The best?

Have a look at some of the stuff by creamware. M-Audio also make some great stuff.

If you want 5.1 channel, then something like the sound blaster audigy platinum is what you want, but if you want serious hardware, then something like the creamware pulsar is the way to go, but you are looking at over $1,000 US.

The M-audio delta 44 has four dual rca's in and out, the delta 66 has six in and out. I thinnk the 44 is about $250us.

But if you want something with 5.1, then (i'm a bit out of my league when it comes to 5.1), the best I know of is just the sound blaster platinum. It'll do the job fine, but you end up getting crap you don't want, like digital and midi ports

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1 out of every 4 people in this country are mentally disturbed. Look at your 3 closest friends. If they seem okay, then you're the one.

whatever you do, do NOT...i repeat, do NOT use anything by C-media...no matter how cheap it is (or you are)....i tried recording a couple sets with it and got HUGE bg noise.....i swear their drivers are utter sh!t....

my SBLive seems to work very well tho....i'd recomend that...i also hear the Extigy (Creative Labs) is good too

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"I'm not a vegetarian because I love animals. I'm a vegetarian because I hate plants." -- A. Whitney Brown (hoping someday to become THE Whitney Brown)

Thnx for reply. Ill take your word on c-media. Im thinking of going with one of the creative labs, but Ill keep browsing.

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Phunktronix Mixes

PLEASE stay away from creative labs crap, and, even worse, cmedia crap...

Brands to look at include brands like:

Terratec
M-Audio

And, for chrissakes, dont get a gaming sound card, or even a semi-gaming sound card like those Hercules ones, the Creative ones, etc. etc.

Get a real, PROFESSIONAL studio card... it'll be worth it, in the end. Especially with your budget...

if you want a shitload of inputs/outputs,
go for M-Audio Delta 1010LT (£330), which has 8 inputs, 8 outs, 2 mic preamps, 36-bit internal processing, 24-bit/96khz output, and all other goodies.

for the firewire flavour of above,
try the MOTU 896 (£1195).

Emagic emi 2|6 (£340) and M-Audio Audiosport Quattro (£220) are probably best for laptops, even though they're USB.

finally, if you play guitar, you'll love Terratec's DMX 6Fire (£170), which has 6 outs and a front panel.


EDIT:
sorry, didn't see your US$275 budget.

for that price, go for the M-Audio Delta 66, i guess?

Last edited by fieroavian on Sep-10-2002 at 09:52

quote:

Originally posted by fieroavian for that price, go for the M-Audio Delta 66, i guess?

Or the Delta 44...