Background noise on soundcard

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Archived from groups: rec.audio.pro (More info?)

I temporarily using an inexpensive Aopen Cobra AW840 sound card. The
recording mixer allows me to select one of three inputs: Microphone,
Wave (which carries signals from all my various digital players like
Windows Media Player, Winamp, CoolEdit), and Stereo Mix (which carries
signals from the analog sources of Line In, DVD burner, and CD burner).

If I put CoolEdit in its record mode and watch its level meter with no
inputs, here's what I see:


Input Gain=Min Gain=Max
Microphone -68 dB -54 dB
Wave <-120 dB <-120 dB
Stereo Mix <-120 dB -58 dB

Are those background levels in the -54 to -68 range a function of
circuitry on the sound board? (Aopen doesn't publish s/n ratio for this
board, and these numbers are probably why.) So to improve the s/n
numbers, I should look for a better PCI sound card. Any suggestions in
the $50 range?

Thanks,

Ray
 
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Archived from groups: rec.audio.pro (More info?)

"Ray K" <raykosXXX@optonline.net> wrote in message
news:SIQFd.1868$RD.73@fe08.lga
> I temporarily using an inexpensive Aopen Cobra AW840 sound card. The
> recording mixer allows me to select one of three inputs: Microphone,
> Wave (which carries signals from all my various digital players like
> Windows Media Player, Winamp, CoolEdit), and Stereo Mix (which carries
> signals from the analog sources of Line In, DVD burner, and CD
> burner).
> If I put CoolEdit in its record mode and watch its level meter with no
> inputs, here's what I see:

> Input Gain=Min Gain=Max

> Microphone -68 dB -54 dB
> Wave <-120 dB <-120 dB
> Stereo Mix <-120 dB -58 dB

> Are those background levels in the -54 to -68 range a function of
> circuitry on the sound board?

Most likely.

>(Aopen doesn't publish s/n ratio for
> this board, and these numbers are probably why.) So to improve the s/n
> numbers, I should look for a better PCI sound card. Any suggestions in
> the $50 range?

Well forget about the mic input for anything important, period.

For $50 you might get better dynamic range out of some flavor of
SoundBlaster Live! MP3/5.1 whatever. The very newest Live! are actually
pretty clean. Or, see if you can pull a used Audiophile 2496 off eBay.
 
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Archived from groups: rec.audio.pro (More info?)

Arny Krueger wrote:
> "Ray K" <raykosXXX@optonline.net> wrote in message
> news:SIQFd.1868$RD.73@fe08.lga
>
>>I temporarily using an inexpensive Aopen Cobra AW840 sound card. The
>>recording mixer allows me to select one of three inputs: Microphone,
>>Wave (which carries signals from all my various digital players like
>>Windows Media Player, Winamp, CoolEdit), and Stereo Mix (which carries
>>signals from the analog sources of Line In, DVD burner, and CD
>>burner).
>>If I put CoolEdit in its record mode and watch its level meter with no
>>inputs, here's what I see:
>
>
>>Input Gain=Min Gain=Max
>
>
>>Microphone -68 dB -54 dB
>>Wave <-120 dB <-120 dB
>>Stereo Mix <-120 dB -58 dB
>
>
>>Are those background levels in the -54 to -68 range a function of
>>circuitry on the sound board?
>
>
> Most likely.
>
>
>>(Aopen doesn't publish s/n ratio for
>>this board, and these numbers are probably why.) So to improve the s/n
>>numbers, I should look for a better PCI sound card. Any suggestions in
>>the $50 range?
>
>
> Well forget about the mic input for anything important, period.
>
> For $50 you might get better dynamic range out of some flavor of
> SoundBlaster Live! MP3/5.1 whatever. The very newest Live! are actually
> pretty clean. Or, see if you can pull a used Audiophile 2496 off eBay.

Thanks for the input and lead.

Ray