Help me out with a soundcard for my PC, please!

[jbroad572]

I have been just recording using the line in on my onboard soundcard. I am not sure what difference I can expect with a new sound card, but I know everyone tells me that is a must. My current mixer is a Behringer 1002 and I would like to use that with the new soundcard. I only have one mic at the moment but will be investing in 2 more soon. I was thinking the most important thing was the number of my inputs and phantom power, but I'm assuming I can always buy a connector and run them in the 1/4 input channels. In using the mixer, how exactly would I need to hook up the cables between the soundcard and the mixer? I don't have monitors, yet, but I will be buying some decent headphones until I can afford some monitors. The few soundcards I've been checking out based on popularity are the
Echo 2496
Delta 44 and 66

Just trying to get everything worked out before I order. Need to know what cables and how many.

edit- *trying to stay close to around $200 mark*

 

[jbroad572]

NVM, I'm going for a Delta 1010... that should do the trick. With the outputs from the 1010, should I run those to the mixer so I can monitor? How are the preamps on the Behringer compared to the 2 mic pres on the 1010lt? I have 2 condensors requiring phantom, I would have to run that through the mixer huh?
Sorry for the newbie questions.

 

[Elmo89m]

i have the 1010 lt and here is what i do....i have eight inputs so i put my mics into a preamp...then a i take my eight channel pres out and i run them through a 1/4 to trs connector snake...which then connects to the RCA's on my 1010. this goes into the computer and all tracks are recorded to separate tracks on my recording software. finally the outs of this go to my behri 1202 and this routes my outputs into monitors and headphones....dont use the mixer going in unless you have more inputs to record at a time then what your 1010 can take.hope this helps

 

[dgatwood]

NVM, I'm going for a Delta 1010... that should do the trick. With the outputs from the 1010, should I run those to the mixer so I can monitor? How are the preamps on the Behringer compared to the 2 mic pres on the 1010lt? I have 2 condensors requiring phantom, I would have to run that through the mixer huh?
Sorry for the newbie questions.

I wouldn't suggest the Delta 1010 these days. PCI is going away in favor of PCI Express (PCIe) which is NOT backwards compatible with standard PCI cards.

You're buying an interface with sufficient quality to last you for a decade or more. The problem is, the Delta uses a card slot technology that probably will be hard to find on motherboards in five years or less. Don't fall into that trap....