sound card recommendations

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twist

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Can anyone recommend a good sound card that wont cost as much as GINA,DARLA, etc.? Also, what's available with more than just two inputs? Is the Soundblaster $100 card as good as any other?

Thanks.
 
Wrong Comparison

I think you'll find more similarity between a good $30 soundcard and the generic (read: soundblaster) $100 card than between either of those and cards at the Darla/Gina pricepoint. So if price is more important than anything else, consider going DOWN instead of UP and upgrade later if you feel it's necessary. That next step up will get you much quieter electronics for your analog inputs and outputs and much better A/D and D/A converters. And will also buy much more usable physical connectors. That is RCA or 1/4" rather than the putrid 1/8" stereo mini plug. Since we're in a time of conversion to 24/96 from 16/44.1 standards there's plenty of good buys of the better stuff in cards that use the lower sample size/rates.
Don't be fooled.
24/96 ain't worth the serious added computer overhead unless the converters and associated electronics are up to snuff.
So get a good 16/44.1 card before you waste money on a cheapo 24/96 card.
 
By associated electronics, do you mean pertaining to the sound card, or its host computer, or both. And what if the source is 24/96 such as an Akai DPS16? Would it not be advisable to stay with 24/96? (All else being equal).

And thanks a million for some excellent advice already.
 
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