Soundcard for mixing and mastering

Discussion in 'Mixing and Mastering' started by abbas786, Jan 21, 2021.

  1. abbas786

    abbas786 Newbie

    Joined:
    Jan 7, 2020
    Messages:
    19
    Likes Received:
    2
    Hi

    May seem like a silly question but I'm only mixing and mastering not recording

    Would I need a professional soundcard ?
     
    • Interesting Interesting x 1
    • List
  2.  
  3. MetaCastle

    MetaCastle Guest

    Well a decent soundcard can produce more accurate frequencies so you can hear how you sound sounds well more accurately so yes you need one if you plan to release the music more seriously usb cards are decent, for recording an good card is a must good low noise and high sensitivity is good card
     
    • Like Like x 1
    • Agree Agree x 1
    • List
  4. Haliax

    Haliax Guest

    You should be asking yourself if you need professional monitors if you are mastering, are you relying on pc speakers?
     
  5. secretworld

    secretworld Producer

    Joined:
    Mar 7, 2018
    Messages:
    176
    Likes Received:
    85
    No, you need good monitors and a well treated room to make good decisions. And experience and a good ear and for mixing also some talent (since mixing is a creative process too).
    Converter quality is really the last thing to worry about.
    But if you want pro/perfect go for a RME ADI2 dac. It is for playback and mixing only and will not record, hence cheaper then the RME ADI2 pro.
     
    • Agree Agree x 2
    • Winner Winner x 1
    • List
  6. abbas786

    abbas786 Newbie

    Joined:
    Jan 7, 2020
    Messages:
    19
    Likes Received:
    2

    I'm using presonus HD 9 studio headphones
    Directly into my laptop.

    Issue I'm having is the sound is completely different when I mix down using cubase 10.5
    And listening on other devices like car or phone

    So I'm not sure if it could be my headphones and I'm not sure if it could be the soundcard
     
  7. abbas786

    abbas786 Newbie

    Joined:
    Jan 7, 2020
    Messages:
    19
    Likes Received:
    2
    Studio headphones
     
    • Interesting Interesting x 1
    • List
  8. No Avenger

    No Avenger Audiosexual

    Joined:
    Jul 19, 2017
    Messages:
    9,117
    Likes Received:
    6,353
    Location:
    Europe
    Compared to what?
     
    • Like Like x 1
    • Agree Agree x 1
    • List
  9. wavyj

    wavyj Producer

    Joined:
    Feb 12, 2020
    Messages:
    78
    Likes Received:
    81
    Using only headphones has some problems:
    1) Volume balancing is way trickier.
    2) They sound too different from real speakers moving air in a room. This is going to affect a lot of your creative and technical decisions.
    3) You must know really well their frequency response. It's practically not possible to correct their curve because it needs specialised equipment.

    I know only one mixing engineer who claims to have mixed with headphones only (Scheps), and no master engineer ever using just headphones. If you want to do any mixing/mastering even as a hobby you need monitors as a top priority. Look at the JBL or Mackie lines for the cheapest decent ones.
     
  10. onhappin

    onhappin Ultrasonic

    Joined:
    Jan 27, 2014
    Messages:
    71
    Likes Received:
    27
    Get a RME... anything...
    You're all set:disco:
     
  11. recycle

    recycle Guest

    Laptop integrated soundcards are useful only for Zoom calls: if you are dealing with audio production -yes- you definitely need a dedicated audio interface. Generally speaking, the higher your budget, more quality and features you’ll have in the product, also notice that a good interface from a respectable brand, is a futureproof choice (you won't need to buy a new one every season)
    What’s your budget?
     
  12. abbas786

    abbas786 Newbie

    Joined:
    Jan 7, 2020
    Messages:
    19
    Likes Received:
    2
    I'm looking to get the DT 770 pro 250 ohm what soundcard should I get with it
     
  13. Rohan Vijaykumar

    Rohan Vijaykumar Noisemaker

    Joined:
    May 31, 2019
    Messages:
    17
    Likes Received:
    3
    Location:
    Bangalore, India.
    Would recommend anything from Audient depending on your budget. I have an iD4 and it's been brilliant. Amazing preamps too
     
    • Interesting Interesting x 1
    • List
  14. pon_pon

    pon_pon Ultrasonic

    Joined:
    Dec 20, 2015
    Messages:
    61
    Likes Received:
    33
    I want to be a formula one racer, do I need a race car? is there any tutorials on youtube to learn how to drive ?
    If you do not know if you need a soundcard, maybe is not time to mix . . . and of course, neither to mastering.
    Mastering really is only for people with 20 years or more mixing and lot of experience with lots of analog and expensive gear in big studios.
    Put L2 and a eq from the brother site in 2bus is not mastering, is a child game . . .
    Yes, you need a good room for mastering, not in a home or flat, maybe in a specific isolated structure for mastering.
    You need 2 o 3 loudspeaker systems, you need a serious amp, callibration for profesionals (the room, the speakers, the amp) . . . an then . . . you need a soundcard and computer . . . but this is not so important for mixing or mastering.
     
  15. The Pirate

    The Pirate Audiosexual

    Joined:
    Dec 20, 2018
    Messages:
    5,172
    Likes Received:
    4,399
    Location:
    NOYMFB
    That is the question @abbas786 needs to answer. It is all about the budget. You can spend $250 for a run of the mill converter or $5000 and up for "mastering" converters.
     
  16. Derwisch_64

    Derwisch_64 Ultrasonic

    Joined:
    Aug 13, 2017
    Messages:
    17
    Likes Received:
    20
    Best A/D in class - Antelope Zen Go
    If you mix and master this is the one for under a 1000 bucks.... it´s native USB 3.1 on a USB C connector .... don´t get mislead by the "Flash Icon" it´s only USB not thunderbold.
    More dynamic range equals more detail - more detail, better mixes/masters...
     
Loading...
Similar Threads - Soundcard mixing mastering Forum Date
Your Soundcard Suggestion Soundgear Today at 12:46 AM
Another soundcard problem Live Dec 15, 2024
best leanest most compatable fastest pci-e x1 soundcard? Soundgear Aug 27, 2024
advice about soundcard and console Studio Oct 26, 2023
What soundcard has the highest samplerate ? Soundgear Oct 26, 2023
Loading...