I am in the process of getting a new computer and upgrading from sonar 7 to X2.  I want to get a new sound card and would like some suggestions.  The computer has a built in wavemax audio 4.  I currently use and emu 0404 and honestly have found that it is a total pain and confusing to use.  I would like something that would be easy to integrate into sonar and much less confusing than the emu.  As far as projects go I will be doing basic recording from my pod for guitars and vox.  I would like to mic drums in the future and I will be using midi as well.  Outs would be two krk speakers and i would like to be able to use headphones with speakers during recording and playback.
Here are the specs for my new computer:
Processor: 4th Generation Intel® Core™ i7-4770 processor (8M Cache, up to 3.9 GHz) Memory: 8GB Dual Channel DDR3 1600MHz - 2 DIMMs Hard Drive: 1TB 7200 RPM SATA Hard Drive 6.0 Gb/s Video Card: NVIDIA® GeForce® GTX 645 1.0GB GDDR5 Optical Drive: 16X CD/DVD burner (DVD+/-RW), write to CD/DVD (Your computer will only play BluRay if it is specifically listed here)

Your options for a PCIe audio interface are somewhat limited (most new units are USB or Firewire):

• MOTU 2408mkIII
• MOTU HD192
• RME HDSPe with Multiface-II

 
Or you could go with a digital only card... like the RME HDSP 9652 (with external converters)
 
 

Jim Roseberry
 
Or you could go with a digital only card... like the RME HDSP 9652 (with external converters)
 

That's what I'm using... well the newer version, RME Raydat, and then it's just the AD-DA of your choice...
Very low latency, and a quality build.

Thanx for the replies.  All of that stuff seems a bit pricey for me at this time.  I think I am going to go for something a bit more simple.  How about a card with two audio in and outs and midi in and outs? or would there be a good external soundcard to look into instead?
 
 

TVG
Thanx for the replies.  All of that stuff seems a bit pricey for me at this time.  I think I am going to go for something a bit more simple.  How about a card with two audio in and outs and midi in and outs? or would there be a good external soundcard to look into instead?
 
 

I can only think of M-audio Audiophile 2496 PCI sound card. But it's audio input/output is RCA only. You can't hook it into a mike nor guitar unless you have an external mixer. But it is inexpensive and sounds good. I am using it with my desktop. My specs are windows 7 64 bit, Sonar X2PE.

TVG
Thanx for the replies.  All of that stuff seems a bit pricey for me at this time.  I think I am going to go for something a bit more simple.  How about a card with two audio in and outs and midi in and outs? or would there be a good external soundcard to look into instead?

 
Quality PCIe units tend to be $900+
 
M-Audio used to make the Audiophile 192 (PCI not PCIe).
They've been discontinued...
If you're running a newer generation motherboard, keep in mind that some PCI audio interfaces have issues with "bridged" PCI slots.
FWIW, We've had good luck with M-Audio units in bridged PCI slots... 
 
At a lower price point, I like the Presonus Audiobox 22VSL ($200).
Two channels of balanced analog I/O with preamps... and low round-trip latency.
 
 

I am using the Echo Layla 3g and loving it!

TVG: .... Focusrite Saffire Pro 40 which is 1394 Firewire .... 20 in/ 20 out. and Ti firewire card and call it a day !

Freex

Jim Roseberry
 
Or you could go with a digital only card... like the RME HDSP 9652 (with external converters)
 

That's what I'm using... well the newer version, RME Raydat, and then it's just the AD-DA of your choice...
Very low latency, and a quality build.

Same here.
Had to upgrade from HDSP9652 to Raydat, just because my new motherboard didn't have any PCI slots.
I really loved the HDSP9652 and would never had chosen any other than it's successor RME Raydat.
 
Rock solid. Super low latency. And also (very important); RME doesn't stop the support for old audio interfaces when new ones get released. They still released new drivers for the HDSP9652 when I had to switch last year! And HDSP9652 is from 2002!

Go with an Audiophile 2496, along with a small inexpensive mixer. I have successfully recorded three albums with the 2496, and it's under $100.