sound card for music production

[artyfresh]

im looking for a sound card with a built-in amp such as the one below for example

ASUS Xonar Essence STX Virtual 7.1 Channels PCI Express x1 Interface 124 dB SNR / Headphone AMP Card

    * Virtual 7.1 Channels
    * 24-bit 192KHz
    * PCI Express x1 Interface...

    * Audio Chipset: ASUS AV100
    * Sample Rate: 192KHz
    * Digital Audio: 24-bit
    * SNR: 118 dB Input Signal-to-Noise Ratio 124dB for Front-out 110dB for Headphone-out dB

my question is how or what settings should i be looking or how will i know it will be fully compatible to work full performance with the following headsets

$56 - Audio Technica ATHM40FS Precision Studio Headphones

$69 - Fostex RP T40RP

$80 - Sony MDR7506 Professional Large Diaphragm Headphone

$104 - Audio-Technica ATH-M50 Studio Monitor Headphones

$115 - M-Audio Studiophile Q40 Closed-back Dynamic Headphones

$149 - Shure SRH840 Professional Monitoring Earphones (Black)

$178 - Sony MDR7509HD Professional Headphone

$199 - AIAIAI: TMA-1

$204 - Denon AHD2000 High Performance Over-Ear Headphones

$250 - German Maestro GMP 8.35 D Monitor Headphone

$250 - beyerdynamic DT 880 Premium Headphones
(250 ohms)

$259 - AKG K702 Open Back Headphones

$279 - AKG K 242 HD High-Definition Headphones

$335 - AKG K701 Studio Headphones

$390 - Denon AH-D5000 Reference Headphones

$415 - Sennheiser HD 650 Lightweight Open-Air Dynamic Audiophile Headphone

$442 - Ultrasone PRO 900 S-Logic Surround Sound Professional Headphones

THANKS IN ADVANCE

[joe3fl]

A good production audio card will most likely not have a built-in pre-amp. I use an m-audio audiophile 192 and a audiobuddy pre-amp. I believe the m-audio delta 1010 has a built in pre-amp but won't go to 192, just 96 which is better than the 44.1 used for cd's. Good luck to ya. Stay away from e-mu.

[Kurtiskain]

I realize not many people approve of Creative's work, especially those in professional audio editing and creation.

I myself have a Creative PCI-e X-Fi Titanium running under Windows 7, and I have found it to be the best sound card I have used for clarity, features and flexibility. I originally bought the card specifically for the Game mode under Windows 7 using ALchemy, but have also taken to the music creation mode, in which it actually has a built in hardware mixer, able to add reverb, chorus and other effects on the fly, as well as a full hardware synth.

Creative also supply their own AISO driver that actually works quite well under Adobe Soundbooth and Fruity Loops Studio 9


24-bit Analog-to-Digital conversion of analog inputs:    96kHz sample rate
24-bit Digital-to-Analog conversion of digital sources:    96kHz to analog 7.1 speaker output
24-bit Digital-to-Analog conversion of stereo digital sources:    192kHz to stereo output
16-bit to 24-bit recording sampling rates:    8, 11.025, 16, 22.05, 24, 32, 44.1, 48 and 96kHz
ASIO 2.0 support:    16bit/44.1kHz,16-bit/48kHz, 24-bit/44.1kHz 24-bit/48kHz and 24-bit/96kHz with direct monitoring
Enhanced SoundFont support:    Up to 24-bit resolution
Analog output Signal-to-Noise Ratio (A-weighted):    109dB
Connectivity
Line in / Microphone In:    Shared 1/8” mini jack
Speaker Out:    4x 1/8” mini jacks
Optical Out:    TOSLINK 1
Optical In:    TOSLINK
Intel HD Audio Compatible Front Panel Header:    2x 5-pin

This may be a cheaper alternative to your problem.

Kurtis

[joe3fl]

I realize not many people approve of Creative's work, especially those in professional audio editing and creation.

I myself have a Creative PCI-e X-Fi Titanium running under Windows 7, and I have found it to be the best sound card I have used for clarity, features and flexibility. I originally bought the card specifically for the Game mode under Windows 7 using ALchemy, but have also taken to the music creation mode, in which it actually has a built in hardware mixer, able to add reverb, chorus and other effects on the fly, as well as a full hardware synth.

Creative also supply their own AISO driver that actually works quite well under Adobe Soundbooth and Fruity Loops Studio 9


24-bit Analog-to-Digital conversion of analog inputs:    96kHz sample rate
24-bit Digital-to-Analog conversion of digital sources:    96kHz to analog 7.1 speaker output
24-bit Digital-to-Analog conversion of stereo digital sources:    192kHz to stereo output
16-bit to 24-bit recording sampling rates:    8, 11.025, 16, 22.05, 24, 32, 44.1, 48 and 96kHz
ASIO 2.0 support:    16bit/44.1kHz,16-bit/48kHz, 24-bit/44.1kHz 24-bit/48kHz and 24-bit/96kHz with direct monitoring
Enhanced SoundFont support:    Up to 24-bit resolution
Analog output Signal-to-Noise Ratio (A-weighted):    109dB
Connectivity
Line in / Microphone In:    Shared 1/8” mini jack
Speaker Out:    4x 1/8” mini jacks
Optical Out:    TOSLINK 1
Optical In:    TOSLINK
Intel HD Audio Compatible Front Panel Header:    2x 5-pin

This may be a cheaper alternative to your problem.

Kurtis

That is NOT a professional production sound card. When used with Nuendo or Sonar it will have lag that is horrible. ANYTHING using 1/8" plugs is not professional. 1/4" or s/pdif is what pro's use.