Soundcards

[JohhCheese]

I have no clue what a soundcard is used for, but i think i may need one. I want to get into recording my guitar etc however i have always used my laptop and it wasn't very good quality or even practical. This time around I have a tower and aim for better quality and ease. If anyone could list what they do and if it's necessary to have one for this sort of stuff that would be great. Also help with the pricing would be good to. 

 

Extra info that may help helpful:

I have a decent mic and use Cubase, Audacity and Reaper for recording. 

I want to record my guitar amp with my mic and then mix it on my pc.

[ShearMe]

What you need is an audio interface. Mere soundcards usually don't have the best mic inputs, nor are they balanced which is often important for recording.

 

Something like this should be decent enough: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Behringer-UCG102-USB-Guitar-Link/dp/B000PAPO9W/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=undefined&sr=8-2&keywords=guitar+audio+interface

 

If you'd like a tad more functionality and nicer build, then: http://www.amazon.co.uk/FOCUSRITE-ITRACK-Audio-interfaces-iPhone/dp/B009AS1FLG/ref=sr_1_10?ie=UTF8&qid=1409070064&sr=8-10&keywords=guitar+audio+interface

[JohhCheese]

What you need is an audio interface. Mere soundcards usually don't have the best mic inputs, nor are they balanced which is often important for recording.

 

Something like this should be decent enough: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Behringer-UCG102-USB-Guitar-Link/dp/B000PAPO9W/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=undefined&sr=8-2&keywords=guitar+audio+interface

 

If you'd like a tad more functionality and nicer build, then: http://www.amazon.co.uk/FOCUSRITE-ITRACK-Audio-interfaces-iPhone/dp/B009AS1FLG/ref=sr_1_10?ie=UTF8&qid=1409070064&sr=8-10&keywords=guitar+audio+interface

 

How would this work? I don't think i made it very clear that i aimed to use the mic i have to record my amp and then mix from there.

[ShearMe]

i aimed to use the mic i have to record my amp

 

Oh, which mic are you using?

[JohhCheese]

Oh, which mic are you using?

 

Some condenser mic, it has a 6mm (what ever the mesument is) jack.

[IBIubbleTea]

Some condenser mic, it has a 6mm (what ever the mesument is) jack.

Only if your mic was xlr. I would have gotten a 2i2. It has a xlr and guitar input, live monitor and other stuff.

[ShearMe]

Only if your mic was xlr. I would have gotten a 2i2. It has a xlr and guitar input, live monitor and other stuff.

 

Some condenser mic, it has a 6mm (what ever the mesument is) jack.

 

TRS can still carry a balanced signal....

 

OP, does the mic have three connection points, or just two?

[JohhCheese]

 

 

 

 

TRS can still carry a balanced signal....

 

OP, does the mic have three connection points, or just two?

 

 

Three i think

[ShearMe]

Three i think

 

Unless it's a stereo mic, it should be balanced. Grab an adapter and a slightly different interface in that case. If this doesn't work, you might have to consider getting a better mic.

 

http://www.amazon.co.uk/HosaTech-GXJ-235-inch-XLR3M-Adapter/dp/B000068O4E/ref=sr_1_10?ie=UTF8&qid=1409077666&sr=8-10&keywords=trs+to+xlr

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Behringer-302USB-Xenyx-Input-Mixer/dp/B005EHILV4/ref=sr_1_7?ie=UTF8&qid=1409077713&sr=8-7&keywords=audio+interface

[FatalityDiablo]

the trs is fine as long as u have set the focusrite inline to line and not intrument. the 2i2 is a save bet, it has many awards for its mic preamps.