MAX ! Input level for Santa Cruz card?

sam9 · 14th June 2004, 05:58 PM

Anyone know the maximum input level for the line-in jack on a Turtle Beach Santa Cruz soundcard? I tried emailing them and got a "tech support" response that refered me to a couple links that contained nothing on the topic. This does not seem to be a datum they care to share. (In a fit of pique I suggested that in that case I should be able to connect to any signal including AC mains without voiding the warranty.)

Anyway, I want try out some PC based audio measurement software, but don't want to detroy my PC in the process. The above info would aid in building a appropriate voltage divider to take an FFT measurement of a power amp. If I like it I will think about an upgrade to an M-audio card.

JDeV · 14th June 2004, 06:04 PM

For some very cool test software and a way to test your max input, look here

http://www.dazyweblabs.com/shannonsoft/page3.html

http://www.dazyweblabs.com/soundcard...ndcardtips.htm

sam9 · 14th June 2004, 07:00 PM

Thanks. That was useful, especially the isolation circuit - I would much rather blow up an opamp (even an expensive one) than my motherboard!

peranders · 14th June 2004, 07:38 PM

I have also TB SC soundcard and I have tried to dig up info about max input, especially when the soundcard gets damaged. So far I have found nothing and TB won't say anything, nor Dell.

sam9 · 15th June 2004, 12:13 AM

Since all they say is that the input is "line-level" is there any commonly acceptable specification of what that is?

Christer · 15th June 2004, 01:24 AM

Just to make it clear, are you wondering about the maximum
rating input voltage the card survives, or the input level that
maps to the maximum digital level (ie 100% modulation) after
DA conversion? The latter can be tested, the former seems
usually to be anybodys guess.

sam9 · 15th June 2004, 03:00 AM

I'm interested in survival! The second question is moot if I fry the soundcard. And by extension, it wouldn't surprise me if cooking the soundcard doesn't make the motherboard so happy either.

Christer · 15th June 2004, 10:05 AM

Yes, I thought that was what you meant, but I thought it was
best to make clear exactly what the question was.

I have wondered the same thing for other soundcards and
haven't found any info. Maybe the expensive cards are
better protected, but otherwise I think the only safe thing
is not to go much beyond full modulation. I have been thinking
myself about possible solutions. Maybe two strings of two LEDs
in series in opposite directions connected to ground and
preceeded by a fuse could be an acceptable protection?

14th June 2004, 05:58 PM	#1
sam9 diyAudio Member Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Left Coast	MAX ! Input level for Santa Cruz card? Anyone know the maximum input level for the line-in jack on a Turtle Beach Santa Cruz soundcard? I tried emailing them and got a "tech support" response that refered me to a couple links that contained nothing on the topic. This does not seem to be a datum they care to share. (In a fit of pique I suggested that in that case I should be able to connect to any signal including AC mains without voiding the warranty.) Anyway, I want try out some PC based audio measurement software, but don't want to detroy my PC in the process. The above info would aid in building a appropriate voltage divider to take an FFT measurement of a power amp. If I like it I will think about an upgrade to an M-audio card.

14th June 2004, 06:04 PM	#2
JDeV diyAudio Member Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Cape Town	For some very cool test software and a way to test your max input, look here http://www.dazyweblabs.com/shannonsoft/page3.html http://www.dazyweblabs.com/soundcard...ndcardtips.htm __________________ "Be carefull who's advice you buy, but be patient with those who supply it." From Baz Luhrmann's - Everybody’s Free (To Wear Sunscreen)

14th June 2004, 07:38 PM	#4
peranders Electrons are yellow and more is better! diyAudio Member Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Göteborg, Sweden Blog Entries: 4	I have also TB SC soundcard and I have tried to dig up info about max input, especially when the soundcard gets damaged. So far I have found nothing and TB won't say anything, nor Dell. __________________ /Per-Anders (my first name) or P-A as my friends call me

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14th June 2004, 07:00 PM	#3
sam9 diyAudio Member Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Left Coast	Thanks. That was useful, especially the isolation circuit - I would much rather blow up an opamp (even an expensive one) than my motherboard!

15th June 2004, 12:13 AM	#5
sam9 diyAudio Member Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Left Coast	Since all they say is that the input is "line-level" is there any commonly acceptable specification of what that is?

15th June 2004, 01:24 AM	#6
Christer diyAudio Member Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Sweden	Just to make it clear, are you wondering about the maximum rating input voltage the card survives, or the input level that maps to the maximum digital level (ie 100% modulation) after DA conversion? The latter can be tested, the former seems usually to be anybodys guess.

15th June 2004, 03:00 AM	#7
sam9 diyAudio Member Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Left Coast	I'm interested in survival! The second question is moot if I fry the soundcard. And by extension, it wouldn't surprise me if cooking the soundcard doesn't make the motherboard so happy either.

15th June 2004, 10:05 AM	#8
Christer diyAudio Member Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Sweden	Yes, I thought that was what you meant, but I thought it was best to make clear exactly what the question was. I have wondered the same thing for other soundcards and haven't found any info. Maybe the expensive cards are better protected, but otherwise I think the only safe thing is not to go much beyond full modulation. I have been thinking myself about possible solutions. Maybe two strings of two LEDs in series in opposite directions connected to ground and preceeded by a fuse could be an acceptable protection?

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