Which one has a better sound card?

[shinderhizzle84]

Hey. SO I know this doesn't solely pertain to Macbook Pros, or even Apples, but I'm THINKING someone can help me out with this.

I have a Titanium Macbook Pro...I believe it was the version DIRECTLY AFTER the Santa Rosa. Mine was the 15.4" screen.

I ALSO have an HP Mini 210 netbook. Now, I like to sometimes record my own voice on my computer singing along to my favorite songs and mix them and put them on youtube.

I was recently told that a lot of the recording quality depends on your sound card.

SO, my question is this: Which of my computers has a better sound card? Since I can't seem to tell how to know what sound card each computer has, I'm hoping somebody can help me figure this out.

I realize that the HP mini is about a 12th or so of the price of my macbook pro, but my macbook pro is almost 3 years old and I only got the HP this January, so I'm thinking it's entirely possible that the HP has a better sound card, but I'm not sure.

Anyways, thanks so very much for the help, guys and girls, hope some of you can figure this out with me!

 

[Sir Cecil]

All are poor. With the Mac you would do well to buy a USB audio interface, like the Apogee One, which is designed expressly for Mac and is available from the Apple Store. Not only will it give you excellent recording abilities via a fine built-in mic, it will also greatly improve audio playbackfrom iTunes etc, via headphones or speakers. For the quality and flexibility it offers, the price is very reasonable indeed.

http://www.apogeedigital.com/products/one.php

 

[shinderhizzle84]

All are poor. With the Mac you would do well to buy a USB audio interface, like the Apogee One, which is designed expressly for Mac and is available from the Apple Store. Not only will it give you excellent recording abilities via a fine built-in mic, it will also greatly improve audio playbackfrom iTunes etc, via headphones or speakers. For the quality and flexibility it offers, the price is very reasonable indeed.

http://www.apogeedigital.com/products/one.php

thanks for the info, it is much appreciated.

250 dollars is really steep, though, especially for a broke college student

If there was like anything below $50 I would definitely consider it but since that is probably never going to be the case, I guess there's no point in even bothering. Thanks

 

[apw100]

I agree, neither laptop will have good integrated audio. The Mac will likely have better drivers(Core Audio), so it might be easier to set up and remain trouble free.
Like the previous poster said, I would highly recommend an Apogee One interface. It includes a condensor mic, so you won't have to buy it seperately. It is a great interface, but it will only work with OSX, so keep that in mind.

 

[apw100]

thanks for the info, it is much appreciated.

250 dollars is really steep, though, especially for a broke college student

If there was like anything below $50 I would definitely consider it but since that is probably never going to be the case, I guess there's no point in even bothering. Thanks

Try one of these USB microphones then, they are about $60. They should be fine for goofing off.

http://http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/Snowflake/

http://www.amazon.com/MXL-USB-Microphone-Headohone-Carrying/dp/B001E9X80K/ref=sr_1_15?ie=UTF8&s=musical-instruments&qid=1271270672&sr=1-15