Comments on: Audio Myths http://simbatango.com/2010/02/09/audio-myths/ Reflexiones de un león Mon, 14 May 2012 19:57:50 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 By: Simba http://simbatango.com/2010/02/09/audio-myths/comment-page-1/#comment-611 Simba Tue, 02 Mar 2010 18:40:28 +0000 http://simbatango.com/?p=1298#comment-611 In the scientific spirit of this post, I just did some measurements on the internal card of my three-year-old laptop (which I claimed was 'good'). I used the <a href="http://audio.rightmark.org/" rel="nofollow"> Right Mark Audio Analyzer</a>, which can be downloaded for free. Here are the results: Frequency response (from 40 Hz to 15 kHz), dB +0.05, -0.02 Excellent Noise level, dB (A) -82.6 Good Dynamic range, dB (A) 82.9 Good THD, % 0.0088 Very good THD + Noise, dB (A) -76.1 Average IMD + Noise, % 0.019 Very good Stereo crosstalk, dB -84.9 Very good IMD at 10 kHz, % 0.021 Good General performance Very good In the scientific spirit of this post, I just did some measurements on the internal card of my three-year-old laptop (which I claimed was ‘good’). I used the Right Mark Audio Analyzer, which can be downloaded for free. Here are the results:

Frequency response (from 40 Hz to 15 kHz), dB +0.05, -0.02 Excellent
Noise level, dB (A) -82.6 Good
Dynamic range, dB (A) 82.9 Good
THD, % 0.0088 Very good
THD + Noise, dB (A) -76.1 Average
IMD + Noise, % 0.019 Very good
Stereo crosstalk, dB -84.9 Very good
IMD at 10 kHz, % 0.021 Good
General performance Very good

]]> By: Simba http://simbatango.com/2010/02/09/audio-myths/comment-page-1/#comment-609 Simba Tue, 02 Mar 2010 11:09:13 +0000 http://simbatango.com/?p=1298#comment-609 Usually with recent hardware, the playback quality is more than good enough. Of course, you will have to listen or measure to be sure. My previous laptop was horrible, the one I got now is good, and I helped a friend set up his new pc, where the sound was excellent. The problems you mention have largely been solved with current hardware in my experience. (I still use an external myself because I have one and need two cards to prelisten, though.) Recording is a different matter entirely. With respect to mp3 bitrate, I don't see the point with 256k and higher, as that is close to the lossless bitrates of the typical golden age material. Space is still an issue with portable devices, I am just moving (ironically) to lossless because my laptop doesn't have room for my collection in lossy format anymore, and with all the space on the external disc I have to use I may as well go lossless. Usually with recent hardware, the playback quality is more than good enough. Of course, you will have to listen or measure to be sure. My previous laptop was horrible, the one I got now is good, and I helped a friend set up his new pc, where the sound was excellent. The problems you mention have largely been solved with current hardware in my experience. (I still use an external myself because I have one and need two cards to prelisten, though.)

Recording is a different matter entirely.

With respect to mp3 bitrate, I don’t see the point with 256k and higher, as that is close to the lossless bitrates of the typical golden age material. Space is still an issue with portable devices, I am just moving (ironically) to lossless because my laptop doesn’t have room for my collection in lossy format anymore, and with all the space on the external disc I have to use I may as well go lossless.

]]> By: Bruno Afonso http://simbatango.com/2010/02/09/audio-myths/comment-page-1/#comment-607 Bruno Afonso Tue, 02 Mar 2010 02:38:19 +0000 http://simbatango.com/?p=1298#comment-607 While there is a lot of snake oil in audio, it is very dangerous to say that all onboard cards are decent. This is simply not true for multiple reasons. First and foremost, most of them are awful at dealing with clipping or hickups in delivering sound/bits to the DAC. This means that your entire audience is prone to getting a clip and "bzzt" while they are dancing, or, even, in between dances. While this may not be terrible relevant if you're not doing anything, if you use software to pull up a bit the sound to level it out, it can happen specially if you're not using a compressor that takes care of clipping. On the other hand, the quality of hte connectors in laptops is appaling. The slightest touch may cause the jack to unconnect. A decent external soundcard will have decent regular jack plugs that will be much better. I've seen it happen, it sucks. The soundcards inside laptop are inherently noisy because they are not isolated from the computer's motherboard, video card, etc. It's simply the least of the manufacturer's worries so the design is not buffered from all kind of crap from everywhere. This will cause the traditional low humming, buzzing that even becomes more obvious if you move your mouse or moving around in itunes, etc. Having used multiple generations of soundcards, I can assure you that not all soundcards are the same. The truth is, most of them are roughly the same as far as the DAC. In terms of pre's and ADCs, the difference is HUGE but unless you're getting stuff from vinyl or recording for fun, it's irrelevant for DJs. I would say that if you're shooting for mp3, there's no reason for going with less than 256k. There's not a space issue anymore and why compromise with lower quality bitrate? I don't believe I know anyone that can tell the difference between a 256k mp3 and a CD too. While there is a lot of snake oil in audio, it is very dangerous to say that all onboard cards are decent. This is simply not true for multiple reasons.

First and foremost, most of them are awful at dealing with clipping or hickups in delivering sound/bits to the DAC. This means that your entire audience is prone to getting a clip and “bzzt” while they are dancing, or, even, in between dances. While this may not be terrible relevant if you’re not doing anything, if you use software to pull up a bit the sound to level it out, it can happen specially if you’re not using a compressor that takes care of clipping.

On the other hand, the quality of hte connectors in laptops is appaling. The slightest touch may cause the jack to unconnect. A decent external soundcard will have decent regular jack plugs that will be much better. I’ve seen it happen, it sucks.

The soundcards inside laptop are inherently noisy because they are not isolated from the computer’s motherboard, video card, etc. It’s simply the least of the manufacturer’s worries so the design is not buffered from all kind of crap from everywhere. This will cause the traditional low humming, buzzing that even becomes more obvious if you move your mouse or moving around in itunes, etc.

Having used multiple generations of soundcards, I can assure you that not all soundcards are the same. The truth is, most of them are roughly the same as far as the DAC. In terms of pre’s and ADCs, the difference is HUGE but unless you’re getting stuff from vinyl or recording for fun, it’s irrelevant for DJs.

I would say that if you’re shooting for mp3, there’s no reason for going with less than 256k. There’s not a space issue anymore and why compromise with lower quality bitrate? I don’t believe I know anyone that can tell the difference between a 256k mp3 and a CD too.

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