I do not like USB for many reasons, but I have been succesful at obtaining reasonable latency (<10msec) using a Sound Blaster External Live USB on my laptop and it's not even a 2.0 device. But I don't use it for my primary recording, it's only used when I need to be portable.
If the EMU0202 is truly a 2.0 device, then you should get much better performance out of it than you would any device out there that I know about right now. All of the USB devices I have researched say that they are "compatible" with 2.0, but that doesn't really and truly tell you that the device is 2.0 compliant since 1.1 devices are always "compatible" with 2.0 protocol since they are required to be backward compatible.
If you must go with an external device, can you use firewire? it is much better for audio work. there are probably firewire pci cards which will fit into the shorter slots available if that's an option for you.
Mainly - stay away from the Tascam US-122. There are numerous threads on these forums dealing with problems releated to that card. Some have gotten it to work, but I would not take the chance. Also, it's not on CW's 'recommended' list. Here's my standard reply for sound card advice:
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sound card advice http://forum.cakewalk.com/tm.asp?m=771692 http://www.cakewalk.com/support/kb/kb2005273.asp http://www.cakewalk.com/tips/audiohw.asp Note however, that
I do
NOT recommend the following (other users will disagree with me, and that's OK)
* NOTHING from SoundBlaster
* NOTHING USB based
* Especially NOT the Tascam US-122 Platform in order of best interface: 1) PCI
2) PCMCIA (probably a TIE, really)
3) FIREWIRE 800
4) USB 2.0
5) FIREWIRE 400
6) USB 1.1
Actually, the last three on the list I would not recommend as a primary system. Secondary, yeah, maybe.
Having said all that, I *DO* use a Soundblaster LIVE! External on my laptop (both USB and SB card!) But it's only used rarely when I need portability and normally use my M-Audio Delta 44 on my Desktop DAW. The SB Live Ext. does well for what I paid for it and what I use it for, but notice that it's NOT my primary A/D converter - but it's my SECONDARY.