I've got this crappy Soundblaster thing and was having to use ASIO4all... but now thats stopped working and now I'm having to use MME 32bit.. that actually works, but, I'd rather go ahead and get a good card with real ASIO drivers.
 
Can anyone recommend something under 200 bucks? I'm on a PC using Windows 7
 
thanks

Under 200 bucks you're not going to find anything really pro level but the Focusrite Saffires are popular I think.

i'm not looking for pro because eventually I hope to go to an 8channel audio interface. I do want a "decent" card with real ASIO drivers.

I'm looking at the Focusrite things. How do I connect this to my computer anyway? Just a single USB cable?
 

I've been contemplating this for travel with my laptop:
Focusrite Scarlett Solo - USB + Red 2 & Red 3 VSTs
http://www.americanmusica.com/Item--i-FOC-SCARSOLO

Yes, single USB cable. USB powered only so depends on your use and needs.

have look at the AKAI EIE PRO, biggest bang for the buck imo.
and a low latency you normally only get for 3 or 4 times the money (RME stuff fe)
soundwise it's close to that mid-range stuff and you'll need headphones to really tell the difference.
a Focusrite around 200 I heard has lot of latency I'm afraid.
(forget about the red AKAI EIE tha's a little cheaper, it's only 16 bit...you need the silver Akai box.)
 

+1 for the Akai. I picked one up locally in like new condition for $150 and am impressed with it. Very good sound 4 mic pres, USB hub, VU meters & more - very handy and worth consideration.

i forgot to mention, I'm not doing ANY recording on this machine, thats all done on another machine with a nice Delta 101LT card in it. This machine only does mixes, so, I dont need any sort of audio interface that has mic preamps or anything like that. Just a great clean accurate interface between the computer out and my Yamaha powered nearfield monitors. Thats it, thats all I need.
 

Do you have an onboard (Realtek) chip? For mixing only you may actually be able to get that to work.

Sanderxpander
Under 200 bucks you're not going to find anything really pro level but the Focusrite Saffires are popular I think.

What constitutes "Pro Level"? A lot of Pros with small home studios and mobile rigs use interfaces around that price range.
 

roddey_phipps
i'm not looking for pro because eventually I hope to go to an 8channel audio interface. I do want a "decent" card with real ASIO drivers.

 
The Focusrite Scarlett interfaces are widely used and frequently recommended. I personally have no experience with them but those are the interfaces most people are purchasing these days. I'm running an M-Audio Firewire 410, this interface came out sometime in 2003 I believe, and I can get under 10msec latency with it. You can get pretty much any current interface around that price range and as long as there aren't any reported driver issues with the device you should have no problems.