Recommend me a good soundcard! Please.

Hotsauce84

I'm currently using an M-Audio Audiophile USB which is cool, but anytime I unplug anything from it for whatever reason it takes me forever to get it working again. All I need it for is to record mixes and rip vinyl. Nothing fancy, really. I'm just sick of the huge headache I have trying to get the USB thing to work. Rebooting this, reconnecting that...ugh.A friend of mine suggested the M-Audio Delta 44 ($100-$150) which he has been using for years, but I figured I'd ask my 'Strut hoLmeses for your opinion.Keep in mind, you're dealing with a tech-deficient dude so please dumm it down for me!Thanks!Herm

the_dL

if you are using a Mac then i would say Apogee Duet

Hotsauce84

Actually, I will be recording to a PC. I have a Mac, but I'll be using it to run Microwave.

Arks

I have the Apogee Duet, nicest AD conversion on the market under $2000 IMO. You will need a Mac with a firewire 400 port to use it. Very simple interface, but once you've set it up there's not really much to think about. It even integrates to control the volume for itunes. And LPs ripped on this thing sound really good (to my ear). Much nicer than my (much more expensive) former Digidesign setup.

Arks

Actually, I will be recording to a PC. I have a Mac, but I'll be using it to run Microwave.

Saw this after I posted. Nevermind.

spelunk

well nothing is going to be an upgrade if you stick with m-audio.

I recommend, as I did to Oliver, Echo Audio products. Small CA company, simple drivers, great customer service and an attention to detail. Pro-sumer for sure but still high quality, clearly better than m-audio/prosonus/Tascam/Edirol etc.

TheMack

there's nothing wrong with M-Audio cards. nice and affordable. i'm using the Delta currently, and it's perfect for what i need

magpaul

I have an Audiophile USB, it is by no means a great card but should be fit for the purpose you described.

It might be worth tackling your USB issues a bit before making another purchase.

PABLO

http://cgi.ebay.com/Echo-Gina-3G-PCI-AUD...%3A1%7C294%3A50

chase

with sound cards you get what you pay for, if you only need two in's that echo is overkill.. but the m audio you have should be just about as good, worth seeing if its just a software issue. email m-audio, they have pretty good service.

Delay

I have a Digi003. would the Apogee sound much better?

hemol

with sound cards you get what you pay for, if you only need two in's that echo is overkill.. but the m audio you have should be just about as good, worth seeing if its just a software issue. email m-audio, they have pretty good service.

Word, if you're just dumping mixes then no need to go all out. I have a lexicon Omega that I've been very pleased with. They make a smaller super-basic unit called the Alpha that sounds like it would be up your alley.

There's another option that is a bit more roundabout, but it opens up some different possibilities. you could buy a pocket recorder--MD, M-Audio, Edirol, or whatever else--record your mixes to that, and then just dump them via usb to your computer.Its super easy because when you plug the recorder into the computer it comes up as an external drive, so you just drag and drop. The advantage to this is that you could bring the recorder to your gigs and record there as well, without having to have two computers. Since you already have a soundcard it might be a more interesting choice, and it will open up other possibilities.

ZEN2

I have a Digi003. would the Apogee sound much better?

The Duet is basically a portable version of the Ensemble, same AD/DA, preamps, etc. Apogee is known for its quality converters, Digidesign.. not so much.

spelunk

I have a Digi003. would the Apogee sound much better?

Dunno what you're trying to spend but this is legit and there are real pros who swear by it...

http://www.blacklionaudio.com/Modifications/Digi+003R

They do a mod for the MOTU series too that really breathes life into the dull-sounding A/D their units have.

From a techincal standpoint the Digi 002 / 003 has all the right parts, but Digidesign is such a POS company that they cut corners unnecessarily and basically cripple their product. It still sounds good, not as good as an Apogee (if you don't need all those channels itd be worth considering selling the 003 and buying a Duet) and actually has top-notch converters, but the power and circuitry is designed poorly. Using an external clock also seems to help the 002.

The thing with Apogee is that all they do is make converters, so they are working way harder on the sound of their product than Digidesign who is caught up trying to make these complicated all in one box systems, and essentially just popping converters in a box that has different power drains running all over the place.

I don't think M-Audio is a particularly terrible company I just don't really see the point in Herm trying to upgrade across their product line - its all the same in different colored boxes, really.