Newbie seeking advice on setup

[howardg]

I recently acquired an Audiophile 2496 card. I had been using a Soundblaster Audigy card in my XP machine to record vinyl LPs to wav files using Cool Edit 2000. How should I set up the 2496 to be able to do the same thing? I have been using a turntable and an old NAD amp. I was able to connect the output of the NAD to a line in jack on the Soundblaster using a Y cable with two RCA plugs on one end (from the NAD) and a single mini-plug on the other (into the soundcard). I was able to record as well as monitor the signal on the computer speakers. I understand the 2496 is different, and I have consulted the manual and seen the procedure for recording from a DAT. I don't think this would work for me because I think the NAD lacks a S/PDIF connection. How would I connect the NAD to the 2496 to record from the turntable, and how would I connect the 2496 back to the NAD (or to amplified speakers/headphone?) to monitor the signal? Many thanks for you patience!

[JA]

You just need to connect a line output from the amp to the RCA line inputs of the Audiophile. You can then connect the RCA line outputs to an available line input on the amp. There is no input level controls for the Audiophile.

If you set the output source for outputs 1/2 to Monitor Mixer (from the Delta's control panel), you can directly monitor the inputs by turning up the volume for the analog inputs on the Delta's monitor mixer.

[howardg]

I have set up the card as instructed and got it to work but the results are terrible! The signal from the turntable through the amp sounds clear and fine when I monitor it going into Cool Edit, but when I play it back there is a high-pitched sizzling sound (sporadic) and it sound like a horse is clomping in the background (or like someone is pulling suction cups). I never had this problem with the Soundblaster card. I have tried it with two different amps (a NAD 3120 and a cheap Radio Shack amp) and the outcome is exactly the same. I have taken out all the other PCI cards from the computer with no improvement. I have switched the 2496 to a different PCI slot, also to no avail. I am using the latest drivers downloaded from the M-Audio site for WinXP-SP3 (my setup). The card installed without a glitch. How can I get a clean recording? Would it help if I posted a sample of a sound file? I really had high expectations for the 2496. I must be doing something wrong.

[howardg]

I forgot to add that I also recorded the signal using Cool Edit 2000 as well as Audacity. I also tried both 24 bit/96 kHz and 16 bit/48kHz. No improvement. What else can I try?

[howardg]

I have done some more testing: The sizzling buzzing sound is only present if I feed the signal from the amp into the 2496. If I enable the on-board sound card in the motherboard BIOS and feed the signal into that that, the signal is clear and noise free. Can anyone provide any advice?

[JA]

Do you hear the same noise if you playback music from a program like iTunes or Windows Media Player?

Try directly monitoring the input to the Delta card without opening any recording applications. Set the output source for outputs 1/2 to be the Monitor Mixer, then turn up the level for the analog inputs on the Monitor Mixer page. Do you hear the same buzzing?

[howardg]

Thank you. I will try this tonight and report back.

[howardg]

Do you hear the same noise if you playback music from a program like iTunes or Windows Media Player?

Try directly monitoring the input to the Delta card without opening any recording applications. Set the output source for outputs 1/2 to be the Monitor Mixer, then turn up the level for the analog inputs on the Monitor Mixer page. Do you hear the same buzzing?

No -- there is no noise when I play music from Windows Music Player, or from the turntable either. When I directly monitor the input as you described, there is no noise either. I am not sure what you mean by "turn up the level for the analog inputs on the Monitor Mixer page." The level of the signal through the headphones (plugged directly into the amp) does not change when I adjust any of the input sliders on the mixer tab..

[howardg]

Does anyone have any further advice for me? I am about to conclude that the card is defective. I bought it from J&R so I can get an RMA, but will have to pay shipping myself.

[JA]

If you burn the recorded file to disc and then play it back; does it have the same noise? If it does, then the card may be defective. If it doesn't, the problem is probably a system resource issue.

I would suggest testing with the previous driver. Uninstall the current drivers, then go to C:\Windows\System 32 and delete the DeltaII.cpl & deltaIICoIn.dll files. Then download and install the previous driver (5057v3): http://www.m-audio.com/index.php?do=support.drivers&f=785

[howardg]

I tried the drivers you suggested but they did not cure the problem. I have now tried three different drivers on this card -- the very newest ones, the ancient ones that came on the included CD , and now the previous ones suggested by JA. The recorded sound file exhibits all the noise originally heard while recording regardless of how you listen to it (I have recorded it to CD and played it through iTunes). So I gave up and ordered an Echo Mia card, which appears to work perfectly: the recordings are clear and clean.

I will RMA the AP2496 back to J&R Music. What would really be helpful at this point is for M-Audio to reimburse me $14.34 for the shipping charges that J&R will not refund. That would be a very nice gesture.