Hook Up A Receiver For Your Home Theater

A receiver is that big, heavy thing that you plug your speakers and other components into (like a DVD player, TV, CD player, Xbox, PlayStation, iPod, and etc.). Its the "brain" of the show, really. The idea of connecting all your components to a receiver is the concept of audio/video switching, allowing you to switch to different video sources (like TV, DVD, camcorder) on your TV
and thus changing the audio source accordingly - all without touching anything but the receiver.
Of course, the main purpose behind audio/video switching with a receiver is to drive audio to external speakers, like surround sound or stereo speakers.
Most receivers have a plethora of inputs; up to 8 speakers and a subwoofer (more commonly, 5.1, or five speakers and a subwoofer), several video inputs, and even HDMI inputs. You could plug your Xbox, Plasma, and DVD player into the receiver and use one remote to switch between all the different video sources (games, TV, DVD video) and have your speakers pump out surround-sound. Let's start with inputs and outputs. If you don't understand something, read through the entire How-To as most of it will be explained in detail.
Keep in mind that a receiver is the hub of your entire home theatre, so this How-To will actually guide you through the basics of connecting your complete home theater.
So what the heck is all this 'stuff' on the back of your receiver?
I'm going to go over just about anything that you would find on the back of your receiver. The one I'm basing this guide off of is a Harman Kardon AVR-247 I'm going to start from the top left of the unit and work my way to the right, then I'll start at the left of the next row and so on.
The first three inputs are for antennas. An FM antenna cable would slide on to the first jack while two speaker wires would plug into the remaining slots for AM. Of course, you don't have to plug your antennas in, but if you'd like AM/FM reception through your speakers, you'll want to go ahead and do that. These are standard connections, so if you lose one of your antennas, just go buy another for a few bucks.
You've probably heard of composite video. Its a very basic video connection used by most any component (TV, DVD, VCR especially). Its common and its cheap. As such, its very low quality.
Composite uses an RCA cable for video (yellow) and two more RCA cables for audio (red and white, stereo). The problem is that a composite video cable combines luminance and chrominance in the same cable, reducing the quality of the picture. You lose a lot of sharpness, and the color begins to degrade from the original source. Its useful when you need the extra input or the device you're connecting only has composite video. Otherwise, use something else, like component video. Sounds similar; very different.
S-Video is next in line after composite. It uses a different type of connector (five pins in a circle) and gives you marginally better video quality. It is also a video-only cable, so you'll need to plug in audio separately. In this case, you'll probably use a pair of red and white RCA cables for your audio inputs.
Next up: a ton of composite audio inputs. These inputs use left channel and right channel RCA cables, typically red and white. They look just like the yellow composite video cable, and you could even use them for video and the yellow for audio, but let's keep the color scheme how it is ;) Composite audio is the bottom-of-the-barrel in audio. Its perfectly fine for most use, but if you're looking for high quality surround sound, you don't want composite. Game systems, like the Wii or Xbox, and very basic DVD players are a perfect match for composite audio.
The same goes to VCRs, CD players, and anything that only has a composite audio output. Plus, if you don't have surround sound, or your receiver is only two channels (2.1, stereo sound), you won't be able to use anything but composite audio. Note that there is a composite audio input under each composite video input so that it is easy to match them up. Plug them in the wrong inputs and you won't get sound when you're on that particular video input.
Here we have one of the least-used features of a modern receiver: 6 (or 8) channel direct input. This is only used for two purposes: SACD or DVD Audio. SACD is an acronym for Super Audio CD. It is a proprietary audio format developed by Sony for special CDs that are recorded in 5.1 surround sound. That means you need a CD or DVD/CD player that supports SACDs, a receiver with SACD support (as in the picture), and of course Super Audio CD's. DVD Audio is the same idea, different brand, different media (its a DVD, not a CD!).
DVD Audio discs are special DVDs that are recorded in 5.1 surround sound and can only be played by devices with support for them. These CDs go all the way up to 7.1 surround sound, meaning you would need to have two front, two rear, two side speakers and a subwoofer to enjoy full 7.1 surround sound. Most receivers support up to 7.1 now but you won't find DVDs with that kind of capability for movies. 5.1 surround is still the defacto standard, so don't run out and buy more speakers any time soon.
You could skip this next little item because it is unique to this brand of receiver (Harman Kardon). The Bridge" is a proprietary connection they developed for you to connect
an iPod. You need to buy a separate component that includes a docking station and special cables to connect the iPod. It fully integrates with the receiver, displaying
menus and songs on the front LCD screen of the receiver. This allows you to easily pump your tunes through your speakers, whether it be stereo sound or full surround sound.
Of course, the music on your iPod is stereo sound, so the best you can get is simulated surround sound or stereo surround; the same music playing in the front two channels
is put through the rear and center channels. Some receivers do this more intelligently than others, but more on that later.
Here we have our high-end sound inputs/outputs. Basically the same performance wise, you have fiber optic connections (with the square shape) and digital coaxial (just like an RCA cable).
Both of these are 100% digital, whereas composite is analog. The only way you can get true surround sound from any source is by using one of these connections (or the SACD/DVD Audio option)
Almost all DVD players these days have either optical or digital coaxial outputs (sometimes, both). Many high definition cable and satellite boxes also come with these
connections so you can enjoy 5.1 surround sound on high definition channels. Choosing between the two, there's really no different in audio quality, so feel free to use
what you'd like (or what you're forced to).
I don't think I need an image for the next plug. Its a pair of power inputs. One is for powering the receiver, the other for whatever you'd like. This way, when you turn
on the receiver, you give power to the other device (be it a DVD player, CD player, cable box, whatever). I don't necessarily recommend this unless it specifically suits
your needs. It is useful if you're running low on outlets, of course.
Something else you'll never use: D-bus RC-5 input/output. This is used for infrared remote controls to take over your home theater system. Honestly, its not something any of us will ever use. Some of the real high-end junkies might be using something for it, but I've never even come across a device that uses this technology. Stick to the remote that came with your unit, or buy a quality universal remote control. There's no need for this option. An alternate use for this may be a bit more common: if your receiver's front panel is blocked (like inside a cabinet), you could get an infrared transmitter to latch on to the front of it. This transmitter would hook up to another device somewhere in your room that will accept signals from your remote control. The receiving device then transmits the remote's commands to your receiver (via the transmitter you've attached to the front over the regular infrared transmitter).
Pre-outs , located right under the Remote in/out. Pre-outs are used when you'd like to add an amplifier to your system to boost the power (and hence volume/audio quality). Average
users will not use this for anything but the subwoofer preout. You'll want to run a subwoofer cable from your subwoofer to the subwoofer pre-out to provide it with
the right frequencies. This is the proper way to connect your subwoofer to your surround sound system. The other inputs won't be used unless you plan on adding
an amplifier. This is highly unnecessary for home use. You might add an amp if you're trying to fill a room the size of a small house with enough sound, but you're not, right?
Here we finally get to the meat of the system: the speaker inputs! Harman Kardon receivers use bind posts for connecting speakers, as seen in the picture. They
work by being loosened up as your turn them counter-clockwise, then you sneak the speaker wire in underneath the caps and tighten them back up by turning clockwise. This'll
give your speaker wire a nice tug fit that probably won't loosen up on itself over time. Other brands may use other types of connectors, but bind posts are very common.
You might have been able to tell this is a 7.1 channel receiver because of the speaker inputs.
You've got room for 2 front left and right speakers, 2 rear left and right speakers,
a center channel, and two left and right "surround" channels which are placed somewhere in between your front and rear speakers ("side surround", or 7.1). If you have enough
speakers, you can go ahead and plug in those extra 2 side ones, but they won't play any sound at all on a 5.1 DVD. You would need a DVD that supports 7.1
surround sound, and at this time, there just isn't a market for it. CDs will gladly blast stereo surround through all 7 speakers, though, so for some larger rooms, that's an
advantage.
Our final set of connectors for this receiver: component video . The best video you can get next to composite or s-video. You'll notice its a set of three cables (all for video),
usually Red, Green and Blue. Don't think that's what the cable does, though - it separates the video signal by luminance and two separate color channels. In the past, component
did it in fact represent R, G, B (splitting the primary colors in transmit and recombining them at the destination device), but that is not used in current component video
connections. Component video can carry high definition signals, all the way up to 1080p, so it is the most cost effective and readily available high definition input.
Not seen on this receiver are DVI and HDMI, the two all-digital video connections.
HDMI is the newest, fastest, sharpest video and audio connection available today. Its the only cable that can carry audio and video in one - not to mention, in high definition.
HDMI must be supported by the source and the display you're connecting it to to use all of its features. Not all DVD players, cable boxes, or receivers support both
audio and video in HDMI. Its becoming more and more of a standard now to support both. The advantage is clear: less cable clutter, higher quality audio and video. You can get up
to 1080p high definition video and 7.1 surround sound through an HDMI cable. Newer cable and satellite boxes, DVD players, high definition DVD players, and more expensive receivers
support the full capability of HDMI. Its the best you can get as all-digital goes.
The last connection for this article is DVI. DVI is also all digital like HDMI, but it cannot process audio signals. HDMI may provide a technically superior image,
but I don't think anyone could tell the difference. DVI supports high definition video all the way up to 1080p, just like HDMI. Its being used less frequently now,
but if you've bought a new computer or video card for your PC recently, it probably has a DVI (or two) port on it. Most computer monitors use DVI now and video cards
have followed suit. HDMI is edging its way into the PC market, but its dominance is seen in the home theater arena.
Now that you've familiarized yourself with common connections, let's plug it all together.
This part of the receiver How-To is going to guide you through hooking a 5.1 surround sound system(5 speakers and a subwoofer) with a high-definition TV, a high-definition cable or satellite box, a DVD player, and a 5.1 receiver.
Your TV & Components
Where you put your TV is dependent on how large it is, how large your room is, and where you will be sitting. If its 50 inches, don't sit more than 10-15 feet away; but no less, either.
A 60" set is perfect for 12-20 feet. If you have a 32 inch set, try to sit no farther than 8-12 feet away. Your receiver, DVD player, cable box, and other components should obviously be close together, but don't place them physically on top of each other. They all get hot, especially your receiver. If you have no other choice, slide a thin piece of plywood between the components to help dispense the heat.
Lay Out of Speakers
The first step is to lay out your setup. Different rooms call for different locations for your speakers and subwoofer. If your room is a typical rectangle, go ahead and place your two front left and right speakers somewhere flush with the television on that side of the room. Your left speaker goes toward the left corner, right speaker toward the right corner. Don't bother with speaker wire yet (unless your speakers come with speaker wire attached already; in that case, just let them dangle for now). Note that which speaker is left or right is solely dependent on how you connect them to your receiver. Your speakers aren't actually designated "left" or "right".
Depending on how you acquired your speakers, your front speakers could be larger than your rear speakers. That's how you know they're for the front. Otherwise, all your speakers are the same shape and size, and you can use each for any purpose.
One exception: the center channel. Usually, a center channel is much shorter and wider than your other speakers. It should only be used for the center channel. Sometimes, all 5 of your speakers could be the same, usually on a very inexpensive setup. You can use any of these speakers for any purpose.
Your center channel should always go either directly on top or under your television set. However you have to do this, get it done! It's not called the center channel for nothing, you know. Any movie will pump out almost 90% of the voices you hear and a majority of the rest of the sounds through the center channel. It is a vitally important component to your surround sound setup.
Your subwoofer should always be on the floor. If it is impossible to place it on the floor, get it as close to the floor as possible. Placing it behind objections or in closets will diminish its effects. In a perfect setup, the subwoofer would be on the floor close to the TV (perhaps off to the left or right) in your line of sight. Nothing should block the side of the subwoofer that air will come out of (usually covered by a grill protecting the subwoofer speaker itself).
When it comes to finding a good spot for your speakers, you might want to mount them. You can usually buy compatible speaker mounts online or in stores. You can also
use existing shelving, buy some shelving, or place them on tables or other objects. No matter how you do it, try to keep the speakers as close to ear level as possible. A speaker mounted at the ceiling of your room isn't going to give you the optimal aural experience.
The last thing to keep in mind about layout is speaker wire. You'll probably need at least 100ft of speaker wire, but you'll often find yourself using much more if you
try running wire through your ceiling, under carpeting, up through the basement, or around objects to conceal it. Take measurements and buy at least 10% more wire than
you think you need. You'll probably use it!
Cabling
You need to know the different kind of speaker wire available to you before setting up your home theatre. If you bought an HTIB (home theater in a box), it probably came with 100ft of horribly cheap speaker wire. You don't want that! Do yourself a favor: buy some high-quality, 14-gauge speaker wire. Anything higher than 14-gauge is just to thin and will be susceptible to interence, quality loss, and poor quality over longer distances. Fourteen gauge is a good thickness and suitable for most home theatres. Make sure its also not too thick - some speaker wire simply will not fit in to the speaker wire jacks on some receivers.
Some receivers use proprietary speaker inputs. Sony is one example. Many Sony receivers have special connectors for speaker wire and will not accept a standard speaker wire. You'll need to use either the Sony-provided speaker wire, take the ends off of Sony speaker wire and put it on your own, or buy some of these special connectors from Sony directly to place on your speaker wire. My recommendation? Avoid any receivers with non-standard speaker wire posts/jacks/connectors. Look for bind posts or other jacks that allow you to slide in and clamp down on a typical speaker wire.
Once you've got your speaker wire sorted out, you'll have to do some cutting and stripping if you opted to purchase your own. This is way easier than it sounds, so don't worry!
Measure out each length one at a time, cutting the speaker wire with either really great scissors or a sharp blade. Now you need to strip the ends of the wire. Use either a stripping tool or plain old scissors. You can place the scissors on the cable and gently apply some pressure as you twist the scissors around the cable, carefully slicing into the plastic coating. Eventually, it'll get weak enough that you can just slide it off by tugging on it with your fingers. You need at least 1/4" of exposed wire.
Now you can connect your speakers. Note on your speaker wire the difference between the two ends. You'll need to use one as your positive and one as your negative. Sometimes the coating is a different color between the two or there is text on one and not on the other. Keep track of this - whichever side you use for positive on your speaker, use it for positive on your receiver. Crossing the two can cause damage, either immediately or sometime in the future. It might work this way but you don't want it to!
Connecting the speakers is easy enough. Front left to front left on your receiver, center speaker to center on your receiver, etc... Your rear speakers may be referred to as "Surround" or "Rear Surround" instead of just "Rear", but keep in mind, if you have a 7.1 or 8.1 channel receiver, "Surround" may indicate side surround speakers, not rear speakers.
Subwoofers
Your subwoofer is going to be a little more complicated. There are a few different ways to do it and many variations of inputs/ouputs on the back side of subwoofers. I'm going to go with the most standard and efficient method first.
You will need a subwoofer cable for connecting your sub. If you don't have one or don't want to buy one, you can substitute it for a standard red or white RCA cable (or a pair, since they are usually connected; just let the other cable dangle). It will work, but its really not the best way to do it. You'll also need whats called a Y adapter. On the back of your sub, there should be a left/right input (red and white). You plug the Y adapter in to these connections and then your subwoofer cable (or RCA cable) in the other end of the Y (note: if you don't have a Y adapter, just choose the left or right input to plug into).
Now, take the other end of your cable and plug it into your receiver's
subwoofer preout. Hopefully you have a powered sub, meaning it gets plugged into an AC power outlet. All you need to do now is plug that in and your subwoofer is good to.
If you don't have RCA jacks on your subwoofer, or it only has speaker wire jacks (and its most likely not powered), you'll need to connect it the old fashioned way. Your front left and right speakers will plug into your subwoofer's ouput jacks instead of your receiver. You'll then run speaker wire from the left and right inputs on the subwoofer to your left and right speaker outputs on your receiver. This way, the subwoofer is powered by the receiver and will not work as well as a powered sub. You also take some power away from your front speakers with this method. A good idea is to buy a new, powered subwoofer with line in RCA jacks.
Connecting the Dots
You've got the hard stuff out of the way. Now finish it up by connecting your TV, DVD, and cable/satellite box. Always try using the best options first. If your DVD
has HDMI and so does your receiver, use it. If your DVD only has composite, s-video, and component, use component video cable. When it comes to audio, you absolutely need
to use digital coaxial (jacks are usually orange) or fiber optic (usually the jack is recessed into the unit and has a door on it; when the door is open, a red light is visible). If you do not use either of these two, you won't get true surround sound! When all else fails, resort to composite (red and white) audio connectors.
Note: Look closely at the connections on your receiver. Everything is labeled, like the first set of red, green, and blue component video inputs might be labeled "Comp 1". If you're using composite audio cablesfor your sound, you'll need to plug them into the jacks that coordinate with "Comp 1". This might not be clear by looking at the receiver, so refer to your receiver's manual to figure out which video inputs use which audio inputs. Most often, you'll be able to configure them from the receiver's internal menu using the remote control.
On some receivers, all the component video inputs, for example, are linked to a single composite audio input (usually "DVD"), so if you connect more than one of the component inputs, you will be competing for sound when more than one device is active. This is why you'd want to configure the component inputs to use different audio inputs.
Your manual is the only way to figure out how to go about it. Composite video will usually match up to composite audio inputs with naming conventions like Video 1 -> Video 1, Video 2 -> Video 2, etc., but cables like component and DVI may not. You should also configure digital audio inputs to match up with the video inputs you're planning on using. For example, if you're using a digital coaxial input (possibly "Digital 1"), and you use component video, you'll want to match "Digital 1" with "Comp 1". Again, refer to your users manual for how to do this.

Two Essential Factors to Consider Before Buying A Home Theater System

There are different types of home theater systems which include 7.1, 5.1 and 2.1. In these systems, the first digit usually refers to the number of main speakers and the .1 refers to a subwoofer. Most of you might think while having so many speakers, a subwoofer is of no importance. But you must know that a sub-woofer is really necessary because many speakers do not deliver the high level of bass which is important while listening to music jazz.
Therefore, you must be aware of all the components of a home theater before you buy a home theater system for your house.
Sound Quality
Normally, if you are looking to install your home theater in a large room then you must pick at least 10-inch woofer cone. Instead, if t is a small room than a 5.1 home theater system will do for it which has 5 main speakers and one subwoofer. This includes 2 Surround Speakers, 2 front speakers and one centre-channel speaker where as in case of a 7.1 speaker system there are 2 more rear speakers in addition to the above. Hence, you can choose any of the above home theater systems according to your desire.
After selecting the best type of sound system for your room theater, the next thing is to experience the wound quality manually. A best sound system would produce the output sound from different speakers for movie dialogue and background music. This can be felt by the minor delay caused in the output sound. However, this is difficult to detect but a clear understanding of this will give you an idea about the difference in sound from different speakers.
Video Quality
If you are satisfied with the sound quality of the home theater then the most important thing is its video quality. The picture and video quality of a theater is the one which pays off your money for a brand new home theater. The picture display must be of high quality 3D in HD. Make sure that the video connection for the DVD player component connection and is better than S-video or composite video. The advantage with this is that if can transmit up to 480p video along with HD video signals using three separate jacks.
In this Scenario, the HDMI connection stands out the best. This is because it can transfer HD video signals using a single cable for both audio and video signals and hence, increasing the frequency of the audio and video signals. Therefore having HDMI signal would ensure that the frequency signals are not reduced due to different cables for audio and video and hence, the system less input power and gives maximum output.
Now, it is important to use the best player suitable to your need. Most of the DVD players gives an output of 480i or 480p (scan lines of progressive scan). This is good for a normal TV but nowadays most users have high definition TV like LCD or Plasma. Therefore, if you have such high definition TV in your room then it is preferable to go with a player which can deliver HD quality such as 1080p. Blu-ray disc player is the best example of high quality players that can be connected to a home theater system.
Therefore, before you buy a home theater system ensure that the system comprises all the above components and make sure that it has the capacity to withstand and deliver the goods. Apart from the above said, small other things must also be kept in mind like the USB ports. The usage becomes lot easy if the player has ports for USB and memory so that you can play your files directly from your desktop or iPod. Finally, ask the retailer to provide you with one month exchange warranty if at all you are not satisfied with the equipment.

Advantages of Home Theater Systems

Have you ever wondered why people prefer to pay just to watch movie at the cinema? The answer is simple. It is simply because the sound system is excellent and the screen is bigger. This is great if you are watching action movies. However, with the advance technology today, home theater system is designed to bring satisfaction to users who want to enjoy watching movie at home. This system will give the amazing experience that you just can't get from a normal television set. It consists of a big screen LCD and a set of speakers.
Here are some of the main advantages of having home theater system at home. First of all, the main important difference of using this system is the sound effects. You can just compare the sound quality with an ordinary television. Using this system, you can actually listen to each and every word clearly including the breathing and sigh sounds. The good thing is the sound projection is 180 degree. You will have left, right and center speakers so that the sounds are spread evenly in your living room. If you can listen clearly, some of the movies has different soundtrack coming from the right speaker and left speaker. This is the sound system effect for most of the action movies.
Another great thing about this home theater system is the screen. You are able to watch your movies clearly and watch in the dark. Using this system, the images are clearer and sharper compared to using normal television. Some people may not feel the need to watch movie at a bigger screen but you will surely feel the difference as you don't have to stress your eyes watching movies at a small screen television.
These are among the great experiences of having a home theater system at home. Now, you don't have to queue for hours and spend extra bucks just to buy your movie ticket. You can always watch movies at home at your own comfort zone and during your leisure time!

Acoustics - How to Make Your Home Theater Sound Better

When you think of all of the components required to design a functional home theater, chances are you probably have not considered the accessories needed to improve the acoustics of the room. Even if you purchase the most technologically advanced audio and video equipment, you will not have quality sound unless you have the proper acoustical equipment installed.
In recent years, home theaters have become much more commonplace than in the past. The popularity of home theaters and media rooms may be due to the affordability of electronics, like HDTVs and surround sound. The rise in movie prices may also be a factor in more people creating their own entertainment room at home. No matter what your reasons for installing a home theater, you will want to be sure that the room is designed and equipped with the proper accessories for the best sound quality possible.
Most people do not think about acoustics until they actually sit down to watch a movie. It is at that time that they may notice echoes or vibrations. Soundproofing your room as well as the strategic placement of sound absorption materials will improve acoustics and make your viewing experience more enjoyable and authentic.
Sound can bounce off of your walls, floor, ceiling and furnishings. When this happens, it can become distorted and hard to hear. When designing a home theater, it is essential that you have sound absorption features to improve the quality of sound in the room and eliminate echoes. Sound absorbers are light and porous. They are available in decorative designs and colors that will compliment the furnishings and décor of your room. Acoustic panels are durable and easy to install.
Another issue with home theater sound is soundproofing. You will not only want to reduce the amount of sound leaving your room, but also the amount noise coming in. Home theater soundproofing products are designed to trap the sound so that you do not bother the rest of the house each time you turn on a movie or watch the big game. Secondly, you will not be disturbed by noise from other parts of the house while enjoying your show. Noise reduction products insulate your space so that sound will not enter or exit the room. This will improve the acoustics of the room, improving the sound quality of your home theater.
A qualified installation expert will design your room for maximum listening quality. He knows where to place equipment for the best sound quality and how to manipulate the layout of the room so you enjoy the best possible acoustics. For example, you will not want to install your entertainment system in a corner. This is a bad placement because the sound is blasting toward the side walls. As a result, the sound is harder to absorb.
Materials like carpeting, drapes, couches and upholstery absorb sound while hard surface tend to make the sound seem harsh. This is why you see these features in most theaters that you visit. Natural materials like cotton and wool do a better job at sound absorption than synthetic materials.
Experienced installers know how important acoustics are for the enjoyment of your media room or home theater. This is why it is so important that you find an expert in your area to assist you with your room design so you have the best equipment and optimal sound for a true theater experience in the comfort of your home.

Audio Interface or Sound Card in Your Home Studio?

In this article you will learn:

• What a Sound Card/Audio interface does
• Why you need a Sound Card/Audio interface
• The differences between a Sound Card and an Audio Interface
• The internal pieces of a Sound Card/Audio Interface
• The Connection Types

What is an Audio Interface/Sound Card and what does it do?
A sound card receives audio signals and converts them into digital audio.
A sound card is synonymous in function to an audio interface.
The conventional Sound Card is a chip that is installed into your computers PCI slot.
An Audio Interface does the same thing. It converts input audio signals. It is just in the form of a hardware interface that connects to your DAW computer. An audio interface is an external device that receives an analog signal, and sends it to your music software application in its digital form.
For example; by plugging a microphone into an audio interface with a compatible audio sequencer, an audio interface can convert the analog microphone signal and record a digital audio file onto a track. This can be done with a sound card as well.
Why You Need a Sound Card/Audio Interface?
Music production and intensive audio processing requires more than your stock SoundCard can typically handle. Simple as that.
See, when an audio signal is recorded from your microphone and onto the hard drive of your computer, it goes through a process of conversion from an analog signal into a stream of binary code, which is the digital "representation" or "translation" of that original signal.
The main problem is what is known as latency. Latency occurs when the time it takes for conversion, and the output of the recorded track, along with any effects or signal processing that happens anywhere in between, is delayed. There is a lag, and you hear it late. Thus, "LATE"-ncy.
Clicks, pops, error messages, and other artifacts can result with a cheap Sound Card, or improperly optimizing the settings for your recording platform.
The Differences Between a Sound Card and an Audio Interface
They both have virtually the same function. The difference-primarily lies in the hardware itself. A Sound Card is a "card" that gets internally installed into the back your computer through a PCI slot, while an audio interface is an external piece of hardware that can sit on your desk and offer you the convenience of not having to reach around to the back of your computer to plug stuff in and adjust things.
The audio interface typically has a "breakout box" for all your inputs, as well a preamp, which converts a mic level signal into a line level signal.
The Internal Pieces of a Sound Card/Audio Interface
As described above, the core component of a Sound Card/Audio Interface is the digital audio converters.
The other important piece is the software drivers which manage the "code" of data flow and thus play a critical role in the overall effectiveness of your sound card.
The other piece that can be included with audio interfaces is onboard preamps. Preamps can be the most expensive part of an audio interface, and some don't have them.
Sound Card and Audio Interface Connection Options:

• Fire-wire: Speed
• USB: Plug and play quick
• PCI: More tracks and no need for attach/unattachment, because it is installed.(Some high-end studios use state of the art HD Sound Cards that are capable of the highest possible sampling rate and bit depth.)

In most cases they all produce similar sound quality, (with exception to the pro HD card) but offer different advantages with each connection option.
There are two components within both of these devices which factor into making a unit - produce superior/inferior audio recordings.

• Drivers - Software that ships with your product.
• Digital Audio Converters - The conversion of audio to digital audio, for editing and processing on your PC. (See my Analog to Digital Converter section for more on this subject.)

Some audio interfaces may have built in Preamps, which can be an added benefit and may help produce a better recording. (See my Preamps section for more on this subject.)
As I mentioned earlier there are areas in which both the audio interface and sound card excel. Of course, you must research that the audio interface/card is compatible with your set-up. You should also evaluate whether or not you want to do more portable (on the road) or stationary (in the studio) recordings. (Respectively)
If your just starting out and looking for something with good sound quality, reasonable prices, and can withstand a few accidental BANGs! A portable audio interface will give you many options to start with and expand on.
If you're looking to record solely from your home or project studio with a generally large track count - A traditional sound card or PCI chip with a breakout box will offer stable conversion and a large track count at very fast speed.

• Most importantly the digital audio converters, which touches the sound, is the most important component in both. This is the thing that transfers the input audio and transforms it into digital audio.

In Conclusion:

• Make sure you have a handle on the concepts of both before looking for specifics.
• Research the compatibility of the interface/card and your PC/Laptop.
• Keep in mind you are really looking for good: A/D/A/Converter/Preamps and Driver within the unit.

Remember, if you are just starting out: This is one important component among a number of important components involved in a quality home recording studio. So assess your budget/needs carefully.

A Home Audio Systems Guide

Should you be looking for a fantastic home audio system, you need to cautiously investigate your options. Audio systems for homes do not come inexpensive nowadays. The least expensive you can get is approximately $200, and the majority of audio systems with good quality cost thousands of dollars. You do not want to waste your hard-earned money for a mediocre piece of crap, do you? That said, you should play your cards well to ensure that your purchase is a smart one.
The first step in purchasing a home audio system is performing some investigation. Search the Internet to find high-quality home sound systems as well as great deals on audio packages. It will not be difficult to find one, as several websites offer home sound systems that match every need at competitive prices. Examine customer as well as expert reviews on different home sound systems offered, since reviews can assist you pick the best sound system. You may also go to greater lengths by getting in touch with the sales representatives of the online companies you check out. Or you can speak with sales people of audio stores in your area. Doing this, you will get an idea on which features you would like for your audio system.
Since each home audio system has its own own good and poor features, you need to know them to be able to select the one that satisfies your expectations. Be acquainted with the brands, expenses, as well as features of the products.
Purchasing separate sound components is generally a better move than choosing a complete package. Why? Because home sound packages generally include low-priced components to make the price tag on the package more appealing to buyers. Buying individual audio parts provide you with the freedom to choose the ones that precisely match your preferences.
With regards to home audio system expenses, you certainly get what you pay for. Typically, you get poorer sound quality if the price of a home sound package is lower. A reasonable price range for a good-quality sound system for homes is about $400 to $4,000. However if you cherish sound quality, then you might need to pay out more bucks.

Terje Brooks has written articles online for many years. He likes to write about sound systems like for example car audio electronics

High End Audio Devices for Residential Use

The concept of high end audio was introduced in the 1960's with the launch of a Stereophile magazine. The instruments and devices that are used to produce the sound are very expensive and are available only with limited number of authorized dealers. Not only the sound quality but the fidelity is also considered and special instruments are used to monitor the levels. A limited number of high end audio brands manufacture such products and they can be customized depending on the requirements. The devices used are capable of delivering excellent and organic audio which is very superior to the sound that is usually heard by people. The outputs of these devices are measured using audio systems measurement where every quality possessed by a sound is measured. The use of such high end audio devices is closely associated with the measurement instruments to differentiate them from regular music. These set ups were initially used in studios and other places related to professional sound recording.
The demands of people have changed and there are many who want such products for home use. To cater to this demand the home automation companies have started providing such products for home use by customizing some components. It is made sure that the quality is not affected and the user can check it using the necessary measurement system. These devices are capable of delivering both analog and digital noise and it can be selected by the user. The other components that are usually measured while playing high end audio are frequency response, output power, harmonic distortion, transient response and noise ratio. Accuracy and precision is what the users will find in such devices as they are made using costly materials that minimize the errors. These materials are costly and individual warranty is provided on the parts. The components used in making the players increase the price to such an extent.
A two channel audio system is considered to be ideal for home use as it is made for smaller areas. The makers or the distributers of these products have specially designed showrooms where they are tested for the quality. People who are interested in buying such high end audio devices can visit the showrooms as that would be the best place to experience the difference in the quality. In case of commercial recording and sound mixing studios the makers are directly contacted as personalized setup is needed depending on the budget and demands of the recording company. These products were not popular until now but the modifications made in the technology have helped the manufacturers to reduce the price without affecting the quality. There are outlets where people can get a live demo of how the devices work and notice the difference in the sound. Home audio solutions are available that are set up after analyzing the rooms as perfect placement is very important for these music players. People can visit the online portals of the leading brand distributors and make the bookings for their system.