Lee's wondering about "digital stuff"

[jbeckva]

ps... What operating system do you have running, and do you have either a desktop or tower computer (what are the specs?)

 

[laatsch55]

XP, HP Pavillion, Pentium4 4GB sdramm., 250 gig drive.

 

[jbeckva]

Ok, that should work.. ya got a free "PCI slot" in there, correct? (that'd be like these here...)

What model HP do you have? Going to triple check the specs there first...

So .. I GOT THE XONAR...

And if you are impressed with the MAudio I'm going to send you, this one will SMACK THE CRAP out of it! Worth every penny... I didn't think I'd notice much of a difference, but the build..the components.. all that... ASUS really did put a LOT of thought into this card for serious audio!

 

[ksrigg]

Are you talking about the Asus Xonar Essence ST or DS card? I am guessing the Essence, but the DS doesn't look bad for the 50 buck price tag either...

 

[laatsch55]

Pavillion a1035c

 

[jbeckva]

Are you talking about the Asus Xonar Essence ST or DS card? I am guessing the Essence, but the DS doesn't look bad for the 50 buck price tag either...

Yep, the essence ST. The DS is probably pretty decent, but there is a big leap between them. I'd say the DS is probably around the same level as the creative audigy 2/xfi's. The M-Audio is probably in between the two tho, and that one is about 20 bucks more than the DS.. but worth the extra if you don't want to go to the extreme just yet.

BUT.. could very well be wrong about the DS as I've not heard it yet.. YMMV..

Geesh... I just put on some Holst.. the Planets. Spine tinglin' good! Almost scared me a few times on the peaks!

 

[laatsch55]

With what amp??

 

[ksrigg]

So, are we sure that a transfer from a CD to the hard drive of a computer is completely bit for bit, with no loss or degradation of the original file, and that the "Asus " plays the information back to it's output with the same integrity as say, an Onix or other CPD would perform the function? Or is there software that embelishes the the sound through upsampling? This is where I get lost..Or does the Asus do anything to the sound other than give it a signal path without cheap components, not turning the 1's and 0's into as pure as possible analog output signal? You can tell I'm struggling here..

 

[jbeckva]

With what amp??

Right now the Crown. I still gots work to do on the PL heheh

 

[jbeckva]

So, are we sure that a transfer from a CD to the hard drive of a computer is completely bit for bit, with no loss or degradation of the original file, and that the "Asus " plays the information back to it's output with the same integrity as say, an Onix or other CPD would perform the function? Or is there software that embelishes the the sound through upsampling? This is where I get lost..Or does the Asus do anything to the sound other than give it a signal path without cheap components, not turning the 1's and 0's into as pure as possible analog output signal? You can tell I'm struggling here..

Yes, bit for bit... there are options to create CRC reports that compare the resulting file to known CRC's for the same CD UPC number.

The ASUS is the "dac"... and I'd put it against any CD player... It's also not restricted to the typical CD 44/16 format, and can play higher bit streams up to 192K. The software you use makes a difference too... yep, some players have the upsampling built in, should you want to use it, but you are not forced to use it. There is good software, then not so good software, but the key is that it is software - so you are not "stuck" with something that doesn't sound good to you.

 

[ksrigg]

So, if one were one to create a computer for a music server and desire to put all his CD's on the hard drive, you would use the Asus Essence ST and what software, etc...to create the best possible and MOST USER FRIENDLY (for dummies like me) software, and etc...would you use analog outs, or coaxial, or optical? Of course, that might make your pre/pro do the dac function............so see............I am still lost a little..

 

[speakerman1]

I am not the most computer savvy person. You would use your software to put the music on the HD. Then to listen to it you would use the sound card. The card has its own DAC so you would use the RCAs. If you use a digital out then you have to go through a DAC. I have been a sleep.Had to have my afternoon nap. Now I have to think on this. I may have my thought wrong here. If you upsample it you have to have a DAC that can read that and convert it. This card can do this. Now you may want to do some reading on upsampling. Jerry If I'm wrong tell me to shut up and go in the corner.

Larry

 

[jbeckva]

So, if one were one to create a computer for a music server and desire to put all his CD's on the hard drive, you would use the Asus Essence ST and what software, etc...to create the best possible and MOST USER FRIENDLY (for dummies like me) software, and etc...would you use analog outs, or coaxial, or optical? Of course, that might make your pre/pro do the dac function............so see............I am still lost a little..

Well, I think I'm heading to Larry's in the morning tomorrow to use him as the first "computer convert", so I'll answer this in more detail when I get back heheh...

Anywhoo... first .. look at this picture of the side of the M-Audio 2496...

The "dongle" connection is strictly for digital and MIDI input/output. So if you're not doing anything with MIDI nor using an external DAC, then you don't connect that at all.

So that would leave the two pairs of RCA jacks. Just like a typical tape deck, hook the outputs of the card to your tape inputs and vice versa. The card itself has a GREAT output circuit, so there's really no need for an external DAC. Matter of fact, I have before connected that output straight into my amp - it is THAT quiet. (don't try that until you know EXACTLY what you're doing tho... i.e. you have to turn the card's output completely DOWN before the amp.. because it's normal level would drive most amps to their limit immediately).

So ... now think of the card itself AS a tape deck, but also capable of playing digital music itself.

To complete the setup, as far as software goes you'll typically have the following...

1. A CD "ripper" or extractor. I highly recommend EZ-CD Extractor.. they've been only that type of software for going on 14 years now. This transfers your CD's to digital files that you in turn "play"

2. A music player. I use "Foobar" - It's "simple", and it is also quite capable of high quality music output. I has what is called "ASIO direct output" capability, which means (and I think this answers a question you had) that the digital stream is fed direct and as unaltered as possible from the file decoder software to the hardware.

3. A DAW (digital audio workstation) software. Another quite capable, but fairly simple, piece of softare I use is "Goldwave". This enables you to record direct from your ANALOG inputs on the card to digital. So for example you'd use this to transfer LP's to digital.

(more later... this could turn into a "sticky" eventually... )

 

[ksrigg]

Are the software pieces "freeware" or pay to use? also any advice on which version to use? I have several old computers laying around and have always wanted to turn one inot a dedicated music server, but never knew exactly which was the correct way to go with soundcard selection, software and the correct way to hook everything up. Maybe a little 17" or smaller LCD and a little keyboard and mouse to run it all....unless you could use the HDMI out just to use for prompting using the TV screen for that purpose. EXCITING STUFF !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[speakerman1]

Good software isn't free. You are still going to need an OS. You going to change boards and memory? I just downloaded the Goldwave so I can put the tapes onto the HD.

Larry

 

[laatsch55]

Dongle as in serial port??