External Soundcare or USB Audio Interface

[Jacqui]

www.gear4music.com/Recording-and-Computers/Focusrite-Scarlett-Solo-USB-Audio-Interface/1379?utm_medium=display&network=criteo&retargeting_or_placement=retargeting&utm_source=criteo

Can anyone tell me if a USB Audio interface like this is the same as a USB External Soundcard like Creative sell.

Thanks Jacqui

[JohnG]

Hi Jacqui,

Take a look at this: www.soundonsound.com/news?NewsID=14227.
It's a video of the focusrite 2i2 USB into a laptop.
The one you're looking at is the slightly cheaper version of that.
They have a good reputation for sound quality and build.
I prefer equipment that plugs directly into the computer's 'bus' and have no experience of USB kit, sorry.

Kind regards,
John.

[Jacqui]

Hi John
I have just spoken to someone at Digital Village, who was most unhelpful, I am trying to ask them if an
Audio interface is merely a junction box that allows you to input/output mics guitars, external players in or out of the pc, or is it the same as an external soundcard, they are saying that what they call a media soundcard ie Creative are only for gaming, I don't think that is quite right, he said an audio interface is for "Serious musicians" who want to record guitar and vocals, with software like cakewalk, I was not able to find out from him if the sound played out through a usb interface like this, would be able to record back onto the pc as mp3 and if it would actually sound any different than the onboard soundcard, I still don't really know if it improves any sounds or is just a junction box, he also told me they would not be good for midi files either.

[Jacqui]

I prefer equipment that plugs directly into the computer's 'bus' ?
What does this mean, do you mean firewire or other connection?

[JohnG]

Sept 4, 2014 14:25:33 GMT Jacqui said:

I prefer equipment that plugs directly into the computer's 'bus' ?
What does this mean, do you mean firewire or other connection?

This means it plugs right into the 'motherboard' of the computer.
So a PCI card is one example. Cardbus is another, for a laptop.

I'll come back on the first question in a little while.

Regards,
John.

[JohnG]

Sept 4, 2014 14:15:39 GMT Jacqui said:

Hi John
I have just spoken to someone at Digital Village, who was most unhelpful, I am trying to ask them if an
Audio interface is merely a junction box that allows you to input/output mics guitars, external players in or out of the pc, or is it the same as an external soundcard, they are saying that what they call a media soundcard ie Creative are only for gaming, I don't think that is quite right, he said an audio interface is for "Serious musicians" who want to record guitar and vocals, with software like cakewalk, I was not able to find out from him if the sound played out through a usb interface like this, would be able to record back onto the pc as mp3 and if it would actually sound any different than the onboard soundcard, I still don't really know if it improves any sounds or is just a junction box, he also told me they would not be good for midi files either.

Okay, here goes ... off the top of my head so E&OE applies.

[brain dump]
Yes, an audio interface is just that, a way of connecting mostly analogue equipment to a computer.
It converts the analogue audio to a digital stream of data, possibly at different sampling rates.
It usually also converts the digital output from the computer to analogue 'line out' sockets.
The computer connector can be USB (1.1, old fashioned, or 2), Firewire, or even a proprietary connector to, e.g. a PCI card or cardbus card.
There may even be USB 3 ones now. I haven't been looking recently.
If it is classified as 'full duplex', or just 'duplex' it can record at the same time as playing back.
Most older cards are simplex (one way) more modern ones tend to be duplex (bidirectional).

Common sampling rates supported are 44.1 kHz (CD standard), 48 kHz and maybe even 96 kHz.
Each sample will occupy either 2 or 3 bytes equating to 16 bit or 24 bit.
Added later, actually 24 bit is partly redundant as the best pre-amps on the market today have a signal to noise ratio of something like 120dB, which equates to 20, maybe 21 bits. The old Yamaha SW1000-XG had 20 bit A/D converters!
Clearly, sampling at 96 kHz with a 24 bit samples occupies a lot more disk space than the CD standard.
CD stereo = circa 10 MegaBytes per minute (44,100 samples x 2 tracks x 60 seconds x 2 bytes)
96kHz @ 24 bit = circa 34 MegaBytes per minute (96,000 x 2 x 60 x 3)

Common connector types are XLR (3 pin) for microphones, and 1/4 inch 'jack' sockets in either TRS (Tip, Ring, Sleeve, also called 'balanced'), or TS (Tip, Sleeve, also called unbalanced). The XLR (mic) input(s) may also have available 48 volt 'phantom power' to supply a condenser microphone.

The TRS/TS (1/4 inch jack socket) inputs are often switchable between 'line' and 'Hi Z' (high impedance) input.
The pickups of electric guitars need to 'see' a high impedance (around 1 megohm is good) in order for very low current to flow through the circuit. The line input is for things like keyboards, where the matching impedance needed is much lower (600 ohms if my memory serves me well).

More professional equipment may have S/PDIF connectors, usually implemented as a pair of 'phono' sockets.
They may also have optical ADAT i/o connectors too.
Some could even have phono sockets for connection to a turntable, and a few duplicate the line output sockets on 1/8 inch ones.

On some equipment it is possible, via software, to change the sensitivity of the line inputs and/or outputs between professional (+4dBu) and domestic (-10dBv) levels.

Take a look at this E-MU (Creative Professional) 1616m via a laptop cardbus interface.
E-MU 1616m cardbus.
I currently have two of these both obtained via ebay, used but still boxed at knock down prices.

I don't know of any which do 'onboard' conversion to mp3! That doesn't mean to say they don't exist.
I suspect that some may do that conversion using software that accompanies the hardware.

However, my understanding of the meaning of 'sound card' or module, is something that has instrument 'sounds' built into it.
In other words it will respond to MIDI messages and produce sounds.
It will also have an audio section which will usually be of a lower specification and offering just 44.1 kHz at 16 bit rates.
Having said that I'll bet that there are ones which are better.

My own view has always been to record at 48 kHz 24 bit for studio quality mixing.
Everywhere else use 44.1 kHz 16 bit.
Always record in .wav format and convert to mp3, if needed, using e.g. RazorLame coupled with the LAME software when the recording and mixing process is complete.
[/brain dump]

Any help so far?
Any questions?
Or is it all technospeak gobbledegook!

Regards,
JohnG.

[Jacqui]

Hi John
Yes That's a great help, you should get a job in Technical help in any of these companies I've been dealing with you'd be doing a better job!
Many Thanks
Jacqui

[JohnG]

Hi Jacqui,

Glad it made some sense to you.
Re-reading it after I'd written it, I wasn't so sure.

Guess what?
Way back I did do several stints on the support desk for a major mainframe computer manufacturer.
Crikey! That must have been in the mid seventies.

But the latter part of my career was mainly delivering training on the usage of aspects of high technology, as a self-employed contractor.
As well as training about 2 thousand people in BT over a five year period, I did some of the initial training of ISPs about early DSL on behalf of BT.

And then I wrote the courses and delivered the training, around the world, on a couple of aspects of satellite data communications technology.
One area was the technology used to communicate with aircraft in mid Pacific or Atlantic as seen with the missing Malaysia Airlines plane.
Mostly though it was how e.g. a reporter in a remote location could use a satellite terminal to connect his mic and camera and send live reports back to the studio. It was new in 2001, it's an everyday occurrence now.
On the count down to the BBC news, at second number 32, you'll see a man aligning a satellite terminal (it looks like a laptop) for about two seconds. We used to refer to it as 'talking heads'.

Any more questions, please fire away.
Kind regards,
JohnG.

[Jacqui]

Just a quick update, I went into one of the music shops nearby, and they told me that none of these usb interfaces would record what u hear? they would only record what is being input from a devise ie a guitar or cd/tape/minidisc microphone, I'm not sure if that sounds correct though what do you think John, I looked at the link for the one you have, would you say that would work on a windows 7 pc?
Jacqui