[gspal]

I have an AMD A4-3400 APU 2.7 GHz processor with an ASUS F1A55 motherboard supporting integrated Radeon HD 6000 series Graphics and Realtek ALC887 8-Channel HD Audio, 2GB DDR3 1333 MHz RAM and operating system of Windows XP SP2. I use an extended amp to which mono headphones are plugged in as hearing stereo sound for long periods can be very tiring for me.

What is the importance of a separate sound card for audio transcription work? Do they really help provide better audio clarity especially with bad dictators/audio at the other end? I play dss, vox and wav audio files via Express Scribe.

Secondly, what brand of sound cards are available in North India and their estimated costs.

[naveen]

My system too has an integrated Realtek audio and produces audio output that is okay. In Express Scribe, I use the function "File>Special Audio Processes>Extra Volume Boost" to increase the volume. Depending on the low volume, I press it one to two times till I get good output.

When I had an old system, the volume was low. I inquired for small external amplifier, but did not get, so I purchased a "Sound Card," which increased the voice. It won't improve the clarity, but increases the volume (not much like what you get using amplifier). It costs around Rs.150.

I see that there are now USB sound cards available online, which look like a pendrive. Check eBay listings here: http://www.ebay.in/sch/i.html?_nkw=sound+card

[gspal]

Thanks Naveen. However, some of my net friends swear by a Soundblaster Card that cost around Rs1200. As for me I can now rest assured with my integrated Realtek HD sound card where whereby the Audio manager I set the Environment as "None" and Equalizer on "Treble".

I get my Orien amp with dual output and volume plus treble/bass controller, 3-step steel bodied heavy duty foot pedal, and heavy duty headphone from Shashi Bhushan of Raj Orien Industries, Delhi. They are pretty cheap and long lasting. He ships all over India.