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JazzyJ  
#1 Posted : Thursday, February 22, 2024 9:18:03 AM(UTC)
JazzyJ

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Hi all,
For my audio, I currently run a mono balanced line level XLR cable (from the AUX out of a Yamaha MPG32FX mixer) to an 'older' USB Audio interface - a digidesign Mbox2 mini, on Windows 11.

As I only use a single mono input I've been thinking about getting a pcie card as my hope would be increased stability. I'd need to get a 'low profile' card due to the size of my PC.

Does anyone know what my best options would be? (I'd like to move away from USB and use PCIe). Or could I even just use the MOBO line in (with an XLR Female to Mini Jack cable)? It's Realtek 2-channel ALC221 codec.

When I first set up vMix, I 'assumed' I'd need to use a USB interface but now I wonder why not just use the Mobo line in? Is that a good choice in my circumstances or is USB a better option?

Thanks for any insight anyone can offer.
kross  
#2 Posted : Thursday, February 22, 2024 1:29:02 PM(UTC)
kross

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Just how high quality do you need the audio to be? Are you building a home recording studio? Live streaming musical performances? A podcast? Sporting events?

Unless you need the highest quality audio (recording studio, etc) the built in audio on the mobo is good enough. I've used it for years plugged into a Mackie mixer. But I'm only doing voice commentary of sporting events, so it's plenty good enough for me.

Recently I switched to using a high quality USB audio interface (MOTU M6) instead. Do I notice any difference in audio quality? Not really, but I'm not an audio engineer. For plain voice work (podcast, sports commentary, etc) I don't think you'll notice any difference in audio quality.
JazzyJ  
#3 Posted : Thursday, February 22, 2024 6:58:50 PM(UTC)
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It's in a church and a whole 32ch mixing desk goes into the Digidesign Mbox2 Mini via a mono XLR cable. It's just that recently there was an audio 'squealing noise' in vMix (in house sound was fine) for the entire service. A reboot fixed the problem but this was 'missed' by the guy who oversees the livestream PC (the meters must have been clipping the whole time..). So I'd like something that has much more stable drivers and stability in general - thus I'm looking at PCIe or mobo input.

Will purchase a stereo mini-jack to XLR female cable and test out the mobo sound and see if there's any noticable difference.
zenvideo  
#4 Posted : Thursday, February 22, 2024 8:32:38 PM(UTC)
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Or to do it "properly", and maintain the advantages of a balanced audio connection, you could use a balanced to unbalanced converter next to the PC like this one https://www.bax-shop.co....2-2-way-stereo-converter

Of course if the mixer is right next to the computer you can probably get away with a simple (passive) adapter cable solution, but if you get any problems with noise/hum/level-matching, then an active converter will work better.
thanks 1 user thanked zenvideo for this useful post.
JazzyJ on 2/23/2024(UTC)
JazzyJ  
#5 Posted : Friday, February 23, 2024 8:13:51 AM(UTC)
JazzyJ

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Thanks, I guess the other option would be to use a passive DI box 'backwards' with Balanced being the input and unbalanced being the output. Apparently that's a possibility too! Or I've just seen that 'Palmer' make a 'Di-Reverse' specifically for that job.
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