Decent Soundcard to record with?

[MrE]

Ahoy,
My buddy and I are in a band, an we're looking for just a simple soundcard that will allow us to record to Cubase, Wavelab etc. Just needs to have one input, jack/ 1/4" jack etc.
Gonna use it to record guitar parts, then lay the vocals over that, just to write the songs, not produce or anything obv.

Any knowledgeable chaps?

 

[dotVIBE]

well, you have lotsa options. most important, what is your budget?

 

[MrE]

Lookin for the cheapest one that is still decent-ish..

 

[dotVIBE]

well, then a standard creative X-fi should do you. Or even a Audigy 4

 

[Ekhaatvensters]

Or a cheap Envy 24 based chip would be good, I'm not too sure about recording quality though thb.

But the Caintech AV-710 version of this is a great budget sound card.

You sould read about these at hydrogenaudio.org or audioforums.com

 

[Glordit]

Creative Audigy Value 7.1 its a crzy card! for about R280
64 bit Support, 24 bit Advanced HD (24bit/96kHz/100dB SNR)

 

[MrE]

Thanks guys!

 

[ShockG]

I use an Envy24 based sound card for studio quality productions and it's great.. Has native 1/4" and balanced Analogue inputs (4x4) It's not the cheapest but will sound better than anything you can find in most stores or at least for less than R5K...

Check out Turnkey music for the ESi-Pro Juli@ 4x4 Audio module... I promise it won't let you down...
It is passive and has no op amps so you don't worry about any noise at all...

 

[ldmelsa]

And remember to get one with ASIO drivers, for low latency. Or do they all have that now? I've been out of the sound card thing for a while.

 

[Ekhaatvensters]

I use an Envy24 based sound card for studio quality productions and it's great.. Has native 1/4" and balanced Analogue inputs (4x4) It's not the cheapest but will sound better than anything you can find in most stores or at least for less than R5K...

The great thing is, you can (or could..) get a Chaintech Envy 24 based card for around R350, then flash the BIOS with the firmware of a better card based on the same chipset. You get a great card for the price.

I have the M-Audio revo 7.1 using the Envy 24 HT.

 

[MrE]

Ooh really, yes yes, tell me more about this flashing route!!!

 

[Ekhaatvensters]

Well you use the firmware from an Audiotrack card, possibly others and afaik you can then use their drivers.

I haven't done it myself, but i was reading up on it when I was looking for a sound card.

See: http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=364771 and http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=694786

What you really want to read is this: http://www.head-fi.org/forums/showthread.php?t=75655 and you'll need these : http://users.pandora.be/bartbylemans/envy24/

but... they don't seem to be in SA anymore. Sorry for all that...

If you do find them, I'd even be interested.

 

[MrE]

Shot, I'll read up on it now.

 

[DragonLogos]

Maya 44 Mk II - you, cannot use Cubbase or Sonar with any soundcard - as said ASIO and all - There are other routes

 

[PearlJam]

Used to use M-Audio 2496 Audiophile

 

[Bondizzo]

dont get a soundblaster or a creative, those sound cards are made for games and listening to music and dont have quality audio digital processors for making music, I have one of these and its very decent http://www.emu.com/products/product.asp?product=9872, you can hear some of my work at www.soundclick.com/bondizzo