What's a good sound card to go for ?

I need a basic sound card for my set up. I don't anything to fancy. I borrowed my mate's Focusrite Saffire LE & it was just too loud & I found it was a bit of a pain to set up.

I really just need something to plug my head phones into & the master out. If poss something that will get it's power from the computer's bus.

Any suggestions would be great

Thanks in Advance

G

 

http://www.native-instruments.com/index.php?id=audio8dj

 

cheap 2 channel soundcard does the trick
if u dont need flashy **** like timecoded inputs + multiple speaker outputs

 

I'm using an Edirol FA-66 on a Mac and very happy with it.
Can either mix in software and use the headphone jack for monitoring or use 2x stereo outs to a mixer. Low latency, no drivers required, metal case built like a tank.
http://www.gigasonic.com/edirol-fa-66.html
$280

 

Have a look at this one.

 

Firebox is also good. Has an extra stereo pair over the FA-66. Both are built on a reference design the 2 companies have licenced (most of the small firewire sound interfaces are built on the same design and have similar specs)
---
Here's the supplier of the reference design to most of these manufactureres - http://www.bridgeco.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=49&Itemid=110
Here's an article linking BridgeCo and Presonus
http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0EIN/is_/ai_n6183063

 

A8DJ or m-audio Firewire (although i think firewire will be replaced by USB 3 in the near future)

 

For "simple playback using either the internal or external mixer without the need for timecode support (=inputs)" I'd recommend Echo Audio's Indigo DJ. It is a 159€ (that's little over 200US$ for those ill-equipped to handle european currencies) PCMCIA-card with low latency ASIO-drivers for both Windows and Mac, perfect to take with you if you're just laptop deejaying. I personally have it as a backup with me always in case something happens to the Audio8. There is also a version for PCMCIAexpress, but that costs somewhat more.

What I personally like best about this card is that since it's PCMCIA, there are a lot less (crucial) wiring that can be easioly kicked off by passers-by...

 

Thanks for the feedback guys, there are a lot of suggestions to be getting on with. They all look good & just what I was think about.

Because of the gigs I do a quick set up is very important, I need to be out of my gig bag, plugged in & up & running with 5 mins. I will always be using Traktor's internal mixer set up so all i need is a master out.

Thanks again for your contributions, if there are any more suggestions I am all ears.

Cheers G

 

Numark dj io soundcard, the easiest soundcard to use and setup. Also sound quality is decent and costs less than 150$. Durable and reliable, all you need for what your doing

 

Ni Audio 8
NI Audio Kontrol 1
Echo Indigo DJ (PC Card)


I have them all, they are all good. Make sure that whatever card you buy has recent Asio drivers

 

Don't go for M-Audio Fast track pro. I have it and cannot use TP with it. After many messages back and forth with tech support I finally get the answer that it just wont work, sorry get another sound card.

It works like a charm for 3.4 though.

Yea, kind of disapointed in the response, would have much preferred a "okay, we are working on it" rather than a link to their soundcard shopping page.

Oh well, hope you guys are enjoying the new software.

 

Really? Zoinks. I'm using the Fast Track Pro with Traktor Pro with no sound hardware issues at all.Most of the time, I use it under MacosX, and it's rock solid (and ridiculously low latency). I've used it a bit with XP, and it was OK too, though maybe I didn't use it long enough with my Windows box to see the issues manifest.

(I'm using Traktor Pro, MacosX 10.5.5, a Fast Track Pro and a v2 Vestax VCI-100 most of the time, though occasionally will use WinXP and/or an M-Audio X-Session Pro controller too, depending on what's going on)

 

Huh, now i am even more disappointed, although I'm glad it working fine for other people. Tech folks had indicated that others with the m audio were having the same problem, that lead me to believe that everyone was having the same problem. And yes I am using osx 10.5.5 too, go figure.

So then I loaded up boot camp and tried it on win xp, worked for a while and now it just comes up with that "has encountered a problem and needs to close" message.

Well I have tried two different computers and two different OS, so not I think I will give up. Obviously the tech gods that oversee our progress down the tech path don't want me to use this software. At least this was all with the demo, and I didn't shell out money for it... wonder if that has anything to do with it.