M-audio soundcard recommendation/clarification

prairiedogpics wrote on 1/9/2003, 9:51 PM
Newbie question follows, be gentle:

I'm ready for a high(er) end soundcard to use with VV3 (just ordered those SP-5Bs for $199). Right now, I'm just using my Intel onboard sound with cheapo Harman-kardon 1/8" mini-plug speakers.
I know little or next to nothing about audio at this point, but I want to buy a card with a future.

Question 1: I want to (eventually) able to do AC-3 surround, and have midi capability, and based on forum searches, I'm sold on M-audio. Seems like the 1010-LT is the lowest price way to go (if I want future Dolby capability). Am I right? Is this a good card to grow in to?

Question 2: Since it will take me awhile to learn all this patching/routing/mixing stuff, in the interim I just want to be able to hook my SP-5Bs into it to monitor my audio in VV3. Is it as simple as plugging these speakers into the 1010-LT? What kind of cables do I use? (male/female, XLR/TRS?) The SP-5Bs are "active". What does that mean? (I swear, I've searched and can't find the answer.) Does it mean the speakers are powered just by the XLR/TRS cables, or do I plug them into a wall socket? (I downloaded the manual for them, it doesn't tell me this!?)

Question 3: Is there a book that lays all this out for me (or tutorials)?

Okay, that was more than 3 questions.
I told you I was a audio newbie,

Dan

Comments

Nat wrote on 1/9/2003, 11:31 PM
Active speakers mean that the amplifier is in the speaker cabinet, if you see bi-amplified it means there is one amp for the tweeter and another one for the woofer.
You need to plug each active monitor in the wall socket.

You could buy 2 sorts of cables

1 - 1/8 stereo plug to XLR male (I never saw those, you might need an XLR gender changer)

2 - 1/8 to 1/4

Solution #2 will do the job
Randy Brown wrote on 1/10/2003, 10:22 AM
Hey dan,
This just might be my first chance to give some helpful input on this fabulous forum!

>Is it as simple as plugging these speakers into the 1010-LT?<

I have a 1010 (The only difference in it and the LT is the 1010 is rack-mount and the LT has mic pre-amps). I should mention that the 1010 is (at least was) notorius for demanding it's own IRQ and disliking USB, so you might have to do some tweaking (see below for help on tweaking). Anyway, yes if your speakers are active (amp inside speaker)then you can just plug them into the 1010.
>What kind of cables do I use? (male/female, XLR/TRS?)<
I went to the midiman site and it looks like you'll need RCA male out of the 1010LT to whatever your monitors accept but...again see below


Question 3: Is there a book that lays all this out for me (or tutorials)?
> There are a lot of guys using the 1010 on the Sonar newsgroup that are almost as smart, patient, and helpful as here : ) Go to http://cakewalk.com/owners/sonar2/default.asp to join (about 1/4 of the way down the page). I can assure you they can walk you through it.
Good luck,
Randy