hi can anyone recommend an audio interface that works well with sonar 8. obviously there are loads out there but im looking for one that works well with sonar or reaper and doesnt cost too much but is good enough that i dont get massive problems with latency..   .. i would pay up 2 about 80quid second hand ... cheers

How many inputs you are looking for ? How about midi ?

At that price, you can get a new Roland Duo Capture, but without midi.

http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/UA11MK2/

helo mate right im new to all this so bare with me.. for now im just gona be recording multitrack doin it all the guitars /bass/ vocals myself so i wont need multiple inputs for now but when im ready ide like to record my 3 peice band live but ile cross that bridge when i come to it...  in all honesty i wasnt aware i needed a midi interface i just thought i plugged my keyboard in the the usb and then selected midi input instead of audio?  ive just got addictive keys and when i plug my m audio keystation mini 32 into usb the sound comes through with no latency but would u still recomemend i get a interface with audio and midi inputs ? ile check out the roland now.. cheers mate

alos ive just been lookin into multi input soundcards and theres sumthing i dont understand.. ive seen focusrite interfaces with 8 in and 8 out etc  but if ur using 8 mics then sureley u just need 1  output into the pc soundcard ?? so why would anyone need 8 outputs? cheers

That is fine, if you have a midi controller keyboard that plugs into USB. You only need an interface with 5-pin midi (in/out) if you have older type of midi connector.

> but if ur using 8 mics then sureley u just need 1  output into the pc soundcard ??

The 8 mics will go into 8 separate tracks. As for the output, you do not route it to the PC soundcard, rather, the stereo out goes to your powered monitor, or the PA system.

As for multi-outs, they are all optional. For example, you may have a second or third pair of monitor, or for individual musician headphone monitoring. Another use may be for surround sound mixing.

The 8 mics will go into 8 separate tracks. As for the output, you do not route it to the PC soundcard, rather, the stereo out goes to your powered monitor, or the PA system.

cheers for clearin that up , i dont get what u mean thow by powered monitor or p.a system why would i use a p.a system when recording? and powered monitor do u mean speakers? ile be using headphones .. like i said im all ne wto this . cheers mate

You're right - use the headphones during mic recording, and you may use the speaker for mixing after recording, or for recording instruments.

You can download a copy of the pdf manual for most audio interfaces. Most of them have some diagram to show how to connect various equipment you may have.

ok cheers mate 1 more question please.. ive just got this http://www.alesis.com/io14  and my pc hasnt got a firewire port .. ive looked ive been to maplins and pc world but they dont do an adaptor .. theres a few choices on amozan but im not sure what 2 get . i got the alesis for 30quid and it seems 2 be well rated so i wanna use it if poss ..any ideas what i should do? cheeers

For firewire, if your PC did not have one, you need an add on Firewire 400 card, but must have the Texas Instrument chipset. There may be other compatibility issue as well, pci bridge or something. 

Unless you already have an existing firewire audio interface, getting a new interface with USB2 is a more trouble free route.

Get the best you can afford - or stick with your previous budget and get the Roland Duo capture - the driver works great with low latency - I'm using the Quad capture and is happy with the performance.

For your other thread - Firewire to USB adaptor, no such adaptor exists - the driver would be very different dealing with Firewire and USB.

ok nice 1 mate .. thing is the alesis  only cost me  30 quid and if i get a firewire card for 30quid its only cost me 60quid for a decent device that has a fair few inputs (6 i think) and i think its will service me well for a year or so until ive got to grips with it all and am ready to get a proper intefrace and spend a few hundred quid... on the alesis website  it says the model ive got works with windows 7 ..32 or 64 so what issues could i poss have? .. my pcs a lenova thinkcentre m70e if that helps..  i might try gettin the firewire card and seein what happens , but if there are problems im then lumbered with the alesis and the firewire card so im a bit unsure what to do ..  this is what u mean?   http://www.amazon.co.uk/E...=1360082469&sr=8-1

thanks mate youve been a big help