Full Audio Setup

[Chalenge]

I like a good quality sound card to start with. Then headphones.

https://www.amazon.com/Creative-Blaster-Performance-Headphone-Desktop/dp/B009XDWUCQ/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1477407418&sr=8-2&keywords=Sound+Blaster+Z

https://www.amazon.com/Sony-MDR7506-Professional-Diaphragm-Headphone/dp/B000AJIF4E/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1477407537&sr=8-1&keywords=Sony+MDR-7506

Then there is nothing better than keeping the mic separate from your playback, so I go with a mixer that can provide phantom power. This one is USB, but you could step up to an 8-channel mixer and feed the output to the line-in on the Zx if you wanted.

https://www.amazon.com/Behringer-Q502USB-BEHRINGER-XENYX/dp/B00CTKI10A/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&qid=1477407596&sr=8-5&keywords=behringer+mixer

And finally, the mic with a shock mount.

https://www.amazon.com/MXL-990-Condenser-Microphone-Shockmount/dp/B0002GIRP2/ref=sr_1_6?ie=UTF8&qid=1477407912&sr=8-6&keywords=mxl+770

Then all you need is the mic boom, or desk stand that suits your needs.

Yes, it's maybe a little more expensive than a gaming headset. It will also last ten times longer.

[Chalenge]

I use the ZxR, because I create audio, do mixing, and the extra inputs/outputs are handy.

I use that same Sony headphone every day. I have several. It's what people in Hollywood use also.

I use a Yamaha mixer now, for my YouTube recordings.

https://www.amazon.com/Yamaha-MG10XU-10-Input-Stereo-Effects/dp/B00IBIVL42/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1477408210&sr=8-1&keywords=Yamaha+MG10XU

The Yamaha Mixer has that same MXL 990 mic plugged in. The buzzing you hear (if you hear it) in my YouTube channel is the ceiling fan behind my desk.

I also use a Behringer FCA1616 interface for AH. It's overkill, but I have it and use it for other things too. It has an Audio-Technica AT875R mic plugged in, so I don't have to worry about mic placement.

https://www.amazon.com/Behringer-FCA1616-BEHRINGER-FIREPOWER/dp/B00E87OK1G/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1477408603&sr=8-1&keywords=Behringer+FCA1616

I also use a Behringer Ultragraph Pro, which acts as a signal splitter between the Sound Blaster ZxR, a Yamaha 5.1 Receiver and the Yamaha Mixer. That way I don't have to do so much work to turn on 5.1, or to shuttle everything (gaming and mic) through the mixer to my recording system.

https://www.amazon.com/Behringer-FBQ1502HD-BEHRINGER-ULTRAGRAPH-PRO/dp/B013JLZMZE/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1477408820&sr=8-1&keywords=behringer+ultragraph+pro+fbq1502hd

(Similar to this receiver, as mine is no longer available)
https://www.amazon.com/Yamaha-RX-V381BL-Receiver-Black/dp/B01BY7YOAY/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1477408893&sr=8-4&keywords=Yamaha+5.1+Receiver

And this is the card I record with. I have it in a second computer similar to the one I use for gaming. To record at 1080p I have four HDDs in a RAID0 arrangement to create a 24TB array capable of recording AH uncompressed.

https://www.amazon.com/Blackmagic-Design-Intensity-Capture-Playback/dp/B00U3QNP7Q/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1477408967&sr=8-1&keywords=Blackmagic+Intensity+Pro+4k

[Chalenge]

I posted this to answer a specific question, but it might also serve to help someone wanting to break out of the 'gaming headset' phase. It's not for everyone.

[Ratsy]

I kind of stopped at the ZxR for my rig.  I'm just running a Bose V speaker setup and a headset that I really like.

I did try to use an older Yamaha receiver once upon a time, but the sub-woofer amplifier circuit was crackly (probably why I replaced it in the home theater in the first place).

At the end of the trail, I don't have the budget to maintain too many interests (retired).  But I'm a fan of what you've done.

Awesome set up, Challenge.

 

[Skuzzy]

I use both open back and closed back headsets, depending on what I am doing.  I prefer open back for listening/game play, and closed back for recording and editing.

My open back headset is an AKG K701.  I have had it for a while and really like the comfort and sound quality.

[Gman]

Good thread, I took this advice from Chalenge a year or two back when he first posted about it, and haven't regretted it.  I will say that the audio on my newest MB, x99 Strix Gaming, is an improvement over some of the past onboard audio, semi reasonable amplification etc.  Now, that said, I would absolutely NOT want to use it over the SB card, I have the same one as Chal in 2 systems, and am running stock sound in the x99 until I get another sound card on black Friday.  Just saying that onboard audio is slowly improving, especially with the above MB, they actually put SOME effort into it at least.

Skuzzy's headphones are excellent, I tried a pair just like that out in a store, what I like most is the comfort of the ear cups, they are worth it just for that.  The Sennheiser Zero and One I had used before going the the Sony MDR weren't something I liked wearing for long periods of time, and IMO the comfort and fit of the headset is as important as how the drivers inside the ear pieces sound.

[Ratsy]

The Sennheiser Zero and One I had used before going the the Sony MDR weren't something I liked wearing for long periods of time, and IMO the comfort and fit of the headset is as important as how the drivers inside the ear pieces sound.

And How!  At about the 8-hour mark Saturday my whole head felt like it was being crushed (Sennheiser One).

 

[Latrobe]

Nice setup you got there. I've been dabbing into the audio stuff a bit recently and I'm quite liking it!

For headphones I was lucky enough to get the Sennheiser's Orpheus! Gotta say it's quality is top-notch!

http://www.theverge.com/2015/11/6/9680990/sennheiser-orpheus-handmade-headphones-electrostatic-hands-on

For my mic is a Neumann U 87. I do some mission making in Arma 3 and recording dialog as quiet as whispering on a stealth mission to yelling to be heard in a full on firefight can be difficult to get right with an ordinary mic. So the 10 db attenuation switch on the U 87 really came in handy there.

https://www.amazon.com/Neumann-Switchable-Studio-Microphone-Directional/dp/B0016ZSIP2

Really like my Soundcraft GB8 for sound mixing! 

https://www.amazon.com/Soundcraft-GB8-Channel-Mixer-Console/dp/B00AAO7QJY


I use a Digigram VX822HR sound card in my main computer and my other computer that is used to record gameplay and edit videos.

https://www.amazon.com/Digigram-VX822HR-PCI-Audio-Card/dp/B00ZWU3MM6

For capturing uncompressed gameplay I use the PNY NVIDIA Quadro SDI Capture Card. The quality is amazing! Very happy with this purchase! 

http://www.nvidia.com/object/product_quadro_sdi_capture_us.html

For storage of all the footage I have 4 Fusion-io ioDrive Octal in RAID0 for 40TB of storage. Those uncompressed video files gotta go somewhere! 

https://www.acmemicro.com/Product/12003/Fusion-io-ioDrive-Octal-10-24TB-MLC-FS6-802-10T-CS-0001?c_id=85

[Chalenge]

How do you convert HDMI, DVI, or DisplayPort to SDI?

[Latrobe]

I run AJA ROI mini-converters in my system.

https://www.aja.com/products/mini-converters/roi

[Chalenge]

Yeah, I have those too. They were phase-locking the Quadro under Windows 10, so I went to the simpler Blackmagic card, which takes HDMI directly. I still use SDI, but only with a control panel for recording to SSDs directly.

Your setup is almost exactly what I was using in the very beginning, except that Quadro card is extreme overkill.

[zack1234]

Do you have any audio kit gathering dust going for free?

Do you need a butler?

[Chalenge]

See Rule #4

[Latrobe]

I don't see why you would say that. I thought this was thread where we are sharing our audio setups? Was I not suppose to share? I assumed I could since everyone else was.

[caldera]

Still using 10 year old Logitech Z4 desktop speakers and a $8 lapel mic taped to my joystick.