Sound Card Choice, Audigy 2 ZS / Platinum Pro

[Sycho]

My parents just recently bought a Dell, even after me telling them not to, it has a Sound Blaster Live 5.1, that just won't do. I want either the Creative Sound Blaster Audigy 2 ZS, or the Creative Sound Blaster Audigy 2 ZS Platinum Pro. The only big difference between the ZS and the ZS Platinum Pro is that the Pro has an external "bay" and 96khz/24bit 6-track recording and the ZS has only 48khz/16bit 2-track recording, This is a family computer, but a want to do mixing for friends bands, and possible DVD-Audio creating ect. My question, should i get the Audigy 2 ZS Platinum Pro right now, or hold out and get the Audigy 2 ZS for now, and get a dedicated computer for mixing with the ZS Platinum Pro. The $200 price difference, is a biggie, seeing's I'm in high school and work at McD's, but, if it is worth it to get it, then I will.

SOUND BLASTER® COMPARISON CHART (http://www.soundblaster.com/products/Audigy2ZS_platinum_pro/compare.asp)
Conveniently has Live 5.1 also in the chart.

[ursamtl]

Originally posted by sycho
My parents just recently bought a Dell, even after me telling them not to, it has a Sound Blaster Live 5.1, that just won't do. I want either the Creative Sound Blaster Audigy 2 ZS, or the Creative Sound Blaster Audigy 2 ZS Platinum Pro. The only big difference between the ZS and the ZS Platinum Pro is that the Pro has an external "bay" and 96khz/24bit 6-track recording and the ZS has only 48khz/16bit 2-track recording, This is a family computer, but a want to do mixing for friends bands, and possible DVD-Audio creating ect. My question, should i get the Audigy 2 ZS Platinum Pro right now, or hold out and get the Audigy 2 ZS for now, and get a dedicated computer for mixing with the ZS Platinum Pro. The $200 price difference, is a biggie, seeing's I'm in high school and work at McD's, but, if it is worth it to get it, then I will.

SOUND BLASTER® COMPARISON CHART (http://www.soundblaster.com/products/Audigy2ZS_platinum_pro/compare.asp)
Conveniently has Live 5.1 also in the chart.

Hi Sycho,

I know your question is a few months old now so perhaps you've already made the purchase. If not, check out the Emu 0404 (www.emu.com). This is a pro-quality soundcard for $99-US. It should give you incredible performance for mixing. By the way, EMU is owned by Creative but is well known in pro audio/music fields.

[Sycho]

thanks for the reply, i forgot about this thread, anywho, i have yet to purcase a better sound card, but i also want multichannel output, so when i start working again i will look around, and i will keep the Emu 0404 in mind.

[tenebrenz]

I have a Audigy 2 ZS Platinum Pro and while it is undoubtedly good value for money and has fairly good specs, it doesn't cut the mustard as far as pro audio goes. The lack of 44.1 khz mode in ASIO is a real killer for me, this is something you can't do without, and because all audio using the WDM drivers is resampled you will get other problems. The mic preamp is not too good either, very hissy.

Try having a look at places like www.dolphinmusic.co.uk to get an idea of good cards for recording. I use a Terratec DMX 6Fire without problems.

[ursamtl]

Originally posted by tenebrenz
I have a Audigy 2 ZS Platinum Pro and while it is undoubtedly good value for money and has fairly good specs, it doesn't cut the mustard as far as pro audio goes. The lack of 44.1 khz mode in ASIO is a real killer for me, this is something you can't do without, and because all audio using the WDM drivers is resampled you will get other problems. The mic preamp is not too good either, very hissy.

Try having a look at places like www.dolphinmusic.co.uk to get an idea of good cards for recording. I use a Terratec DMX 6Fire without problems.
Have you checked out the kx drivers at www.kxproject.com? These work with the Audigy 2 ZS Platinum Pro (even though the list of supported cards isn't clear on this point) and they resolve a lot of the problems people experience with Creative drivers.