External soundcard recommendation

JæKæ

Lads, not sure if I'm in the right forum here.

Looking for a recommendation for an external soundcard/interface. I need it to record from vinyl to my laptop. It needs to be 24-bit/96 kHz. Some USB ones only seem to have a stereo miniplug line in, I would be hoping to get a card with an RCA input. Anyone had experience of M-Audio's USB interface?

I hear firewire is a good option, but are we talking expensive kit? I'm looking for something around €100-150.

Run_to_da_hills

I have been using the Edirol UA3 for the last 6 years as a back up although dated now ie USB1. I am using the FS2 amp now which works off firewire. http://images.google.ie/imgres?imgurl=http://www.edirol.net/products/com/UA-3/images/top_M.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.edirol.net/products/en/UA-3/&h=240&w=291&sz=56&hl=en&start=1&um=1&tbnid=TXYtY4q02iwxjM:&tbnh=95&tbnw=115&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dedirol%2Bua3%2Buk%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den%26sa%3DG

There is a crowd doing a good selection of them in the uK http://www.nodecks.com/index.php?cPath=97&osCsid=32ae62522d5ebaa41e2e26aede6c9b8d also the Music Store. http://www.musicstore.de/is-bin/INTERSHOP.enfinity/WFS/MusicStore-MusicStoreShop-Site/en_EN/-/EUR/ViewStandardCatalog-Browse;pgid=TOZgS8fSZObR0000000000000000lhvJe51j?CatalogCategoryID=XBvVqHzlYNoAAAEOaW8xe6fF&ms_level=hgruppe

You tend to get ripped off buying them over the counter in this country.

PaulBrewer

If you're using a Mac the Apogee Duet is getting monster reviews sonically, however you would need an RIAA pre-amp to drive it .

JæKæ

Run_to_da_hills wrote: »

You tend to get ripped off buying them over the counter in this country.

Yep-I'm in Canada, so I reckon I can get one cheap enough on ebay from US. Anyone got any views on the M Audio Solo? It seems to fit the bill.
I'll need a PCMCIA firewire card too-I don't know if this will cause problems?

cornbb

JæKæ wrote: »

Yep-I'm in Canada, so I reckon I can get one cheap enough on ebay from US. Anyone got any views on the M Audio Solo? It seems to fit the bill.
I'll need a PCMCIA firewire card too-I don't know if this will cause problems?

I don't think those PCMCIA firewire cards supply bus power, which you would probably like to have for most interfaces. Why don't you consider a USB interface? You won't need huge bandwidth for your requirements and there's a bigger choice of USB interfaces out there.

Something like this would seem to meet all your requirements, including a phono level RCA input and 96kHz converters: http://www.thomann.de/ie/terratec_phase_26_usb.htm It seems to be well-priced but I can't vouch for its quality. There's a review here though: http://www.soundonsound.com/sos/feb04/articles/terratecphase.htm

Iomega Man

Hi Jae Kae

I'm using an M-Audio Firewire Solo.
Its a great little device,ideal especially for singer/songwriter use.
It has 2 inputs on the front,XLR and 1/4 inch jack which makes it ideal for this.
The rear has two 1/4 inch jacks(unbalanced) and with a press of a button on the front panel you can vary the input gain using the pot on the front.
You could use two RCA to Jack adapters and go in here.

JæKæ

Cheers for the tips lads. So, I have the option of
a. USB interface or
b. A firewire interface connected via a PCMCIA firewire card.

I have sourced a 2nd hand M Audio Firewire Audiophile for $150 (€100).
Cornbb:you reckon the fact that there is no bus power via the PCMCIA card would cause problems with performance?

cornbb

I see the M-audio Firewire Audiophile is powered by an AC adapter but some Firewire interfaces allow you to power the unit via the firewire cable. This can be handy if you need portability. As far as I know PCMCIA firewire cards don't allow you to supply power in this manner. But that shouldn't be a problem for you if you don't mind plugging it into the wall.

JæKæ

Cool, thanks man. The portability doesn't matter to me, so I'm gonna go with it.

digiking

I have the firewire 1814 - i know it's much more expensive but i assume m-audio follow the same rules across the range.

On 8pin firewire with bus power available you do not need to use ac adapter and on 4pin firewire or pcmcia cards you have to use the included ac adapter

Hope this mite shed some light on the situation - and also its a fantastic interfae too

Alan

jtsuited

PaulBrewer wrote: »

If you're using a Mac the Apogee Duet is getting monster reviews sonically, however you would need an RIAA pre-amp to drive it .

missed the bit about his budget?