alexwoods
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Inexpensive sound card recommendations?
Hi all. I have succumbed to peer pressure and frustration and I'm replacing my Sound Blaster with something better. I'd like to stay under $100, and I have no need to record lots of external instruments. I just want low latency and the ability to play and record keyboards, ASIO capability and easy compatibility with Sonar. I'm looking at the Focusrite Scarlett Solo, which is just under $100; any reason not to get one of those? Anything you think is better? Would appreciate any recommendations.
Cheers
Alex
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williamcopper
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Re: Inexpensive sound card recommendations?
2015/03/29 12:52:21
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I'll just say: in almost any category, the "best" will generally give you more satisfaction longer than the "cheapest". If you have $100, you probably could have $200. If you have $200 you probably could have $800.
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Paul P
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Re: Inexpensive sound card recommendations?
2015/03/29 12:53:47
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alexwoods
I just want low latency and the ability to play and record keyboards, ASIO capability and easy compatibility with Sonar.
Alex, I don't see how you can record keyboads with this if they're stereo. You only get on mic channel and one instrument channel. Low latency is a function of price.
Sonar Platinum [2017.10], Win7U x64 sp1, Xeon E5-1620 3.6 GHz, Asus P9X79WS, 16 GB ECC, 128gb SSD, HD7950, Mackie Blackjack
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Zargg
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Re: Inexpensive sound card recommendations?
2015/03/29 13:07:21
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What about second hand? Ebay ect.?
Ken Nilsen ZarggBBZWin 10 Pro X64, Cakewalk by Bandlab, SPlat X64, AMD AM3+ fx-8320, 16Gb RAM, RME Ucx (+ ARC), Tascam FW 1884, M-Audio Keystation 61es, *AKAI MPK Pro 25, *Softube Console1, Alesis DM6 USB, Maschine MkII Laptop setup: Win 10 X64, i5 2.4ghz, 8gb RAM, 320gb 7200 RPM HD, Focusrite Solo, + *
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alexwoods
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Re: Inexpensive sound card recommendations?
2015/03/29 13:36:58
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Thanks all. Not crazy about second hand because I might have to return it, as I'm doing with the Sound Blaster. And by keyboards I meant midi and VST. I guess I should have listed my gear. Dell desktop with i7, 16g RAM, Casio Privia digital piano, M-Audio monitors. The issue right now is if I set everything for the lowest possible latency, there is still some lag with the keyboards, and playback is just a poppy mess so there's no way to play along with anything. Surely the Scarlett would be fine for this?
Thanks again
Alex
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Zargg
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Re: Inexpensive sound card recommendations?
2015/03/29 14:47:57
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The Scarlet would do just fine 
post edited by Zargg71 - 2015/03/29 15:12:42
Ken Nilsen ZarggBBZWin 10 Pro X64, Cakewalk by Bandlab, SPlat X64, AMD AM3+ fx-8320, 16Gb RAM, RME Ucx (+ ARC), Tascam FW 1884, M-Audio Keystation 61es, *AKAI MPK Pro 25, *Softube Console1, Alesis DM6 USB, Maschine MkII Laptop setup: Win 10 X64, i5 2.4ghz, 8gb RAM, 320gb 7200 RPM HD, Focusrite Solo, + *
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AT
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Re: Inexpensive sound card recommendations?
2015/03/29 15:37:47
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There are many interfaces between $100-200. Focusrite is fine and would be my buy at this end of the market. There seem to be a lot of satisfied users here. The other thing is the new Tascam units, but those list mostly at retail prices so far.
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http://www.bnoir-film.com/ there came forth little children out of the city, and mocked him, and said unto him, Go up, thou bald head; go up, thou bald head. 24 And he turned back, and looked on them, and cursed them in the name of the Lord. And there came forth two she bears out of the wood, and tare forty and two children of them.
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alexwoods
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Re: Inexpensive sound card recommendations?
2015/03/29 22:08:05
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The Scarlett it is! Thanks team.
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eric.birchall
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Re: Inexpensive sound card recommendations?
2015/03/30 14:07:30
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Maybe a stupid point , but do you not need a midi interface rather than just audio?
Ric
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Mesh
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Re: Inexpensive sound card recommendations?
2015/03/30 14:32:52
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eric.birchall
Maybe a stupid point , but do you not need a midi interface rather than just audio?
Ric
Actually a good point and the 2i4 should suit Alex's needs very well (for around $150): Front panel- 2 line/mic/instrument combination inputs - high quality XLR/ ¼ “ TRS Jack Combo
- 2 line/inst switches
- 2 illuminating “PAD” buttons
- 2 Gain knobs
- 2 Gain halo signal indicators
- 48V Phantom power switch
- MIDI activity LED indicator
- USB connection LED indicator
- “DIRECT MONITOR” control
- “STEREO/MONO” switch for direct monitor
- Large monitor level dial (controls headphone and line level outputs)
- Headphone output - ¼” TRS Jack
- Headphone level knob
- “HEADPHONE SOURCE” switch
Rear panel- 2 balanced monitor outputs – TRS (channels 1-2)
- 4 unbalanced outputs – RCA Phono (channels 1-4)
- MIDI IO
- USB 2.0 Port
- Kensington Lock slot
http://us.focusrite.com/usb-audio-interfaces/scarlett-2i4
Platinum Gaming DAW: AsRock Z77 Overclock FormulaI7 3770k @ 4.5GHz : 16GB RAM G.Skill Ripjaws X 250GB OS SSD : 3TB HDD : 1TB Sample HDDWin 10 Pro x 64 : NH-D14 CPU Cooler HIS IceQ 2GB HD 7870Focusrite Scarlett 2i4The_Forum_Monkeys
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Cactus Music
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Re: Inexpensive sound card recommendations?
2015/03/30 14:36:25
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From the Casio info, not sure which model the OP has but I would imagine all have USB This product is not equipped with MIDI terminals. MIDI communication between the product and a computer is performed using the USB port. Therefore the solo would be a good choice as it will give you Focusrite ASIO drivers and a bare bones interface for recording vocals and guitar. I say go for it. But at this point I have a small concern about the Casio as a controller. There seems to be no USB/MIDI driver for it. My Roland A 49 and Yamaha Drums will not work without installing the USB drivers. So that makes me wonder how well Windows communicates with Sonar without a driver for the keyboard. But hopefully the interface will make a big difference in how fast VST's audio output plays.
post edited by Cactus Music - 2015/03/30 14:44:33
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bz2838
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Re: Inexpensive sound card recommendations?
2015/03/30 15:39:10
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Purrrfect Audio: Intel i7 7700k (Kabylake), 32Gig DDR4/2133, Windows 10x64 Pro, USB RME Babyface, Sonar Platinum Current
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Sanderxpander
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Re: Inexpensive sound card recommendations?
2015/03/30 15:45:57
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I'm not convinced that an interface in this price class will be a significant upgrade over your Soundblaster. But then, I haven't had to work with your current setup and I haven't used the Scarlett. All I can say is I wouldn't buy one in this range. I hate the Fast Track Pro I bought years back and would now buy an RME if I had to go external again.
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bapu
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Re: Inexpensive sound card recommendations?
2015/03/30 15:55:44
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Sanderxpander
buy an RME
 THIS!!!!!
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mettelus
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Re: Inexpensive sound card recommendations?
2015/03/30 16:26:40
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With MIDI input and VSTis, your soundblaster would probably suffice for audio playback only. Different driver modes (MME or WDM) should work but may have latency with them. Depending on whether you are doing real-time tracking or not would be the bigger issue.
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Zargg
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Re: Inexpensive sound card recommendations?
2015/03/30 17:37:11
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bapu
Sanderxpander
buy an RME
THIS!!!!!
Could you please give a store (or second hand), where RME is an option for under 100$? I would like a RME at that price 
Ken Nilsen ZarggBBZWin 10 Pro X64, Cakewalk by Bandlab, SPlat X64, AMD AM3+ fx-8320, 16Gb RAM, RME Ucx (+ ARC), Tascam FW 1884, M-Audio Keystation 61es, *AKAI MPK Pro 25, *Softube Console1, Alesis DM6 USB, Maschine MkII Laptop setup: Win 10 X64, i5 2.4ghz, 8gb RAM, 320gb 7200 RPM HD, Focusrite Solo, + *
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Cactus Music
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Re: Inexpensive sound card recommendations?
2015/03/30 19:55:31
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The OP has already made his decision it would seem. And when it comes to under $100 there is nothing other than the Solo that I would recommend.
Unless I'm wrong the drivers must be the same or very close to the ones used for the 2i2 and 2i4.
From time to time I've seen a Tascam or Behringer interface for as low as $30. But they do not have ASIO drivers. The OP is looking for good drivers, not fancy in/out and he doesn't need DIN midi because his Casio has USB midi.
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kitekrazy1
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Re: Inexpensive sound card recommendations?
2015/03/30 20:04:10
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Presonus, Focusrite and Tascam have units for under $100.
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Sanderxpander
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Re: Inexpensive sound card recommendations?
2015/03/31 01:25:46
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I was just saying I wouldn't buy an interface of a hundred bucks as a significant upgrade over a sound blaster. I did read his post and price limit.
But I haven't worked with his set up, perhaps it will be a big change. Fingers crossed!
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alexwoods
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Re: Inexpensive sound card recommendations?
2015/03/31 09:59:22
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Wow, thanks everyone! Good discussion. Fingers crossed is right. It arrives today, but I may not get the chance to test it out until next week. I'm sure you're all waiting with bated breath.
Just to answer two of the points above: the Casio Privia has a USB, and the core issue is latency. I can't get the ASIO drivers to work on the Sound Blaster, for some reason, and on WDM it's pretty much unusable. Hoping the Scarlett will be faster, and for that matter I hope it sounds as good as the Sound Blaster for playback. Having not had a new computer for a while, I was pretty stunned by the sound quality of a Sound Blaster and the cheap M Audio monitors. And anyway I really can't spend more than $100. Need to save up for Aalto.
Cheers
Alex
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Sanderxpander
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Re: Inexpensive sound card recommendations?
2015/03/31 10:33:12
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I didn't mean to scare you, I really hope it will work well for you! "Problem-free" will already be an upgrade, sounds like :)
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alexwoods
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Re: Inexpensive sound card recommendations?
2015/03/31 10:42:01
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Yes, if I can play keyboard along a pre-recorded track, that counts as a full win!
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