what soundcard should i buy?

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{gordo loco}

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i want to upgrade my soundcard on my dell computer, it came with soundmax integrated digital audio. i've actually been able to make some pretty decent sounding recordings going using a AKG D790 with a PreSonus TubePre going straight into the mic input. but i want something with more inputs, and midi capability. right now i use my yamaha keyboard as my midi controller, connected via USB.

i'd like to find something for around $100. the best choice that i can find is the e-mu 0404, seems to have the most features in its price range looks like it comes with a pretty good software package as well. i want a PreSonus Firebox but its more than i can afford right now.

what i'm wondering is, should i just hold off and save up for something better? would i be better off buying a cheap mixer for the meantime? or maybe a better mic?

any help would be greatly appreciated
 
The M Audio audiophile 2496 is around $100 and is a very respectable card for recording.

And if you're already using a preamp you should be going into the line input of the soundmax (the mic input already has it's own very crappy preamp). If you're going from a presonus pre into the mic input on an integrated soundcard and getting "decent sounding recordings" you must be George Massenburg. :D
 
I own the emu0404 but if you don’t have patience then its not for you. But it has two digital in and outs via coax or optical. Two analog ins and out via 14 unbalanced. Midi in/out. You can record with the two analog and digital a total of 4 simultaneously. In order to use the digital you have to be in the 96khz mode. Its patch mix (virtual mixer) takes a little getting use to. If you can work a mixer then you can work the patch mix. Also the onboard effect can be used as plug-ins in your recording software so you can alleviate the processor. That way you don’t have to record your audio with the effect but can add it as a plug in. doing so will take some experimenting though. The onboard preset effects are not all that unless you tweak them according to your liking. They many not sound good right out of the box like some people expect them to. Over all I like this card.
 
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