I want to set up a small PC/Laptop audio server as part of an experiment and could use some help getting started. A general overview if the project is taking audio files, test tones etc (generally CD-quality or better files....FLAC files) and bouncing them to an analog tape deck via XLR inputs. The majority of the files are stored on my Vista PC workstation or Lenovo SL510 laptop.
The Lenovo has a RealTek HD audio card built in and claims to be capable of up to 24/192k. The only outputs on the laptop are standard 1/8" mic/speaker jacks and USB. Initial thoughts were to use something like a Benchmark DAC1 USB (which has balanced outputs) to send the files to tape. I was planning on using Media Monkey for playback.
This would be my optimum setup, but the DAC1 is expensive.
An alternative would be to set up the Vista machine with an internal card like the M-Audio 2496, again using Media Monkey or such as the front-end controller. The M-Audio card did not get stellar reviews for gaming due to lack of multichannel capability, but it does to stereo (via RCA) and has good S/N specs. The M-Audio card is cheap....often just under $100.
The PC is not my prime choice for the workstation as it is a family computer, and one can just imagine what kind of problems arise with two children and the wife surfing to who-knows-where....
I'd be willing to set up a new machine as a dedicated server/workstation, but want to 'give it a try' just for fun, at first.
Are either of my two options do-able at this point or will it take more hardware to get it done?
Thanks-
Tom B.
The Lenovo has a RealTek HD audio card built in and claims to be capable of up to 24/192k. The only outputs on the laptop are standard 1/8" mic/speaker jacks and USB. Initial thoughts were to use something like a Benchmark DAC1 USB (which has balanced outputs) to send the files to tape. I was planning on using Media Monkey for playback.
This would be my optimum setup, but the DAC1 is expensive.
An alternative would be to set up the Vista machine with an internal card like the M-Audio 2496, again using Media Monkey or such as the front-end controller. The M-Audio card did not get stellar reviews for gaming due to lack of multichannel capability, but it does to stereo (via RCA) and has good S/N specs. The M-Audio card is cheap....often just under $100.
The PC is not my prime choice for the workstation as it is a family computer, and one can just imagine what kind of problems arise with two children and the wife surfing to who-knows-where....
I'd be willing to set up a new machine as a dedicated server/workstation, but want to 'give it a try' just for fun, at first.
Are either of my two options do-able at this point or will it take more hardware to get it done?
Thanks-
Tom B.