Topic: Internal .vs. External Sound cards

[mmadd29]

Hello All,

I going to purchase an m-audio soundcard.  They have an internal model (2948) and a USB version.  I thought I read somewhere that internal sound cards have more noise than external cards.  Is there a difference, and does it even make a difference in digital audio?

Thanks,

Michael Hager

[mgleason007]

Internal cards would be subjected to more noise from being inside of a PC with all of the electronics.  I doubt that this makes a difference with an optical connection.  A USB card would obviously be easier to use on multiple PC's.

[F.O.Bean]

IMO, but i think usb 1.1 is finicky at best, they have to be FINELY tuned to get a pop/click noise free recording, it can be done, but its a major PITA, FWIW

ive also never tried the m-audio stuff, but thats just me and the research that ive done personally

[Chapper]

I don't know why the internal card would have more noise.
I have an internal Maudio Dio 2448...never had a problem with the optical in, but could never get the coax to work.  

[mgleason007]

I don't know why the internal card would have more noise.

It's subjected to quite a bit of electromagnetic interference inside a PC case.

[Simp-Dawg]

i think the main problem you would encounter is interference with analog recording, converting the signal to digital inside of the pc case.  that's also why vx pockets are not primarily used for a/d conversion, that's done outside the laptop in an outboard box and the digital signal is not compromised when input into the card as no processing must be done on it.

that's how i see it anyways.

[Sean Gallemore]

my dio2496 has been cool