usb audio card

[The Garage]

i've got a motu 828 that i've been doing some great mobile recordings with. however, next year i plan on going to italy for a few months, and i want to bring a smaller usb audio card that i can use to record into my laptop. i only need one input with a mic pre or a line in at least. and i don't wanna spend more than maybe two hundred bucks. cheaper is better, especially cause i'll only really need it to get my song ideas down and record love tunes to send back to my girl. hehe. thanks.
-teddy

 

[Beezoboy]

I have been using the M-Audio Audiosport Duo for a couple months now. It has USB, and digital SPDIF, and analog out. Best of all for you is the SPDIF out so you can hook it up to the SPDIF on your your MOTU 828 when you record and have 2 more channels of mic pre/phantom power. Man I really want an 828. What a deal for the price. And much more bandwidth since it is firewire. Not to mention that MOTU is a great company too. Oh yeah the only bummer is that it costs $259. But I think it is worth it.

Beezoboy