What's the best (in terms of sound quality) external sound card for a desktop setup? Currently using an integrated PC with crappy internal audio (and can't add a PCI sound card internally since no additional PCI slots are available, so best bet is to go with something external, perhaps USB). Any ideas?

___________________
http://www.djinfinitymusic.com

depends on what you want to accomplish.

This is a pretty good deal for what you get:

http://cgi.ebay.com/PreSonus-Firepo...1QQcmdZViewItem

I had this unit before... used to be a bit tricky to get it to work but since the firmware/driver updates came out it is a pretty good choice. YOu get mic/guitar pre's, 8in/8out, MIDI, S/PDIF over firewire.

Also check out presonus firebox.

depending on your needs, you could probably get SB Audigy - some even support ASIO with pretty good latency response.

i need one simply for production (a pair of line ins and a pair of line outs will suffice, as well as a single pair of midi in/out)...also, size is a factor (preferably something smaller than that, I'm thinking like no larger than a CDJ-200 (horizontally)...anything at all? i was thinking about some of the creative models, but not sure if those are good for production

___________________
http://www.djinfinitymusic.com

Hey dude,

I'd recommend to you the Presonus Inspire or Firebox too. I have to say its very easy to use and all the right functions are solidly available.

Doesn't sound like you need many ins and outs, therefore the Inspire should do fine and is in your budget (it's firewire by the way). You control it with software however, which could be something you personally prefer or not. If you want external knobs and more ins & outs, check out the firebox (more expensive, same high quality)

Check out the M-Audio website too for some models and other brands around like Edirol or so. Just (realistically) think about your specifications and what further equipment you are going to be buying in the future (e.g. monitors, external instruments, mic, etc.). Silly to go over your budget on ins and outs you wont use

Best of luck!

hey
i hvae a spare edirol ua-1 usb sound card if you want i can sell it to you really cheap (since its a spare).
its stereo out and stero in.
i think its perfect for what you need

pm if you are interested.

quote:

Originally posted by Indavic hey i hvae a spare edirol ua-1 usb sound card if you want i can sell it to you really cheap (since its a spare). its stereo out and stero in. i think its perfect for what you need pm if you are interested.

http://www.roland.com/products/en/UA-1X/index.html

is that the exact model u are talking about?

___________________
http://www.djinfinitymusic.com

what about the creative Sound Blaster Extigy? read some good reviews on it, seems to have all the basic connections i need...

any ideas?

___________________
http://www.djinfinitymusic.com

http://www.edirol.net/products/en/UA-1EX/specs.html

thats the one

quote:

Originally posted by SuPeRSaW2005 what about the creative Sound Blaster Extigy? read some good reviews on it, seems to have all the basic connections i need... any ideas?

Anything made by creative is a over rated piece of shit. Just get an Echo Audiofire2.

quote:

Originally posted by pwnage1 Echo Audiofire2.

+ 1

echo audiofire2, or stretch your budget for an audiofire4 to be future proofed a bit more.

___________________

quote:

Originally posted by DJ Robby Rox I've never had a problem with FLs tech support till this day. (I've actually never used it till this day)

quote:

Originally posted by floyd741 i think echosystm is a pretty cool guy. eh pwns robby rox and doesn't afraid of anything.

haha or buy mine for $50 bucks and save the money

If you can't get something with ither USB 2.0 or Firewire, then don't even get anything; anything els is not worth a penny, way to slow.