Recommended audio connection path?
 

Hi all

Having started and stopped a few times over some years, I've just acquired my final piece of hardware for a VHS workflow - a Turtle Beach Santa Cruz soundcard.

I understand that there are 3 options for connecting audio:

1. Internal cable from graphics to sound card
2. External loopback cable
3. Directly into the soundcard

Most of the discussions I've found on here emphasise the internal cable, although I note that @lordsmurf has said several times that a direct connection into the soundcard can sometimes be best. My question is - what are the pros and cons of each? It makes sense to me that a direct connection would be simpler, shorter and therefore possibly cleaner - so why might an internal cable be seemingly favoured?

Further context:

I have an ATI AIW 9000. It has a single 4 pin header labelled "J8" which I assume is audio, but I can't find documentation to confirm. If anyone with experience knows, or even better has the manual, I'd be grateful!

I'm referencing this post: https://www.digitalfaq.com/forum/vid...ti-wonder.html

Thanks in advance!

The Santa Cruz has three headers on the edge opposite the AGP connector. You want the white one - I believe it is labelled AUX if you look closely at the board.

I go internal for the simplicity of it - patch the two cards together, close up the case, out of sight, out of mind. I have the right audio breakout for the 9000, but doing it this way eliminates the need for it entirely - I just patch into the audio out of the Santa Cruz to monitor audio.

Ah, and - reread and noticed you were asking about the AIW 9000 header. Yes, that would be the correct one (there’s really only one good place for the 4-pin cable to connect on that board).

Yes I was OK with the sound card end, thanks for confirming the AIW connector.

I too appreciate the simplicity and neatness of the internal method. I also don't (currently) have the AIW output breakout. But I can't help but wonder (no pun!) why a direct input to the sound card isn't explicitly recommended. It's also as simple, and surely with a shorter signal path and fewer connections there is less potential for interference?

I believe if you use internal connection you simply route audio signal to AIW audio input. So result is the same if you feed in audio directly to AIW input. But you need AIW for video only and TB for audio, so you do not need to use any internal connection. So connect audio to TB input and video to AIW input.