USB audio capture card - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: Unknown
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: July 01, 2013, 04:04:15 pm
content: Hi,I need a good usb audio capture card because i want to record audio from an xbox 360 (coax out) to a pc.... I'm asking this because I don't have any experience on these devices and because I want to record also other devices whit a coax out.If there is another way to record, please post it. I alredy tried to record using microphone jack and Audacity: very bad quality, I assume it's much better having an acquisition card.

author: rkupka
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: July 01, 2013, 04:58:07 pm
content: Go herehttp://en.europe.creative.com/p/sound-blasterand filter it down by interface (USB).Though, even cheaper USB sound adapters should suffice.

author: Unknown
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: July 01, 2013, 05:01:04 pm
content: M-Audio and Behringer make some reasonable budget equipment for this purpose.http://www.behringer.com/EN/Products/UCA202.aspxwhat about this? If you just want to do "good Youtube quality" recordings it might be what you're after.

author: rkupka
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: July 01, 2013, 05:05:11 pm
content: Those actually look really good

author: Monkeh
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 01, 2013, 05:47:17 pm
content: There's no such thing as a good USB audio device. And the two above recommendations are especially hilarious.Can you not switch your mic input to a line in?

author: Unknown
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: July 01, 2013, 05:52:56 pm
content: Quote from: BulletMagnet83 on July 01, 2013, 05:01:04 pmThis card looks real good: actually is much better than the creepy one i found.If you want to record something from youtube: just don't do that the quality is real bad, even whit the HD mode...

author: Unknown
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: July 01, 2013, 05:59:57 pm
content: Quote from: Monkeh on July 01, 2013, 05:47:17 pmI see...:)yes and make windows crazy... I already tied this way: one you connect the wire it starts saying "trail" or something like that, because now Microsoft are attempting to remove the audio mixer from PC and is becoming real hard to record something without the right tool.

author: Monkeh
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 01, 2013, 06:01:15 pm
content: Quote from: Oracle on July 01, 2013, 05:59:57 pm... What? What makes you think it'll work any better if you connect a different audio device?

author: Unknown
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: July 01, 2013, 06:15:20 pm
content: Quote from: rkupka on July 01, 2013, 04:58:07 pm124 SNR.... is a real good card, better than mine surely! Anyway, this card can't solve the problem whit windows: if you don't have the stereo mixer, you won't be able to record

author: Monkeh
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 01, 2013, 06:16:23 pm
content: So fix your OS and you won't need to buy any hardware.And no, nothing Creative makes is a good card.

author: Unknown
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: July 01, 2013, 06:30:32 pm
content: it's not that simple: I already tied to install a previous OS and it didn't work.

author: Monkeh
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 01, 2013, 06:31:47 pm
content: It's audio input. It cannot be that difficult.I have no idea what screwed up version of Windows you're running or what daft thing you're trying to do, but it isnotdifficult to record audio.

author: Unknown
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: July 01, 2013, 06:39:16 pm
content: Quote from: Monkeh on July 01, 2013, 06:31:47 pmok, let's see how you record... maybe i'm doing something wrong

author: Monkeh
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 01, 2013, 06:40:10 pm
content: Quote from: Oracle on July 01, 2013, 06:39:16 pmSelect line input. Run capture program (Audacity is fine). Press record.Done.

author: Unknown
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: July 01, 2013, 07:09:19 pm
content: tried: don't work. Audacity can't see line in...

author: Unknown
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: July 01, 2013, 07:11:27 pm
content: Quote from: Oracle on July 01, 2013, 05:52:56 pmWhat I meant was, recording material FOR youtube, not recording audio tracks FROM it

author: Unknown
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: July 01, 2013, 07:16:04 pm
content: no, I need to record from a coax to a PC, sorry for the misunderstanding.

author: Monkeh
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 01, 2013, 07:20:19 pm
content: Quote from: Oracle on July 01, 2013, 07:09:19 pmSo are you going to help us help you?

author: Unknown
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: July 01, 2013, 07:31:29 pm
content: Quote from: Monkeh on July 01, 2013, 07:20:19 pmNo, Let's get back in topic: I don't have much time left to play around whit audacity and stereo mixer: it's actually better if i spend some money for a good recording card and make recording. Trying to figure out what happens in my pc whit windows, mixer ecc ecc take me about 1 month of search and I don't want to spend more of it...

author: Monkeh
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 01, 2013, 08:01:34 pm
content: Quote from: Oracle on July 01, 2013, 07:31:29 pmWhat do you expect to happen differently, exactly?It's still an audio device, and you'll still be running through WASAPI.

author: Unknown
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: July 01, 2013, 08:54:57 pm
content: WASAPI?

author: rkupka
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: July 01, 2013, 08:59:00 pm
content: WASAPI = Windows Audio Session API.He wanted to tell you that no matter what sound card or usb audio device you get, the controls will be most likely the same.

author: Unknown
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: July 01, 2013, 09:08:43 pm
content: ah, ok. so, I assume it's the same thing have a coax to jack adapter plugged in the digital input or have the acquisition card device plugged on your usb portWhat I'm supposed to do?

author: rkupka
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: July 01, 2013, 09:11:37 pm
content: if you need to record from digital output, you need a device that has SPDIF input (coax or optical)Search for that.

author: Monkeh
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 01, 2013, 09:14:19 pm
content: Quote from: Oracle on July 01, 2013, 09:08:43 pmTry telling us what OS you're using, what soundcard you have, andexactlywhat you're trying to record. 'coax' saysnothingabout the signal.

author: Unknown
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: July 01, 2013, 09:29:04 pm
content: ok.I'm using win 7 64 bitaudio card: realtek high definition audio (motherboard integrated)I'm trying to record audio from an xbox360 to my pc. I have these cable here:http://www.beebond.com/vga-composite-av-cable-2rca-cable-cord-for-xbox-360.html

author: PeterG
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: July 01, 2013, 09:35:50 pm
content: The first thing to do here is disable 'Auto Jack Detect' on the sound card. Second is to define the line in jack in windows and connect the line from your Xbox to that jack. Windows should then see it.

author: gbyleveldt
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: July 02, 2013, 02:11:36 am
content: For my Audio measurement stuff I got one of these cards, as it's got SPDif inputs allowing me to connect any ADC to it, plus it'll go up to 192khttp://www.esi-audio.com/products/julia/USB is probably not the best idea for doing real time measurements, but if you simply want to record I suppose it's ok. As far as on board sound cards are concerned, I don't know of any that's got SPDif (what you refer to as being coax) inputs? What motherboard do you have? As far as recording is concerned, Audacity is as good as it gets as far as FREE is concerned. It's not hard to use, just take the time to familiarise yourself with it.

author: Rerouter
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 02, 2013, 02:44:34 am
content: another big one is right click on the blank on your input devices list and untick "hide ... devices" (sorry on phone so don't have exact wording in front of me)

author: Unknown
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: July 02, 2013, 07:29:58 am
content: Quote from: gbyleveldt on July 02, 2013, 02:11:36 amI know how to use Audacity: i'm a bit familiar whit it. My motherboard is a Pegatron benicia.

author: Unknown
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: July 02, 2013, 07:30:44 am
content: Quote from: Rerouter on July 02, 2013, 02:44:34 amOne of the first thing i have done

author: gbyleveldt
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: July 02, 2013, 08:20:38 am
content: So, looking at that mobo it doesn't have an SPDif input, only an output? So if you want to record your XBox audio using SPDif I can't see how you get it to work? Unless you take the analogue output of the XBox and try and record that into the line-in inputs of the mobo? Sorry if I sound dense, just trying to understand exactly how you have it all connected.

author: rkupka
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: July 02, 2013, 08:35:08 am
content: http://hdfanatic.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/xbox_360_250gb_back_panel.jpghttp://hdfanatic.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/xbox_360_250gb_back_panel.jpgunless I'm looking at different type of xbox, there isn't any COAX audio output on its back.There is a TOSLINK SPDIF optical output there and some strange A/V port, which possibly has an analog audio pin, but I couldn't find any info about it.So, if you don't want to mess around with the strange A/V port, your only choice is to hook up optical SPDIF output via TOSLINK cable to SPDIF TOSLINK input (usually marked as OPTICAL IN) of a preferred sound card in your PC.As someone already said, none onboard soundcard has SPDIF input, at least I've never seen any.Only some more expensive PCI, PCI-express and USB sound adapters have one.

author: Unknown
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: July 02, 2013, 09:12:48 am
content: it's an old one, like this:http://www.thereviewcrew.com/news/external-storage-update-for-xbox-360/and if you have the VGA to hook up it to you monitor you have 2 "coax (or what the hell they are)" like this:http://poundmart.com/images/xbox360vgacable.jpgAnyway, back speaking about the UCA202, i found this interesting review:http://nwavguy.blogspot.it/2011/02/behringer-uca202-review.html

author: rkupka
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: July 02, 2013, 09:23:46 am
content: so it's obviously 2 analog RCA (CINCH) outputs... so get a CINCH to 3,5'' jack adapter and hook it up to your Line IN soundcard port (usually light-blue port on your motherboard).

author: Unknown
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: July 02, 2013, 09:36:04 am
content: Quote from: rkupka on July 02, 2013, 09:23:46 amI can't see that port!, Well, I see that on the "sound devices" menu, but i can't still see that on Audacity, and no other recording program i tried up to now...

author: rkupka
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: July 02, 2013, 09:41:47 am
content: please make a photo of the back of your computer, I need to see audio plugs.

author: Unknown
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: July 02, 2013, 10:01:06 am
content: Sorry,I swear I didn't see it it was covered by wires! but yes, my pc have a SPDif in.... The rear is exactly like this:http://s3-external-1.amazonaws.com/wootsaleimages/HP_Pavilion_Elite_m9040n_Desktop_Computer558Detail.jpgso, it have a SPDif in (orange), the black one i assume it's the SPDif out...Sorry 4 the

author: rkupka
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: July 02, 2013, 10:10:35 am
content: at last you've found it. BINGO. Now make a test of quality

author: Unknown
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: July 02, 2013, 10:18:05 am
content: Ok, but now I need an analog to digital converter or what? I see the xbox cable have a toslink port, can i use an adapter to toslink/SPDif or i need an external converter??

author: rkupka
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: July 02, 2013, 12:47:15 pm
content: yes, you would need a converter from OPTICAL TOSLINK to COAX digital.They are not very common, but you can find it. Try ebay, google or Amazon.http://www.amazon.com/Digital-Optical-Toslink-Coaxial-Converter/dp/B000I98ZQYhttp://www.ebay.com/bhp/optical-toslink-to-coaxialhttp://www.ramelectronics.net/Coax-SPDIF-to-from-Optical-Toslink.aspx

author: Unknown
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: July 02, 2013, 12:55:50 pm
content: The question now is: Is it better have a toslink to coax adapter or an usb acquisition card? This Toslink adapter will introduce an A/D conversion or what??

author: rkupka
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: July 02, 2013, 01:06:49 pm
content: no, optic toslink to digital coax conversion is lossless, it just changes optic impulses to electric current pulses. The device itself is very simple.Optic tosling to analog RCA converter is naturally lossy because it´s basically D/A converter.

author: Unknown
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: July 02, 2013, 01:11:47 pm
content: ok, so it's better having a toslink to digital spdif coax adapter.... This can be great because the sound generated from the xbox is digital not analog, so i can record whit 0 losses

author: rkupka
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: July 02, 2013, 01:14:46 pm
content: I think it´s the most cost effective solution for you.Any internal/external sound card with TOSLINK input would cost you a lot more.

author: Unknown
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: July 02, 2013, 01:32:34 pm
content: yes I see: potentially i can record whit few losses and is an affordable price.I'll let you know as soon as I have a bit of money spare, because now i'm trying to buy a waveform gen (saved up to 5 months 4 that). Speaking about TOSLINK, i saw on wikipedia that can support no more than 48Khz, right?

author: rkupka
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: July 02, 2013, 01:39:40 pm
content: nope, originally it was limited to 48 kHz/20 bit resolution, but was extended several times. Toslink can now support 44.1, 48, 96 and 192 kHz easily and compressed audio formats as well (Dolby Digital DTS...) up to 125 Mb/s.However, your onboard audio card will most probably be limited to 48 kHz/16 bit max.

author: Monkeh
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 02, 2013, 01:45:55 pm
content: Okay, this is getting silly.You do not need a SPDIF input, you do not need to buy a different card.You plug your RCA cables into the adapter and plug the resulting 3.5mm connector into the blue port. You set said port to line in in the Realtek control panel. You then select the appropriate capture device in Audacity. If it is not clear which device to use,tell us what you see.Four pages to record from line in, ffs...

author: Unknown
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: July 02, 2013, 02:09:13 pm
content: Quote from: Monkeh on July 02, 2013, 01:45:55 pmI tell you what I see/done:1.plugged RCA adapter to the blue jack2. i went to control panel/sound/recording/selected line in/enable.3. opened audacity: go to preferences menu (ctrl+P)/ I0 audio /recording/device. I can only choose between: -digital audio (s/PDIF) -microsoft sound mapper.Where the hell is the line in?? there isn't...

author: Monkeh
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 02, 2013, 02:12:31 pm
content: So for starters, that's not what the preferences menu looks like. But anyway.What interface are you using?

author: Unknown
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: July 02, 2013, 02:19:13 pm
content: if you press ctrl+P in audacity, you will see. The tab is the first one, choose the device form the second drop-down menu.I'm using exactly this interface:http://www.guidesandtutorials.com/image-files/audacity-preferences4.jpg

author: Monkeh
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 02, 2013, 02:20:05 pm
content: Quote from: Oracle on July 02, 2013, 02:19:13 pmThis is not a current version of Audacity. If you're not going to tell me what version, I have to assume you're actually up to date.That isnotthe interface I'm asking about. Go download a current version of the software.

author: Unknown
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: July 02, 2013, 02:28:53 pm
content: Updated Audacity. Now i can select line-in, but there is some noise from there and my xbox is not running

author: Monkeh
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 02, 2013, 02:30:27 pm
content: Quote from: Oracle on July 02, 2013, 02:28:53 pmYou were expecting studio level noise floors?You can now record the low quality audio from your game console. Enjoy.

author: Unknown
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: July 02, 2013, 02:43:15 pm
content: Any other solution instead the line in? it's a bit disappointing

author: Monkeh
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 02, 2013, 02:44:03 pm
content: Yes, go buy a real soundcard. And not a bloody USB one.As if anyone listening to audio recorded off an Xbox is going to notice the difference.

author: Unknown
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: July 02, 2013, 03:11:34 pm
content: Actually you reminded me that i have to buy a new pc in quite few months....Maybe I can also buy a decent sound card. Can be enough 200 eur for a reasonable one?

author: Monkeh
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 02, 2013, 05:17:29 pm
content: Quote from: Oracle on July 02, 2013, 03:11:34 pmQuite easily. Look at the Asus Xonar range.

author: Unknown
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: July 02, 2013, 06:54:12 pm
content: Quote from: Monkeh on July 02, 2013, 05:17:29 pmok. other brands i should know about?

author: Monkeh
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 02, 2013, 06:55:11 pm
content: Quote from: Oracle on July 02, 2013, 06:54:12 pmM-Audio maybe, but then we're getting into pro kit (don't bother. Really.).

author: Unknown
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: July 02, 2013, 07:03:22 pm
content: OK, thanks 4 allI'll lock the topic.