Audiophile 2496 questions

[YJMCowboy]

Hi,

I just wanted to ask about any compatibility problems
encountered by the M-Audio Audiophile 2496 soundcard
when paired with AMD or VIA chipset boards.

Gusto ko san bumili sa states but am thinking of the compatibility risk.
I'm just using a Creative Vibra Card, Behringer mixer. Do you guys think
the Audiophile sound card purchase would give me a big leap in terms
of sound, or would it be better to get an outboard pre like an Ultragain,
ART tube MP or some other cheap mic pre. I use an AT2020 condenser.
Am looking to get a studio like sound, which do I buy first?
Sound card or pre. I'm on a limited budget.

Thanks.

[chuck sabbath]

i have an audiophile2496 with an ecs motherboard and athlon 2000  processor...it was a proven safe configuration when i bought them 5+ years ago. i think there was a compatibility issue with first generation chipsets but it was since rectified

the 2496 is definitely a big improvement over consumer soundcards, if you do get a preamp, your creative soundcard will still be the weak link; you will still have noise and latency issues

the 2496 is a good solid soundcard but there have been a few worthy competitors that have come out since...you might want to check out emu

[KitC]

You might want to avoid Via chipsets except for the K8T800 which seems to work well with audio.

[YJMCowboy]

Thanks for the replies Chuck and Kit.


Specifically the chipsets in my Gigabyte Motherboard are
AMD 761 ( Memory,PCI,AGP controller )
VIA VT2C686B ( PCI Super I/O Peripheral controller )

 i think the AMD 761 is the main chipset. This controls
the PCI slot.

The PC was bought 2002.
So there's a plus point to get the 2496
since Chuck's was bought 5+ years back.
They may have solved any problems.

I'm tired of hearing the hiss on the Vibra.
I just got an AT2020. It records well, but
I have to be very careful setting the levels right.
I have to make the signal hot enough without
making the hiss too loud. I dream of the day
when the hiss will just go away. It distracts
me whenever i record. I'd like to be able to
crank the pre amps on the mixer because the
audio always sounds bigger when cranked a bit,
but there's always that hiss.

Regarding latency, I don't think I have noticed
it very often. But there was one time i recorded
some rough tracks. Blues guitar with just lead and rhythm.
I noticed there was a kind of "micro-lag". Like the lead wasn't
in sync with the rhythm. It could be my loose playing,
but I haven't experienced any serious problems with latency.
Even when monitoring since i don't send the card output
back to the mixer. I believe that causes a delay during playback with a
mixer without the 3-4 alt.

Thanks for the helpful points guys.

[stratman1]

I have a 2496 but not paired with AMD. Maganda naman ang performance ng 2496 for personal use. Latency is not an issue with me dahil gamit ako ng outboard mixer. Compatible din ang 2496 with Sonars and M-Powered Protools.

[KitC]

I dream of the day
when the hiss will just go away. It distracts
me whenever i record. I'd like to be able to
crank the pre amps on the mixer because the
audio always sounds bigger when cranked a bit,
but there's always that hiss.

Check you signal path for sources of hiss. It's sometimes the mic pre, sometimes a fader that isn't needed. Always begin a channel with the fader at 0 dB than adjust the trim for the best possible SNR. Set all unneeded faders and auxes to infinity and bring them up only as needed. With console EQ, it's better to cut first than to boost.

Regarding latency, I don't think I have noticed
it very often. But there was one time i recorded
some rough tracks. Blues guitar with just lead and rhythm.
I noticed there was a kind of "micro-lag". Like the lead wasn't
in sync with the rhythm. It could be my loose playing,
but I haven't experienced any serious problems with latency.
Even when monitoring since i don't send the card output
back to the mixer. I believe that causes a delay during playback with a
mixer without the 3-4 alt.

I never monitor thru host software because there will always be latency. Most people don't hear latencies below 7 ms while anything above 15 ms is audible. Try to track without plugins. If a guitar track depends on a certain plug (Amplitube, NI GR), try to split the guitar signal sending the clean tone to your soundcard while sending the other to a hardware fx box that nearly duplicates the intended fx; insert the plugin only when mixing. AFAIK, the 2496 has a monitor panel that gives you zero-latency hardware monitoring.

[YJMCowboy]

Thanks for the +1 vote stratman.

Thanks for the tips Kit. I'll definitely check out my levels
nextime I record.

Peace