External ASIO USB SoundCard

Does anyone have a recommendation for a good external USB ASIO soundcard? My system is a Mac Book Pro running Windows 7, I'm using Sonar X3 and am running into audio drop outs during midi audio playback. The firewire connection already has a Focusrite Saffire Pro 24 using it.

Thanks for the midi settings tip. I will definitely do that. I've been lightly using Cakewalk products since before Win-95 and am just now digging deeper into midi and have been reading about the benefits of ASIO, specially since I'm working with a laptop.

Thank You Kalle, I'm using my ASIO breakout box and it works terrific. I was looking at external sound cards for other options since the internal card is having some trouble dropping out. I'm new to the MIDI end of Sonar X3 and wanted to get some input from other users who may have opted for an external ASIO sound card for various reasons. Currently I'm looking at the VMV Magic series.

I am using the Focusrite and I understand it's benefits. I'm not using the internal sound card for Sonar. I'm looking for an adequate external sound card for portability reasons. I don't want to drag around my break out box everywhere I go. Thanks for your input warning about the laptop's internal sound card Greg. I'm going with the VMV Magic. Thanks to scook for the MIDI settings, that helps.

Hi ccabral,
I split your last post out from this thread because it should be a separate new thread, however, since you're posting in this one again, I'll answer here and delete your other one.
 
there are a lot of good USB ASIO soundcards.  you have to narrow the need further.  how much is your budget?  how many inputs and outputs do you need?  how many of those inputs need to be MIC pres?  do you need any other type of I/O (such as MIDI, Optical/ADAT, etc)?
 
if you're looking for a budget USB ASIO soundcard with just a few I/O, look at
focusrite 
http://www.musiciansfriend.com/search?sB=r&Ntt=focusrite+usb
or Presonus
http://www.musiciansfriend.com/search?sB=r&Ntt=presonus+usb

the links I gave you above list several options, the least expensive is one of the presonus at $99.  I have one of them as a backup to my MOTU and it works perfectly.

Argh just realised this is a piggy back old thread... nevermind...
 

If you just need to listen to what you've already recorded and mix it then you don't actually need ASIO drivers. ASIO is more to do with minimising latency while recording. So once the recording is all done you could switch Sonar to the onboard sound chip and use the Windows drivers or whatever drivers the manufacturer supplies.

That's assuming the soundcard can handle the bit depth and sampling rate you recorded at of course.

I wouldn't consider using Bluetooth though. Even for mixing purposes there's too much latency involved, in my opinion anyway. If you have to use the laptop sound card then a direct connection from the laptop's headphone out is likely to be better.

Much depends on what your end aims are. If you want to create a mix that will sound good on manybplayback systems, not just the speakers you used to mix then you'll need something better for mixing purposes than most Bluetooth or PC speaker systems. Your best option would be to get a pair of proper monitors and connect them to the Tascam.

mudgel,
Yes thank you for this input!  I plan to do that with the powered monitor speakers that I have.
 
tlw,
That is the issue I was having to give a quick listen back without connecting my monitor speakers to the US-16x08. I switched the driver from ASIO to one supported by the on board sound card and the quality was terrible, with crackling, hiss, etc...  
 
So thank you everyone for helping me to learn how to properly do this, really appreciate the quick answers. I'll utilize the Tascam US-16x08 with powered monitors.