Are external sound cards ok to use with Sonar? I'm not confident taking my PC apart.

I saw a band member use a laptop and when I asked about a sound card, he pointed to a little box and said it was something else that was better than a sound card, but I forgot what he called it.

Would this be ok?
UPDATED LINK:
http://www.maplin.co.uk/5.1-usb-multimedia-sound-card-97120
 
Also bearing in mind that I will only be using a 2.5-octave midi keyboard - and nothing else!

thanks a lot

Sorry mate, I get 404 on that link.

Same here.
 
A sound card used to be a thing inside your computer that looks roughly like a large card that you stick into the motherboard. Today many sound "cards" use a firewire or USB connection and are inside a nice looking box with some dials and buttons. The principle is the same.
 
For an entry level card suited for pro audio software, M-Audio and Edirol are worth a look. Expect to spend at least around 100 to 150 bucks for something simple. Going more expensive results in more options connection wise and better sound quality. Pro-level cards can easily cost 1000 bucks and far upwards of that, though there is obviously a large area in between with both options and sound quality.

M-Audio has an M-Track which is 100 bucks and has all the basic connections. I have an older but slightly higher range M-Audio card that I use with my laptop and am not ecstatic about the sound quality, but it will definitely let you play with Sonar a lot better than your current system does.

thanks, sorry updated link:
http://www.maplin.co.uk/5...media-sound-card-97120
 
if the link goes funny again (it seems to condense itself after posting), here's a shortened version:
http://bit.ly/19ufsZz
 
thanks

Ok, yeah that's exactly the kind of thing you don't want. ;)
It's a multimedia card and probably no better (or worse) than what's inside your computer right now. You shouldn't be looking for anything that says "multimedia" or "surround". What you want is a good card for pro audio software. They should be advertising with stuff like "ASIO drivers", "low latency" and "direct monitoring".

For instance

http://www.gear4music.com...9_plid__kword__match__

If you want midi too

http://www.gear4music.com...SB-Audio-Interface/MNW


But it depends on connections you want/need etc

Bibs

SanderxpanderOk, yeah that's exactly the kind of thing you don't want. ;)
It's a multimedia card and probably no better (or worse) than what's inside your computer right now. You shouldn't be looking for anything that says "multimedia" or "surround". What you want is a good card for pro audio software. They should be advertising with stuff like "ASIO drivers", "low latency" and "direct monitoring".

 
OK Thanks a lot
 

wizard71
For instance

http://www.gear4music.com...9_plid__kword__match__

If you want midi too

http://www.gear4music.com...SB-Audio-Interface/MNW


But it depends on connections you want/need etc

Bibs

Hmm, £60 or £120... I just can't decide (I'm kidding - it'll be the £60 ones!)
 
thanks wizard, would I be able to connect my speakers to those?
(they are not usb, but the little green connector)
 
thanks
 
 

It looks like this one has a mini jack connector so yes. Not the most professional type of hook up but seems to work for your situation :)

The advantage of the 2nd unit, the Roland Duo capture is that it has proper microphone preamps with combo connectors that let you connect, mics, Hi Z guitars and other sound sources.

The cheaper unit is just that. It basically has the same sort of connectors as your on board card which is usually an indicator of what you're getting.

Remember too that to connect speakers they'll have to be either powered (inbuilt amp) or need an amplifier connected in between the sound card and your speakers.

I'm assuming he's connecting the speakers to his computer directly now using a minijack into the green output, so that'll be the same for this card.