transfer it to the computer with the old sound card with good levels/qulatity (just the small noise sometimes caused by the card...).

I will try one of them. Thanks.

You should be able to find this for $80 or less.

http://www.m-audio.com/products/en_us/Transit-focus.html

Or this will simply give you a line-in and mic-in input, which is all you need.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00006BAL...glance&n=172282

Is the music recorded on the disc itself very quiet?

You have to figure out a way to get a louder recording: higher manual volume, a more sensitive microphone, etc.

Or is your MD unit possibly a European model with limits on output volume?

Search for "hack" in the forums.

[KrazyIvan]

Just a quick note. I had a Creative LAbs 5.1 card that I used all the time for dubbing. It did produce some noise and I found out it was RF interference from my PSU or my graphics card. I moved the card to the very furthestt slot at the bottom of the case and fabricated a RF shield out of sheet metal. It did reduce the noise I was getting in my recordings. I eventually switched to a Creative Extigy for the optical I/O's.

[biohegedus]

Good idea, thanks! I did something similar yesterday :-)

I moved the old 'noisy' card to another computer; so it works now great for me...

Just a quick note. I had a Creative LAbs 5.1 card that I used all the time for dubbing. It did produce some noise and I found out it was RF interference from my PSU or my graphics card. I moved the card to the very furthestt slot at the bottom of the case and fabricated a RF shield out of sheet metal. It did reduce the noise I was getting in my recordings. I eventually switched to a Creative Extigy for the optical I/O's.