Integrated Audio vs. Audio Card

[SSProductions]

Hello all,

Is it best to have a dedicated audio card for playback, or is it ok to use the integrated audio on the motherboard? I recently replaced my SB Audigy card with a SIIG Firewire card (recommended by Digi) and cant put it back in because of a lack of PCI slots... I do have a PCIe x1 slot available and can replace the SB Audigy with some other audio card if need be. What should I do? Let me know if you need more info.

My system:

Pro Tools M-Powered 8
M-Audio ProFire 2626
Pentium 4 HT Dual 3.0ghz
4gigs ram
Dedicated WD 500gig Audio HD

Thanks all!
David

[Tommy-boy]

Originally Posted by SSProductions

Hello all,

Is it best to have a dedicated audio card for playback, or is it ok to use the integrated audio on the motherboard?

Never ever use the integrated audio on the motherboard for any audio work as they are all, without exception, total junk. Yes, it's best to have an a dedicated audio card. This is a no-brainer.

-Tom

[SSProductions]

Thank you for the reply. Which cards would you recommend?

[357mag]

I use the E-MU 1212. It's a mother-daughter card so you have to have two PCI slots open to use it. I love it. It sounds awesome.

[SFTPH]

Can't you use the M-Audio for system audio? Throw the onboard toy and gaming stuff in a landfill.

[jcschild]

Originally Posted by Tommy-boy

Never ever use the integrated audio on the motherboard for any audio work as they are all, without exception, total junk. Yes, it's best to have an a dedicated audio card. This is a no-brainer.

-Tom

HI Tom,
this used to be 100% correct
sorry but i have to completely disagree now.

1)in testing laptops (same shell 1 with dedicated video the other onboard) benchamrks were identical.

2) using onboard video mobo and then adding a dedicated card (which disables the onboard) benchmarks were the same.

most onboard video does have dedicated memory (albeit small) for most audio apps more than 64meg is not needed (not counting Waves or other graphics intense effects)
not counting post to film where you need video playback (and ideally a decklink card is the wise choice for that anyway)

we do a 2U live samples playback unit that uses onboard video.
same for a 2u live recording rig.


now with that said alot will depend on board and chipset used.

Scott
ADK