Creative X-FI HD - Ripping vinyl tool

ohbythebay

ohbythebay

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Okay, so I said I would post a review, so here it is. The device is very cool, multi-functional. Basically, it is an external sound card in a very small box...with a DAC..with RCA inputs and outputs, USB, SPD/IF in and out, even phono input with built in RIAA phono stage...wow.

Creative Sound Blaster X-Fi HD Sound Card | Creative Labs Online Store

It is small and sleek (just a tad bigger than a pack of cigarettes). Instantly recognized by Windows...and that's where the fun begins (not). Ultimately you will see I love the unit but Creative SUCKS at documentation, help, anything that gives you a clue on how to make it work or even how to get to the loaded software.

So for my first test, I just wanted to test the RCA in to USB out. Hooked up, I left clicked the sound icon, chose recording devices and looked. Yup, there it was, USB, SPDIF, etc. Line in, Phono in...except line in said Unavailable. Huh ? It defaulted to microphone in. SO I played, and tried, and struggled, reloaded drivers, software, etc. Hmm..now I could see Phono Line in but Line in still said unavailable. So I disabled Phone Line in and guess what ? It activated regular line in. Now how the hell would any user know that ?

So now it was set and using the provided software, set out to record some vinyl. Nothing could be easier. I set the sound card for the very best 24bit/96khz Studio quality...and set the sound level but running a test where it analyzes and sets the level. Then, hit record.

You can record singly or do a whole side and it will split the files for you. You can add effects, remove clicks and or hiss. I chose to stay native. So I created 4 diverse clips for you guys. REM, Cat Stevens, james Taylor and the Beatles (and obscure song with great separation)

Give it a while. If you like it, its worth the $79.

EDIT 0 RMOVED THE SOUND CLIPS LINK..JUST REALIZED I RECORDED COMPRESSED...DUHHHHH
 
Thanks Rob. Sounds like the Creative X-FI HD Has all the features and SQ beyond its price point. Is it Mac compatible? ;)
 
It's interesting that the file sizes are so small compared to the last ones you posted. Out of curiosity, what TT and cart did you use on your previous needle drop of Radio Song you had in your Sky Drive?
 
I edited the post...recorded the wrong format...DUH....DId WMA instead of WAV...so I have to re-record. wondered why they sounded veiled...
 
So I removed the link. The prior cuts were on an AT120 with an AT440mla cart. Today was through my system using the Clearaudio Concept with Concept MC and Phonomena II phono stage. But instead of WAV 1140 I accidently set it for WMA 320..duh...so tomorrow I will re-record....sigh
 
Mike said:
Thanks Rob. Sounds like the Creative X-FI HD Has all the features and SQ beyond its price point. Is it Mac compatible? ;)
Click to expand...

Mike, you will have to listen tomorrow when I do it right...and no, not MAC compatible which surprises me since its an external device..
 
ohbythebay said:
So I removed the link. The prior cuts were on an AT120 with an AT440mla cart. Today was through my system using the Clearaudio Concept with Concept MC and Phonomena II phono stage. But instead of WAV 1140 I accidently set it for WMA 320..duh...so tomorrow I will re-record....sigh
Click to expand...

I was going to say that I didn't think that this sounded as good as what you had up there before, but I figured something was wrong due to the file size. :)
 
LOL...I can't post them yet but to tell you the difference...one compressed was 6meg...and one uncompressed was 150meg...to give an idea...LOL
 
This is a cheap ADC that demands my curiosity. Thanks for posting. I may have to grab one & have a play to see how good the ADC is. I was looking to get an Ayre Acoustics QA-9 awhile back.

I see a couple of options. Straight out of MT10 & the magnificent Goldfinger Statement with its inbuilt RIAA EQ. Or additionally, a bit of Telefunken ECC803S tube C1000T pre-amp processing bling via the re-out. Second option requires another cable which is a drag.

Can anyone confirm what the maximum ADC sampling rate is? 24/96?

Seems to be product labelling & variations across different regions. SBX or THX?

Creative have dropped THX in favour of its own SBX post processing because they no longer want to pay the expensive THX licensing fees. Apparently it is a software change only. Hardware is the same (I think).

Not that I really care as I don't think I would want to use that for this application anyway. Besides Lucas THX always sucked anyway.

Ah, bugger, I'll order one straight from the Creative website, where it is cheapest. :D
 
Just FYI..the Creative does have THX but to me, that would be for playback mode for movies. It does have quite a suite of tools for sound shaping...

On another note, I haven't put the needle drops up because of mistakes I keep making. In the last batch I turned hiss and anti click on...to me it killed the life...you can set the amount...but I really need time to play with this thing...LOL

I may just give up, stick with my streaming music (do I really need to rip vinyl I ask myself?) because for vinyl, I can play vinyl...for plain old digital I can stream..so do I need to make my vinyl into HQ rips ? That sounds like laziness to me...LOL
 
It is future laziness! There are times where I would like to listen to certain music when I am working. Those times are impractical for me to spin vinyl. :D
 
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