Thanks, Guys
 
You were right; I tried to put my M-audio card in my new pc but no PCI slots.
 
Still struggling with good sound card vs audio interface. Is there less latency with a decent sound card, assuming the computer is not a limiting factor?  (i7 6700, 32 RAM).
 
I also like having a real mixer with physical EQ like my old setup. Even my 10 year old Core 2 Duo with the m-audio card worked great with Sonar 8.
 
Thanks again for all the advise,
 
bob

You'll find that most of the higher quality units are separate interfaces, not soundcards.
Get it specc'ed properly and latency will not be an issue.
 
Your computer will not be a limiting factor.
 
All you need do is decide how many simultaneous Inputs & Outputs you need, decide on a budget and do a search.

i think "sound card" and "audio interface" are pretty much interchangeable

Cactus Music
Yes most important to Sonar is top notch audio drivers. The Behringer will work but they have pretty low quality drivers ( if any) on those little mixers .. I have one myself and it uses Generic audio codex. Just fine for playback or a straight up stereo recording into Audacity , but multi track recording will end up out of sync to other tracks.
 
Top of my list for budget interfaces is the Tascam 2x2 http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/US2X2
And check out this sale price...$120.
It has the option of plug in power which the Focusrite 2i2 and 2i4 do not. I have a Focurite 6i6 which is solid drivers but the Pre amps I do not like. Next on my list is the Tascam 

I'm trying to decide between the Tascam and the Focurite 2i2. The Focurite has higher rez, 192? if that matters in my world?
 
bob

pwalpwal
i think "sound card" and "audio interface" are pretty much interchangeable

Dunno.
 
I always considered a soundcard to be an internal unit, as opposed to an interface which is external.
 
Removes all ambiguity

"interface" is the generic term that covers all the variants (onboard, card-in-slot, external)

Semantics aside.....
 
I still feel he will get higher quality by choosing an external device over an internal one.

Can you guys tell me if a 2x interface would act as the everyday PC sound card without having to enable and disable internal audio, etc?   I would like to hook up my powered monitors to it and not have to use the 2 inputs for listening to PC audio?
 
Sorry, I'm new to the whole interface thing. I'm hoping the USB port is 2 way, also receiving the stereo output from the PC?
 
thx
 
bob

Bristol_Jonesey
Semantics aside.....

and definitions! ;-) :-P
 

Do you guys have an opinion on this M-Audio unit:
 
http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/MTrack2x2
 

 
thx
 
bob