4
votes
Whats the role of a DAC and is it totally different to a dedicated sound card?
1) A DAC's job is to create an analog sound signal from digital samples. Digital audio is, at it's most basic, a series of digital samples that indicate the amount of pressure change happening at ...
- 8,202
3
votes
Accepted
What is gain when the input is digital and the output is analogue?
0dBFS 1kHz sine defines a peak value.
Alignment of audio levels is usually done at an RMS level of -18dBFS or -20dBFS depending on the standard you are applying.
The line level alignment level that ...
- 8,928
3
votes
What is the difference between DAC, Sound Card and AMP?
Strictly speaking a "DAC" is a "Digital to Analogue Converter" which is a specific and critical component of the audio processing chain that connects a digital audio processing system with your ...
- 8,928
2
votes
Accepted
What is the difference between DAC, Sound Card and AMP?
I am looking for a hardware to plug-in the headphones. Please explain WHY you can't just plug them into the existing headphone jack on your device (Macbook?)
What is the difference between ... DAC A ...
- 1,869
2
votes
Is analog or digitally stored audio better sounding?
If you store at high enough sampling rate / bitrate and bit depth, digital storage will be better, because it does not degrade. Every form of analogue storage degrades over time, whether played or not,...
- 6,070
2
votes
Is analog or digitally stored audio better sounding?
From a sound design point of view, digital recordings are a lot easier to edit and this opens up a world of possibilities for us. For example, editing in a DAW can be done pretty much visually but ...
- 1,573
2
votes
Is there any difference when listening to 16bit music through a DAC with more effective bits?
The only possible theoretical benefit is that the DAC is less likely to introduce artefacts, as its resolution is considerably higher than the source.
I reality, this should be so negligible, I'd ...
- 6,070
2
votes
Accepted
What role do the amplifier & dac play in sound imaging?
Very simplified. I assume a typical stereo setup, two speakers and no subwoofer.
.1 The amplifier has two channels. The job of the amplifier is only to amplify the input signals: left input signal is ...
- 1,839
2
votes
How to know if studio monitors are loud enough?
Your first priority here should be your own hearing. Check the actual sound levels in the room.
Listening to anything over 75dB for prolonged periods (as we doo with music and sound design) WILL cause ...
- 869
2
votes
so I have a USB-C DAC, can I use USBC-to-USBA adapter?
TL;DR - Yes
Most of these USB adaptors are simply connectors wired together - no electronics. This means that there is nothing that will change or impede data in any way.
There are a few cases where ...
- 869
2
votes
Is a cheap external DAC sufficient to connect 4x 250W powered PA speakers and an active subwoofer?
This will depend entirely on the output level from the DAC. If it is sufficient to drive the input of the PA, then you should be good, otherwise you'll want some kind of preamp before the PA input ...
- 6,070
2
votes
Is there a solution to the problem with USB DAC?
Another answer might contain a clue on how to do this. https://superuser.com/questions/1701907/change-soundcard-bit-depth-and-sample-rate-via-command-line-in-windows.
Here is a tool that will ...
- 1,839
1
vote
Using a 2 Stereo to Mono RCA cables to mix two inputs into one output
It will possibly work without too much sound degradation. Simply try it, things will not break.
But, you run into a number of possible things , which in your exact case may be problems or not.
Ground ...
- 1,839
1
vote
What amplifiers or other ICs offer fine digital volume control (0.1dB steps)?
The easiest, and possibly the most precise would be to adjust the amplitude of the generated sine wave while still in the digital domain.
In analog domain, 0.1 dB change of power corresponds to 2% ...
- 245
1
vote
How to know if studio monitors are loud enough?
First, JBL104 use 4.5" woofers. The amount of air they can move is rather limited. Their reproduction starts at 60Hz which is way above the fundamental of most bass instruments. There is no ...
- 348
1
vote
Why do we need a DSD-capable DAC to play back DSD files?
It is possible to decode DSD and send it to your normal DAC. It will make a sound, as good as your normal DAC can do. Do a search for "dsd to wav converter". I am not clear if it can be done ...
- 1,839
1
vote
Accepted
How can a single PC soundcard process multiple digital inputs to different analog devices?
PS: I'm NOT talking about sending the digital output to a device with its own DAC, but more precisely producing two analog outputs.
Actually, you are. For a device to have a unique audio stream, it ...
- 8,928
1
vote
Accepted
Is a cheap external DAC sufficient to connect 4x 250W powered PA speakers and an active subwoofer?
Depends on the converter. When I enter '5.1 DAC' in Amazon's search box, the first couple of results are converters with only 2 RCA outputs. There are also DACs with 6 outputs (which is what you want),...
- 1,738
1
vote
Converting DI signal to analog to record from an amp
I have great news for you! What you are trying to do (re-amping) is actually very common in the recording world, and there are boxes specifically designed for this purpose. Radial makes a great re-...
- 475
1
vote
Is there any difference when listening to 16bit music through a DAC with more effective bits?
No. And of course, "theoretically" it is not "exactly the same". But 16bit resolution is more than your reproduction and listening equipment is able to deal with.
Higher resolution DAC and ADC are ...
- 11
1
vote
Scarlet Solo 2nd + AT2020 noise problem appears after some time
Sounds like a buffer problem to me. Try increasing the buffer in the software and see if it fixes the problem. Both items you bought are very decent so I doubt it's a hardware problem, especially ...
- 181
1
vote
Macbook's DAC vs external / in-speaker DAC
I have a 2008 Macbook hooked up via headphone jack to my McIntosh receiver. The sound is incredible (this is also true for my 2004 Dell laptop). I have a much newer HP laptop that puts out terrible ...
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