Best sound card for recording/producing/etc.

[Kraig]

Hi all...

I've seen this posted at various times but are too lazy to search. Those in the know, what is the best sound card (internal for Windows XP/Vista) to record sets, produce, remix, etc. and why?

Thanks in advance.

[Royal_Phunk]

I would recommend most of the M-audio PCI line, mine specifically is the audiophile 192. High fidelity with the M-audio delta line drivers (also 64bit drivers are available for Windows Vista and X64) 192khz sample rate which most cards cant do. The converters are sweet and the signal to noise ratio is second to none. EMU makes some nice cards as well.

Audiophile 192 reviewed in Sound on Sound

M Audio AudiophileÂ*192

[Kraig]

^^ That's cool you recommended the M-Audio series as I was already doing research on the PCI cards. They seem to have solid driver support/updates which is important.

Thanks.

[tiedye]

I'm just taking a coffee break from recording right now, actually. I'm using an X-Fi Elite Pro and so far so good. It's got a 1/4" input specifically for instruments and comes with very comptetant recording software. No complaints on my end, although I will be arranging everything in Ableton.

[G3N3R4L]

Originally Posted by tiedye

I'm just taking a coffee break from recording right now, actually. I'm using an X-Fi Elite Pro and so far so good. It's got a 1/4" input specifically for instruments and comes with very comptetant recording software. No complaints on my end, although I will be arranging everything in Ableton.

i have this exact same card.. i have zero complaints as well.. top notch

[tiedye]

Originally Posted by G3N3R4L

i have this exact same card.. i have zero complaints as well.. top notch

Right on man. I'll be sure to post some recordings once I'm happy with them. My guitar sounds beautiful when I play back the recordings.

[Bevvy Swift]

the audiophile is damn beautiful. basically as good as internal gets imo

[Leviathan]

I used the m-audio omni studio until I got my laptop, now I'm using the Motu Ultralite. The Omni studio was great, it comes with the Delta66. If your looking to buy an internal sound card. I'd let it go pretty cheap as it has no use to me anymore.

[Digital Over]

I just picked up the MOTU 828 MKII. I love it to bits. I've been using this model for quite sometime, and I felt that it was time for me to pick one up. Its perfect as well for Live PA w/ Abelton. For production, its sick sick sick. I haven't crashed my audio driver yet with it, even running 40+ tracks in logic with running VST's. My only beef with it is that it is a bit of a bus hog w/ the firewire, but if you're running a system which supports optical I/O, this is perfect. Here, have a look. :) Hope that helps dude. Cheers

MOTU 828 MKII

[P.A.R.T.Y]

I like that Motu, but it look quite expensive. A good value and a good sound are the Echo Firewire sound cards. I use the echo indigo.
Have a look:Echo Digital Audio Corporation

[Phrenetic]

anything with ASIO/ASIO2 will win you heart

i would also get the ram and processing to back it up, i love having .00001 ms latency.

Originally Posted by Leviathan

I used the m-audio omni studio until I got my laptop, now I'm using the Motu Ultralite. The Omni studio was great, it comes with the Delta66. If your looking to buy an internal sound card. I'd let it go pretty cheap as it has no use to me anymore.

Id be interested if it would work well with my mac?

[CharlieTuna]

I use the M-Audio 2496, I love it.

[swytch]

Motu Traveler Lite.