Sound cards for notebooks

Hi all,

I've been trying to get Avid (the video editing program) to work on my Acer laptop, and found out through research on the Avid forums and such that it just won't work, because I don't have a Soundblaster (Creative) compatible sound card. It's quite ridiculous that they only support one brand and don't mention so anywhere. So.. I went looking for a sound card that I may be able to add to my laptop, and really only found the Audigy 2Zs. This is a PCMCIA card, and my Acer (5672) has an Express Card slot.

From my understanding, this sound card would not fit, correct? If it would, it would solve all my problems =(

The only other news I found was the post about the Creative X-Fi, which isn't even out yet.

I also found the Audigy 2NX, an external sound card that plugs into USB... which I may end up trying, but I am not sure it will work for Avid.

Second question is whether anyone knows of any sound card I could buy for a notebook that is "Soundblaster compatible" but perhaps not made by Creative? Is there even such a thing?

This may be a long shot - but I'm looking for help in all places, thanks in advance if anyone has any ideas.

 

a PCMCIA card won't fit into an express card slot, sadly.

I don't know much about sound, but I'm sure if you hang around long enough someone with quite a bit more knowledge will stop on by.

 

That's what I thought, it seems kind of obvious but I just thought I'd check...

Thanks though, I hope someone does

 

I don't think such a thing exists. I've never heard of one at least.

The Audigy 2 NX connects via USB and while it wouldn't be the ideal choice . . . it looks like it may be your only choice in this situation. Unless you want to wait for the X-Fi, and there's no known release date for that (or pricing information for that matter).

 

Searching "soundblaster compatible sound card" got me this:

Now, I just wouldn't know how to go about finding out which ones aren't and which ones are, by searching online at least.

Thanks, though... I am somewhat assuming the X-Fi will cost more than the SZ and I can't quite afford to wait or pay for it =P

Edit: just found this: Soundblaster Live! 24-bit, big difference between this and the NX?

 

What is shocking to me is that Pro tools cards arent supported? Digidesign is a division of Avid, So I would assume that the Mbox mini, Pro and II would all work. As far as Soundblaster compatible I have seen similar "requirements" for other software that would work fine with other soundcards. They just dont offer technical support of sound related issues if you dont adhere to their base system specification. Pretty cowardly in my opinion and a large part of why I dont use Pro Tools (similar system requirements).

 

I don't have a specific answer for your Soundblaster sound card questions. But, I can share with you some info I have found while trying to figure out which laptop I want to buy.

If you go to the dell website and configure an E1705, you will see under the "Select My Sound Options" page that Dell has a $25 upgrade to an "Integrated Sound Blaster Audigy HD Software Edition". I have no idea what kind of upgrade this is, but am quite curious. You might want to dig around the net or contact Dell to get more info on this sound card. It sounds to me like it would be Soundblaster compatible since it IS a Soundblaster. Be sure to post your results in here so I can learn a bit about this mysterious upgrade!

There my 2 cents... Happy digging!

 

It's a software update, not hardware.

 

Unless I am mistaken, sound blaster is Creative proprietary owned

Thought about getting a USB solution? Not as portable granted, but they have bigger DACs, so its worth a thought... Emu 404 usb and total bithead are widely touted. Or you could just get a usb DAC on its own and buy a amp as well or possibly in the future. But that may be a slippery slope which may not be what you want. Sorry if it is more money and resources than you were willing to put into laptop sound

 

Regarding the Dell, does the fact that it's a software upgrade mean that the hardware is already a Soundblaster? Not that I want to go through the hassle of getting a new notebook... but I might end up doing so in the future ...

LFC: two of the ones I posted are USB, are they not? I wouldn't know if any of the ones you are talking about work with Avid...

 

i stopped by Avids site, couldnt find any reference to sound cards. but plenty about vid cards, drives and firewire. Which version are you using?

 

The Echo Indigo is a PCMCIA card that's garnered a lot of praise, but costs about $200. I use the Soundblaster Audigy 2 PCMCIA notebook card in my Asus. It sounds excellent.

 

IIRC, not creative hardware, just software made by creative using a Sigmatel onboard chip.

 

It's in the forums that all of the sound card issues come out.. searching them is what made me realize that's what the error I was getting was from.

I'm using Xpress Pro 5.5, basically people just say get a Soundblaster because they know it works and other brands are iffy. Looks like that's what I'll do once I have the money.

 

http://www.amazon.com/Creative-Labs...7?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1177392941&sr=8-1

just gotz this one.....and sum Logitech 70watt 5.1 as a package.....free shipping...on both....for under a c note...works great....linspire digs it.....and XP iz ........ well, iz just blushingto have it..gotta load in all the creative software updates fom web......then the full surround works.....the player/organzier software iz cool.......