Getting a new sound card tomorrow and need some advice...

[mikewg]

Well it's time for me to get a new sound card. Despite my current card being 6 months, my captures come out with bad sound quality despite me trying everything possible to fix the sound. If the sound doesn't improve, well... not sure what I'll do. Anyways, here's my two new questions:

1. If I set up all my capture software with my ATI card and all with my current sound card, and I take out the card and install the new sound card, should I have to reinstall all my capture software to work with the new sound card properly, or should it all work together happily by just installing the new sound card and drivers for it?

2. Anyone want to recommend me a sound card to buy at Best Buy tomorrow? I have a Muse card here and it just doesn't work nicely for me. Thanks again!

[p®è§+ïgé]

everything should work just fine. just make sure to fully uninstall drivers, etc. for the old sound card first, then turn the machine off and swap with the new one.

i'm sure that everyone will give you their own opinion with sound cards. the choices available now that i would go with include:

SB Audigy
Hercules GameTheatreXP
Philips Acoustic Edge

and that's about all. you'll note that i didn't include the SB Live! in there. especially if you own a via-based amd motherboard (they claim to have fixed the problem now, though). it looks as though the Audigy is shaping up to be a pretty decent sound card (at a premium though, especially the platinum/platinum ex versions). the audigy would definately be the way to go if you want all the bells and whistles and have the cash to burn - only problem is that it is still relatively new and may have bugs in it still.

the choice is, ultimately, yours.

[SatStorm]

I have an AMD based system.
I used to work with SB products, on my wintel days. SB ain't good for AMD
So, I get a very good Hercules Furtissimo 2 soundcard.
Wow! System became stable, no blue screens...
1 optical in, 1 optical out. Coaxial Minijack out, minijack in, etc. What a card!
Now, I am able to capture with virtual dub with full PAL, no frame drops and about only 60% use of my prosseccor (an amazing duron 700Mhz...)

Many things change the last year.
I use to be a fun of Creative, Hauppauge and Intel
Now, I don't even want to mention their names...

[Z]

Hercules GameTheatre XP ,,, Good card

[mikewg]

I think I'm going to get the Hercules GameTheatre since I've heard so much good about it. I haven't gone to the actual shops yet, but I can't find it for sale at bestbuy.com, circuitcity.com, officedepot.com, or officemax.com. Where should I look for it at? I'd rather not order it from the website, I kinda want it tonight.

[energy80s]

Yes, I would agree with the statements above about using an SB Live card with a via motherboard - absolutely f**king useless!! I am currently on the lookout for another sound card with digi ins and outs, but in the meantime have reverted back to an old SB16 - bloody ancient, but it works!