A simple soundcard!

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Zippy789

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Hi,

I'm moving from a desktop to a laptop for my music production. For the first time, I need an external sound card as I've always installed an internal one.

My audio comes out of a small mixing desk, so all I need is a stereo audio in and stereo audio out (I currently use phono, but I'm open to suggestions here). I don't suffer from noise at the moment and I'd like to keep it that way!

The unit also needs to have midi in and out (one of each would be plenty!). I've never suffered from latency issues and, again, I'm quite keen to keep it this way!

Do you have any suggestions for what I could get? I don't need and whistles or bells - for example, input volume is already taken care of with the mixer, so no knobs are needed to do this.

Thanks in advance!

Matt
 
Tascam US122L or US144MKII, or something of it's sort.
Just my two cents, as I've used the US122L. Great little guy until I sold him.
 
Sorry - my budget was £100 ($150).

I went with the Tascam US122 Mk2 (not the 144). There were three I was looking at in the end and this one had by far the best reviews.

Thanks for your help.

Matt
 
Umm, this is NOT a soundcard.
It's an "Audio Interface".
A "soundcard" is typically installed into a PCI or PCIe slot in a PC.
 
Twinhit said:
Umm, this is NOT a soundcard.
It's an "Audio Interface".
A "soundcard" is typically installed into a PCI or PCIe slot in a PC.
Click to expand...


Well . . . actually, it is a soundcard in that performs the same functions, but just sits outside the box, with the advantage of being designed for duplex audio.

It's a semantic difference.
 
gecko zzed said:
Well . . . actually, it is a soundcard in that performs the same functions, but just sits outside the box, with the advantage of being designed for duplex audio.

It's a semantic difference.
Click to expand...

Well, the thing is when you do a search and you're looking for a "Soundcard" and the comeback is an "audio interface" it gets confusing.
You see, I have a sound card with ADAC capability already. Whenever talk about "Soundcard" I am thinking of PCI or PCIe variety of cards
that mount inside a case on a PC whether or not that PC's motherboard has an integrated audio chipset or not.
IMHO, I think computers should be simplified even further but because the market consist of a variety of different needs, it remains this way.
For example:
Give me the option of a blisteringly fast PC in a 4U rack space enclosure.
Give me the option of a blisteringly fast Graphics card with it's own GPU in a separate 2U rack space enclosure.
Give me the option of a blisteringly fast Computer Audio Soundcard with it's own APU and tech in a separate 2U rack space enclosure.
Same idea for Audio interface which plugs into the Computer Audio Soundcard, above. That thing could be a host to a variety of
of products including something to the tune of a 64 maybe even 128 channel digital audio desk with motorized faders and such.

Done this way, gives the computer more room to install more CPUs memory etc on the mother board, user friendly plug and play happiness.
Also, it just seems would open up the ability for even greater processing power of more effects and audio processing, etc.

Well, anyway.. maybe I should just stop worrying and love the bomb, like the movie told me to. LOL
 
Just like M-Audio/AVID's new Fast Track C600--it IS an audio interface/external sound card supporting ASIO/CORE/WDM, etc, and also is MIDI interface, monitor management, pre-amps with also TRS inputs for putting my synths thru and even has SPDIF out and USB with near-zero latency. Using with PTMP9 but C600 can be used with practically ANY set-up and has built-in assignable transport controls, with two headphone jacks, and finally, DSP to add reverb, etc. in the monitor mix only allowing to keep mix 'dry' yet allowing to apply effects to say a vocalist or instrument to get an idea how the dry mix translates while keeping PC processing power for running more tracks. Using hardware instruments myself for 98% of everything and the C600 is fully functional using AC adapter, with etensive MIDI via one MIDI in and out and USB nexus to ProTools. The C600 uses the VERy SAME high-end components of the popular Fastrack series. Setting-up, the C600's HUI alieves the PC from having to deal with processing on internal audio card, again as aformentioned, leaving more processor power for more tracks and even plug-ins if so desired. Some people even have the same confusion re: graphics cards where even Apple now uses Intel Sandy Bridge Processors WITH...yep, integrated HD graphics cards and although not on AVID's "approved" list, they work well all the same or Apple would not be extensively using them in ALL newer MacBookPro's.
 
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