Hey Folks,
My next purchase is going to be a sound card.
I'm recording from my mixer into an onboard sound card at present. So I hope a new card will give me better quality. Any suggestions on what to get with a $200 budget?

Thanks

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I don't steer the ship, I bail out the water.

Bb,
Delta 44...comes with a 4> 4< breakout box. http://www.midiman.com/products/m-audio/delta410.php

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jam on,
Terry http://imjazzed.homestead.com/Index.html

[This message has been edited by trtjazz (edited 02-05-2003).]

Before plopping down a wad of dough on a new sound card, it would be a good idea to run some tests on the one you're using. Most of the onboard sound cards that are currently being used with newer computers are really pretty good. Keep in mind that the sound you get out of the computer is only as good as the sound that's going in. I suggest bypassing the mixer and going directly into the computer's line in from the keyboard. Then put a high-quality midi file in the keyboard, record it dry (no effects) on the computer, burn it to a CD, then play it back using your home or car stereo system. You may be pleasantly surprised.

Good Luck,

Gary

I am an authorized Edirol dealer in Maryland .

They have a few choices ..........UA20 $179.99

UA-5 is another option at $299.99 .

Sound on Sound magazine recently reviewed the UA5 .

Good Luck
Dano

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Piano Man's Music City
624 Frederick Rd .
Catonsville Md. 21228
410 747 0200
danosmusic@yahoo.com

Gary,
While I think you're right that most of todays cards sound pretty good or acceptable. I was amazed at the world of difference in sound when I went from the SB Live card my pc came with to the Delta. It was a noticable improvement.

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jam on,
Terry
http://imjazzed.homestead.com/Index.html

Ditto for me when I switched from the Soundblasyer Live card to the Midiman Audiophile. Noticable improvement. The SB live was a noticable improvement over the computer's stock sound card as well. The principle difference between the Audiophile and the Delta 44 is that the latter has 4 A/D inputs while the Audiophile has only two. Electronically, they are identical. I'd opt for the 44 though now if I had to do it over again, because it isn't that much more money.

There are technical comparisons available that can be easily found if you do a websearch. The Delta stuff consistently ranks near the top of the 2 to 3 hundred dollar cards.

AJ

I agree with AJ and Terry !

MAudio (Midiman) produces exellent cards with much better sound than Creative-, Terratec- or 'onboard sound' ones.

Roel

Thanks for the replies,
I'm leaning towards the delta 44. Thanks to the liberal return policies of the local music store, I think I'll take it for a test drive. If we start with the check the sound that's going in approach I'll no longer be able to blame the hardware....

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I don't steer the ship, I bail out the water.