[TriLUG] Slightly OT: Audio Digitizing Hardware Question

[Brian Henning]

Onboard front-ends in commodity computers have zero headroom, noisy power, are surrounded by EMI, and are prone to grounding issues.  I'm not at all surprised that the external dongle, cheap though it was, gave you a measurable improvement.

If Audacity has a live input VU-meter, make sure you're setting your levels appropriately.  Analog recording instincts (average around 0dB) don't apply here; your signal needs to NEVER hit 0dB (full-scale).  Aim for an average around half-scale, unless your source is particularly dynamic, in which case you'll need to reduce the input level further.  With a decent front-end, your SNR won't suffer too much if you undershoot its dynamic range by a few bits.

Good luck!
~Brian

-----Original Message-----
From: Scott Chilcote [mailto:scottchilcote at ncrrbiz.com] 
Sent: Monday, November 03, 2014 4:10 PM
To: Triangle Linux Users Group General Discussion
Cc: ken at mack-z.com; Brian Henning
Subject: Re: [TriLUG] Slightly OT: Audio Digitizing Hardware Question

Hi Brian, Ken,

I'm not glued to the Behringer solution, it just happened to be the first product that looks like it would meet all of the basic requirements.  The main problem appears to be terminology, it seems hard to find the keywords that bring up this class of devices.

No worries regarding the amplification.  I use a Samson 120a amplifier, and it's been a great performer for my modest needs.

My digital recording is multipurpose.  I am preserving some music tapes before my old cassette deck kicks the bucket, and going through some inherited vinyl records as well.  I've also begun recording some musical ideas that I want to preserve, from keyboard and acoustic pickup sources.  I'd like to use these in compositions if I can get my skills to improve enough. 
Since I use an analog mixer, the audio source is line level and no better than CD (44KHz) quality.

I recall using an Ensonic PCI sound card (years ago) that did a decent job of digitizing.  The ASUS laptop has a Realtek ALC269 chip, but for whatever reason it records ugly.  If it's gain staging, I would not expect the USB audio "dongle" that I tried
(http://www.amazon.com/Sabrent-Virtual-External-Surround-USB-AUDD/dp/B00D69U1B0)
to be such an improvement, but it's unmistakeable.  Unless the hardware itself is glitched, they designed it for skype and not much else.

Thanks again for all of the help.  I'd like to get to the point where "pro" quality matters, in a year or so.

   Scott C.


On 11/03/2014 03:12 PM, Ken MacKenzie wrote:
> Same here on Behringer.  However the worst usually results in anything 
> that actually is a power amp.  Or instrument amp.  I have an FBQ3102 
> and it is a great rack mount EQ.  A couple of their mixers worked out 
> well for me over the years as well.  I mean nothing that will make 
> Rick Rubin say "wow" but passable for the garage musician who cares.
>
> I have absolutely no experience with their USB equipment.  However 
> what I would think is this.
>
> 1.  It probably is basic so most likely works on linux.
> 2.  A/D converters are passable and hence CD quality but nothing to 
> write home about.
>
> You know saying all this I have to think perhaps your issue is gain 
> staging and not the converters.  In the long long time ago even an 
> SB16 could do a great job on incoming audio.  I would hate to think 
> native hardware has gotten worse since then.  A goo folio mixer might 
> go a long way to getting a better signal into your laptop, USB interface or not.
>
> Behringer and Alesis both make entry level folio mixers with USB built 
> in on a side note.
>
> Ken
>
> On Mon, Nov 3, 2014 at 2:52 PM, Brian Henning <bhenning at pineinst.com> wrote:
>
>> Caveat emptor re: Behringer.  I've had great personal success and 
>> horrid professional experience with their equipment.  Behringer gear 
>> tends not to have a lot of headroom; that is, the audio will be 
>> heavily distorted at higher volumes.
>>
>> ~B
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: trilug-bounces at trilug.org [mailto:trilug-bounces at trilug.org] On 
>> Behalf Of Scott Chilcote
>> Sent: Monday, November 03, 2014 2:32 PM
>> To: Triangle Linux Users Group General Discussion
>> Subject: Re: [TriLUG] Slightly OT: Audio Digitizing Hardware Question
>>
>> Hi Carl,
>>
>> The Behringer device looks like it would work fine for the immediate 
>> future.  I don't need a lot of inputs because I have a functional 
>> mixer for that purpose (bought long ago from Le Shack on clearance).
>>
>> If it shows promise I will be interested in upgrading, but I'll need 
>> to find out where the major limitations are before I start down that path.
>>
>> Much appreciated,
>>
>>    Scott C.
>>


--
Scott Chilcote
scottchilcote at ncrrbiz.com
Cary, NC USA