another "which soundcard" thread....

[Basslord1124]

Please don't shoot me or anything for asking this but I was wondering what soundcards you all would suggest for me. I got the new Musician's Friend the other day and I have narrowed it down to 3 that are not too expensive but seem to carry all that I'd really need for my applications and they are: Lexicon Core 2, Mia 24/96, and the Audiophile 2496. As for my recording (in case you forgot from my last thread) I've got a 350 mhz Pentium II processor, 192MB RAM (I just put that in about a week ago, used to have 64MB), running Windows 98...I am basically a "one man band" as it has been dubbed before...most tracks I might deal with at a time are about 8 but I normally average between 6-8. I'd kind of like a card to have Midi capabilities but the Audiophile seems to carry that part but it doesn't seem to have any1/4" inputs...would I have to use an external mixer for that? I have also been very curious about the Lexicon Core 2 card...it seems to have a lot of bang for the buck...would it be worth it? Please give me any suggestions you have. Thanx.

[DavidK]

I dont know the Lexicon, but I have read dozens of bad reviews, and very few good ones.

[SPINSTERWUN]

What about the Delta 1010 soundcard?

http://www.midiman.net

[Gidge]

Based on your choices im assumin a budget of $200????....of your choices Id say Audiophile....as far as it not having 1/4"inputs, that is nothing more than using a different cable...what device(s) will you be plugging into it?....

[j]

what's the maximum number of tracks you need to be able to record at one time?

[Basslord1124]

Yeah I'm trying to keep it at around $200...maybe a little more. Since I am new to PC recording should I plug direct into the soundcard or with a mixer? I don't have any mixers at the moment other than my 4 track. Only instruments I really use are acoustic and electric guitars, bass, vocals, and a drum machine. Gidge, what do ya mean about using a different cable? Does the Audiophile come with an extra cable with a 1/4" jack or something? As for the number of tracks I record at a time, well the most I'd ever I'd record would be 2 (let the drum machine play while laying down the bass or something)...I only got 2 hands LOL! Most of the time, I just do one at a time.

[Gidge]

The Audiophile is your best bet....all I meant was that the only difference between the Audiophile and a card with 1/4" inputs is that you use a different cable (which it doesnt come with)...the inputs are unbalanced, but that wont be a problem if you use decent cables and keep them as short as possible from the mixer to the soundcard input....your 4 track will do fine as a mixer, not the best quality but very usable.....just get a cable that goes from the stereo output of your 4 track (RCA???) to 2 RCA plugs that will go into the Audiophile.....If the drum machine is stereo, you wont be able to record anything at the same time with it....if it is mono, you can.....

[BigDaddy]

The Audiophile and 4-track are a great combination! Like my man was sayin' plug your 1/4" stuff into the four track and use your line outputs on the four track into the sound card.
I use the same hook up, but use my four track as a mic pre-amp.
Which reminds me if you gotsta have that analog sound you can always bounce your tracks back to the 4-track, use the outputs on the Audiophile 2496 into the inputs of your track machine.

[frank_1]

Go with M-Audio omni cards , or Aardvark...
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