CoffeeTime

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
 
 

as you mentioned before you will only have a midi keyboard, you need to shoot at the second, more expensive one - sorry!

He has a USB midi keyboard, as seen from his screen shots. So no need to have midi ports on the soundcard/interface.

I'm a big fan of the Emu cards and have an internal 0404 PCI-e card.
They are a little more pricey but if you're ok with used cards you can pick them up pretty cheap here on Ebay
 
Steve

Thanks guys,
 
Yes my speakers have their own power and mini jack connector.
I won't be connecting guitars and expensive mics.
 
And yes "he" (buddy, mate, dude, etc) does have a USB keyboard! - must bleach this damn moustache lol!

I have never regretted spending a few extra dollars (pounds for you, I guess), to get better equipment.  Even if you are not "serious" but having fun.  The idea is to have fun, not get frustrated when you or someone brings over a real mic or guitar and you have to run to the local music shop to pick up an overpriced cable (those are some of the markup leaders at music shops).  And fooling w/ it for hours to get it to work.  Then you can't lay down the track because your cheap card's latency is too much for the guitarist to work with.  And that cutie you got over to sing thinks yor're a dork.  Been there, done that.  Kinda takes the fun out the experience.
 
You should be able to find a "real" interface/soundcard that is the same price or a little above a consumer card.  Save yourself some headache.  There are plenty of those trying to get into music production w/o spending time on the basic ingredient.  Like buying a used car w/ a blown cylinder.  It doesn't matter how much you saved, you are going to have to replace the engine if you want to drive it more than a few blocks.

It will work..But you may have to use ASIO4ALL and performance won't be that great. You'd better stick with the internal soundcard..
 
As said before a tiny M-audio,Focusrite,Roland (anything with ASIO drivers) will be better.
I have a focusrite Scarlett 2i2. Works great and quite cheap (not for the sound).

You need one of these:
 
http://www.soundsliveshop.com/p/Focusrite_Saffire_6_USB_Audio_Interface/FR-SAFFIRE6USB?CAWELAID=1830893977&catargetid=1826691753&cadevice=c&cagpspn=pla&gclid=CMv25OeqrboCFQrJtAod1AQA0A
 
Or similar

OK thanks,
 
this might be a dumb question but some of the ones suggested have a printer-cable type usb socket. Can a normal usb2 keyboard be connected directly to the PC and not have to go through the sound card box device?
 
If not, is there an adaptor available?
 
thanks

They are entirely separate devices. You should hook up each device to an individual USB port on your computer. Don't think of them as needing to hook them up. You play midi into Sonar, so you need a midi keyboard. You want Sonar to play sound, so you need a soundcard.

Sanderxpander
They are entirely separate devices. You should hook up each device to an individual USB port on your computer. Don't think of them as needing to hook them up. You play midi into Sonar, so you need a midi keyboard. You want Sonar to play sound, so you need a soundcard.

+1

Keep us posted on what you decide!

Bibs