Specific sound cards for under $300?

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Shepherd

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Good hello,

VERY helpful people assisted me with ideas on how to build a good at-home system for under $1000. Now I'm on to buying specifics, and want to know what sound card is recommended that won't kill my budget.

The project is producing HOUR-LONG radio programs using very long interview clips and background music. Recording-wise, I can't see myself recording from more than one (maybe two) sources at once. Similarly, I can't see myself needing to listen to more than two or three channels at a time, four max.

But I will be dealing with really, really long chunks of sound.

Recommendations for mid-range sound cards at a reasonable price? I'm saying $300 because I live in Canada -- and with the exchange rate, that works out to about $500CAN.

Is there anything wrong with the Sound Blaster Live? I see it bundled with a lot of new systems, but I imagine y'all probably know if it's a really bad idea...
 
I don't know that the blaster is a "really bad idea", but I think you're limiting your future capabilities with it. Right off the top, I believe it's still only a 1/8" in and out. This means you're having to reduce a decent mics plug from 1/4" and some of the sound quality is compromised in the process.

There's any number of cards out there in your price range. The specs you should become familiar with are bit depth and resolution. These are expressed for example as 24bit/96mhz.

You've already determined the amount of ins and outs you'll need, so now it's a matter of converters (in terms of bit depth/resolution), bundled software and price.

You mentioned "sizable" files. This will be more a function of your hard drives size and speed. The sound card will process it, but the hard drive has to store it.

Check some of the offerings from Teratec (sp), Delta, and Echo for starters. Get familiar with what's out there and compare specs and features. I don't think there's any "bad" cards or secrets out there. Manufactures seem to be sharing much of the same technology now.

Good luck and welcome to the site.
 
I have only used a Soundblaster and a Delta 44, and there's no comparison for audio quality. The Delta 44 - I think it's available below $250 American - is much better. I've been delighted with it, in fact.

It allows 4 ins and 4 outs - more than you think you need, but why limit yourself? You may well decide to simultaneously mc three or four sources one day. And you may want to record something in stereo, meaning two ins would be necessary.
 
Here's something that might work for you

http://www.musiciansfriend.com/srs7...1128594743/search/g=home/detail/base_id/51874

If you can spring a few more bucks this would be more versatile

http://www.musiciansfriend.com/srs7...1128594743/search/g=home/detail/base_id/45859

It might be worth it to plan ahead like getuhgrip says. Once you get in to this stuff you might wish you had more ins and outs. The other thing about these cards is that they come with multitracking/mixing software and that'll save you another purchase.

Just thinkin' out loud?:D
 
Thanks, guys. Your recommendations gave me a great starting point for research, and it's looking like the Delta 44 all the way.
 
The soundblaster audigy has a seperate drive bay with 1/4 inputs and such.
 
Dellltaaaa

Well, the D44 arrived today in the mail, and I'm installing it tomorrow. Woohoo!
 
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