OK. I'm done with these stupid cheap soundcards. They dont work, and they're a pain in the butt to install.
 
Heres what I need, and hopefully some of you guys can help me find something.
 
My Windows 7 machine has X3 Studio. All I do on it, is mix. No recording. At all. The recordings are done on another machine, with Home Studio 6, and then I copy the entire folder over to my windows 7 machine, and mix in X3.
 
So, all I need is a simple ASIO all 24bit (record and play) USB interface, for output only. Something to go between X3 and two powered nearfield monitors. Mic preamps, doesnt matter, more than likely will not be used. I dont need a bunch of channels either.
 
Would like something thats painlessly easy to install, and, something that SONAR has a good known relationship with - easy for SONAR to recognize and use.
 
thanks for any replies.

Not the Roland Quad. Works well with Sonar, but the Headphone/master out is annoying

can anyone see a reason why this would NOT work for what I'm trying to do?
 
its got a USB connection to computer, and two line outs to the powered monitors. I'm not sure I need anything else... do I? Will this do the job?

http://www.amazon.com/Foc...s=USB+audio+interfaces

The line outs are on Phono plugs.

you mean 1/8" outputs?
 
I can work with that. plenty of adaptors.
 
Is 1/8" output bad?

They are usually unbalanced, which can cause noise problems, coupled with a drop in volume.

OK.
 
What kind of outputs do I need?
 
1/4"?
 
The Yamaha monitors I use have 1/4" inputs.
 
 

 
It is best to have outputs that match specs and connectors with the inputs.  RCA and some 1/4 inch are unbalanced.  As Mr. Jonesey sez, unbalanced cables are more prone to interference and noise.
 
You haven't said how much you want to spend.  In general, interfaces sound the same in a price range.  What you want are drivers that work with your specific computer.  All should work, but there are times when your system has conflicts with a specific unit.  So you want to be able to return a unit.  You problems are slight w/ drivers, since you don't need low latency, just compatibility.  I would think any music interface would work.  In your situation on the low end I'd try the new Tascam units (Gibson owns them and Cakewalk so you figure the drivers should be well tested w/ SONAR).  Steinberg (made by Yamaha) would be high on the list, as well as Focusrite (many happy users here).
 
On the higher end I would go for the Tascam UH-7000.  High end conversion - better than my TC electronic interface (which is "pro" level).  Very clean and pristine, which is what you want in monitoring, like studio monitors.  High latency, which ain't a problem for you.  Much better preamps than prosumer interfaces.  I know that isn't what you need, but if you ever do ....  Great buy for $400, if you want to spend that much.  It is good enough you won't ever need to buy another interface, even if you win the lottery.

thanks. I think 150 bucks is all I want to spend, for playback only.
 
If I was recording, I'd buy an 8 in 8 out interface.
 
On Amazon, there are a bunch of horrible reviews concerning problems with Focusrites drivers and people complaining they had to use ASIO4ALL.
 
Anybody here have that problem?

guy here complained of real problems using X3 and the tascam unit in his review

http://www.amazon.com/TASCAM-US-2x2-USB-Audio-Interface/dp/B00MIXF2RS/ref=sr_1_1?s=musical-instruments&ie=UTF8&qid=1427295407&sr=1-1&keywords=tascam+audio+interface


I dont know, maybe these reviews are just one in a million problems... but that one was specific enough to spook me