Re: [linux-audio-dev] Soundcards...

On Thu, 27 Jan, 2005 at 04:00PM -0500, Eric Dantan Rzewnicki spake thus:
> On Thu, Jan 27, 2005 at 08:18:02PM +0000, james@email-addr-hidden-dot-dat.net wrote:
> > Hi peeps.
> > Just looking for some quick advice about a new soundcard.
> > I'm looking at getting something like the M-Audio Audiophile 2496.
> > This is to replace a SB Live! Value.
> > Does this seem like a sensible (though cheap) move? I'm expecting a
> > better card.
>
> Certainly.
>
> > The reason I'm thinking about changing to something not hugely
> > dissimilar is because under ALSA, I'm rally not impressed with my SB.
> > The volumes seem wrong - loudest seems to clip before it's off the
> > card. I have no use for all those fancy effects that it does, since I
> > can't make use of them in my setup anyway.
>
> There's been a thread going on for the past week or two on
> linux-audio-user about an alternative driver for the emu10k1 cards. It
> sounds like a lot more of the functionality is useable with this driver.
> I didn't pay close attention to the thread, though, since I don't have
> one of these cards. Check the archives.
>
> > Up until now, I've been using headphones mostly, with a couple of sets
> > of cheapo speakers as monitors, with a super cheap amp.
> > I'm about to splash out on some real nearfield monitors and a real
> > monitoring amp, although I'll still be spending less than £350 (That's
> > UK pounds, in case the symbol doesn't come out as it should - there's
> > a reason I'm not sure it will, but let's not get into that).
>
> came out fine here. I think it depends on the recipient system's locales
> setting or something.

I was more worried about Emacs' refusal to write it without C-q before
it. I thought it might decide to do some weird encoding. It has done
in the past.
 
> > With a nicer monitoring setup, obviously I want a decent soundcard.
> > Does the Audiophile work well with ALSA? Are there any better
> > alternatives? Am I being silly, and can just somehow "fix" my
> > SBLive/ALSA setup?
>
> The audiophile, like all ice1712 cards, is very well supported by alsa.
> The delta series (44, 66, 1010, 1010lt) all use this same chipset and
> driver, as do several good cards by some other manufacturers.
> envy24control is a great mixer app included in the alsa-tools
> specifically for use with these cards. Many linux users are happy with
> their flavor of ice1712, myself included.

Hmm. Maybe I'll splash out on the Delta 44. I can get it for around
£100 ($200 ish).

Thanks for the info.

> On the other hand, you may be able to get more out of your sblive using
> the newer drivers.

For now, I'll certainly take a look at the new drivers, thanks.

-- 
"I'd crawl over an acre of 'Visual This++' and 'Integrated Development
That' to get to gcc, Emacs, and gdb.  Thank you."
(By Vance Petree, Virginia Power)