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Soundcards and audio interfaces

With so many of different types of soundcards avialable, choosing the right soundcard may seem difficult at first.
To help you dicide, you should take into concideration.
1: What inputs and outputs (I/O) you may need?
2: What level of sound quality you need?
3: Should the soundcards I/O connections be on a external box?
4: Do you want a card with inbuilt sounds?

There is a summary of the specifications of the audio interfaces which we supply in a table below.

,
soundcard guide
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What inputs and outputs (I/O) you may need?
Do you want the ability to record multiple instruments at the same time (say a band), or do you just need to record one instrument at a time?
If you want to record multiple I/O's then Choose a card with Multiple inputs,if you have a hardware mixing desk you may want a card with multiple outputs aswell.
If you only need to record one instrument at a time then one stereo I/O will do.

What type of I/O's do you need?
If you have a mixing desk or are going to get one, then try to match your soundcards I/O's with the connections on the mixing desk, EG: phono connection, digital connections ( AES/EBU ADAT TDIF ), 1/4" jack balanced or unbalanced.
If you dont have a mixing desk and you want to record with a microphone, you will need a pre-amp.
So get a soundcard with a built in pre-amp or choose a seperate mic pre-amp unit (some have built in compressors).
delta410

delta66
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What level of sound quality you need?
As you may know music CD's are 16 bit, 44khz in sound quality.
24 bit, 96 khz is a better quality to work with and alot of soundcards now convert to this, but if you wish you can still do your audio work in 16 bit retaining good quality
sample rate
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Should the soundcards I/O connections be on a external box?
This depends on how much money you have got to spend as external units will cost more.
The PCI sound card sits in your pc and then a cable comes out of the card and connects to the external box that contains the I/O connections and switches. Generally this is a much nicer and alot neater than having loads of breakout cables hanging of the back of your soundcard.
The MAudio Delta 1010(see picture) soundcard has a external box, but you can also get the Delta 1010LT(see picture) with breakout cables looms to connect to, which is around half the price of the external one.
delta1010

delta1010_lt
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Do you want a card with inbuilt sounds?
A few cards like Yamaha's SW1000XG(see picture) have inbuilt realistic sounds.
The SoundBlaster Audigy uses Soundfonts (sf2).
Onboard sounds are not that important, Samplers like Native instruments Kontakt can import soundfont files for use.
yamaha sw1000xg
Manuf. Product Name Connect-ion Type Analog Inputs Analog Outputs Digital Inputs Digital Ouputs Max Bit Depth/ Sample Rate MIDI Inputs MIDI Outputs WDM Drivers ASIO Drivers
M-Audio Audiophile 24/96 PCI 2 RCA jack inputs 2 RCA jack outputs 1 S/PDIF coaxial input 1 S/PDIF coaxial output 24 bit, 96 kHz 1 MIDI input 1 MIDI output Yes Yes
Terratec DMX 6 Fire 24/96 PCI 1 Stereo 3.5mm analog input (PCI card) 3 Analog stereo outputs (PCI card) 1 Stereo optical input (front module) 1 Stereo optical output (front module) 24 bit, 96 kHz 1 MIDI input 1 MIDI output Yes Yes
1 Analog stereo input (front module) 1 Analog stereo output (front module) 1 Stereo coaxial input (front module) 1 Stereo coaxial output (front module)
M-Audio Delta 44 PCI 4 Analog inputs, 1/4 in. jacks, accepts balanced or unbalanced 4 Analog outputs, 1/4 in. jacks, accepts balanced or unbalanced _ _ 24 bit, 96 kHz _ _ Yes Yes
RME Audio Hammerfall PCI _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
M-Audio Delta 410 PCI 2 Analog unbalanced inputs 8 Analog unbalanced outputs 1 S/PDIF input 1 S/PDIF ouput 24 bit, 96 kHz _ _ Yes Yes
M-Audio Delta Dio 24/96 PCI _ 1 Stereo analog output (2 RCA sockets) 1 Optical S/PDIF input 1 Optical S/PDIF output 24 bit, 96 kHz _ _ Yes Yes
1 Coaxial S/PDIF input 1 Coaxial S/PDIF output
M-Audio Delta 66 PCI 4 Analog inputs, 1/4 in. jacks, accepts balanced or unbalanced 4 Analog outputs, 1/4 in. jacks, accepts balanced or unbalanced 1 S/PDIF input (RCA jack) 1 S/PDIF output (RCA jack) 24 bit, 96 kHz _ _ Yes Yes
M-Audio Delta 10/10 LT PCI 8 Analog inputs, 7 on unbalanced RCA connectors, 1 on balanced female XLR 8 Analog outputs, 7 on unbalanced RCA connectors, 1 on balanced female XLR 2 S/PDIF inputs 2 S/PDIF outputs 24 bit, 96 kHz 1 MIDI input 1 MIDI output Yes Yes
Edirol DA 24/96 PCI 8 Analog inputs, all balanced 1/4 in. jacks. Includes mic inputs, also balanced 1/4 in. jacks 8 Analog outputs, all balanced 1/4 in. jacks. 1 Optical S/PDIF input 1 Optical S/PDIF output 24 bit, 96 kHz 1 MIDI input 1 MIDI output Yes Yes
1 Coaxial S/PDIF input 1 Coaxial S/PDIF output
M-Audio Mobile Pre USB USB 2 Mic inputs, balanced XLR 2 Analog outputs, unbalanced 1/4 in. jacks _ _ 16 bit, 44.1 kHz, 48 kHz _ _ No Yes
Stereo desktop mic input (1/8 in.) Stereo line output (1/8 in.)
1 instument or lineinput, balanced 1/4 in. jacks Stereo headphone output (1/8 in.)
M-Audio Audiophile 24/96 USB USB 1 Pair of analog 1/4 in. unbalanced jack inputs 2 Analog line level RCA audio outputs S/PDIF coaxial input S/PDIF coaxial output 24 bit, 96 kHz 1 MIDI input 1 MIDI output No Yes
1 Pair of analog RCA audio inputs
M-Audio Quattro USB USB 4 Balanced 1/4 in. jack audio inputs 4 Balanced 1/4 in. jack audio outputs _ _ 24 bit, 96 kHz 1 MIDI input 1 MIDI output No Yes
M-Audio Omni-Studio PCI 2 mic/ instrument audio inputs, XLR 4 Delta/direct outputs on 1/4 in. jack connectors _ _ 24 bit, 96 kHz _ _ No Yes
4 Stereo aux inputs on 1/4 in. jack connectors 2 Mix outputs on 1/4 in. jack connectors
_ 2 Monitor outputs on 1/4 in. jack connectors
M-Audio Delta 10/10 PCI 8 Analog audio inputs on balanced or unbalanced 1/4 in. TRS jacks 8 Analog audio outputs on balanced or unbalanced 1/4 in. TRS jacks 1 S/PDIF coaxial input (PCI host card) 1 S/PDIF coaxial ouput (PCI host card) 24 bit, 96 kHz 1 MIDI input 1 MIDI output No Yes
RME Audio Hammerfall DSP Digiface PCI _ 1 Analog line/heaphone output, 1/4 in. jack 3 ADAT digital inputs 3 ADAT digital outputs 24 bit, 96 kHz 2 MIDI inputs 2 MIDI outputs No Yes
1 S/PDIF digital input, coaxial 1 S/PDIF digital output, coaxial
RME Audio Hammerfall DSP Digiface PCMCIA _ 1 Analog line/heaphone output, 1/4 in. jack 3 ADAT digital inputs 3 ADAT digital outputs 24 bit, 96 kHz 2 MIDI inputs 2 MIDI outputs No Yes
1 S/PDIF digital input, coaxial 1 S/PDIF digital output, coaxial
RME Audio Hammerfall DSP Multiface PCI 8 Analog inputs, balanced 1/4 in. jacks 8 Analog outputs, balanced, 1/4 in. jacks 1 ADAT digital input 1 ADAT digital output 24 bit, 96 kHz 1 MIDI input 1 MIDI output No Yes
1 Analog line/heaphone output, 1/4 in. jack 1 S/PDIF digital input, coaxial 1 S/PDIF digital output, coaxial
Edirol UA20 USB USB 2 Analog inputs at line, guitar and mic level, 1/4 in. jacks 2 Analog outputs at line level, RCA sockets _ 1 optical output 24 bit, 44.1 kHz 1 MIDI input 1 MIDI output Yes Yes
Edirol UA-5 USB USB 2 Analog audio XLR inputs 2 Analog TRS outputs 1 Optical S/PDIF input 1 Optical S/PDIF output 24 bit, 96 kHz _ _ Yes Yes
2 Analog audio RCA inputs 2 Analog RCA outputs 1 Coaxial S/PDIF input 1 Coaxial S/PDIF output
Terratec Phase 26 USB 1 Stereo analog line level audio input on back panel (RCA) 2 analog line level outputs on front panel (RCA) 1 S/PDIF coaxial input 1 S/PDIF coaxial output 24 bit, 96 kHz 1 MIDI input 1 MIDI output No Yes
1 Stereo analog line level audio input on front panel (RCA)
1 Stereo phono input with preamp for turntables 6 Surround (5.1) analog studio level outputs on back panel 1 S/PDIF optical input 1 S/PDIF optical output
1 Microphone input, 1/4 in. jack
MOTU 828 FireWire audio interface MK2 FireWire 8 Analog audio inputs on balanced or unbalanced 1/4 in. TRS jacks 8 Analog audio outputs on balanced or unbalanced 1/4 in. TRS jacks 8 Channel ADAT optical input 8 Channel ADAT optical output 24 bit, 96 kHz 1 MIDI input 1 MIDI output Yes Yes
2 mic/ instrument audio inputs, XLR/TRS combo, bal/unbal 1 Main stereo output on bal/unbal 1/4 in. TRS jacks 1 Stereo S/PDIF digital input 1 Stereo S/PDIF digital output
MOTU 896 FireWire FireWire 8 Analog audio inputs on XLR connectors with mic or line settings 8 Analog audio outputs on XLR connectors 1 AES/EBU Digital input on XLR 1 AES/EBU Digital output on XLR 24 bit, 96 kHz _ _ Yes Yes
2 Main analog outputs on XLR connectors 1 ADAT Lightpipe digital input; operates at 44.1 kHz or 48 kHz 1 ADAT Lightpipe digital output; operates at 44.1 kHz or 48 kHz
Aardvark Direct Pro 24/96 PCI 4 Discrete analog audio inputs on XLR connectors, can also be used as 1/4 in. jacks 4 Analog audio outputs on 1/4 in. jacks 1 S/PDIF digital input on RCA connector 1 S/PDIF digital output on RCA connector 24 bit, 96 kHz 1 MIDI input 1 MIDI output A|WDM Yes
2 Additional audio outputs on RCA connectors
Aardvark Aark 24 PCI 8 Analog audio inputs on 1/4 in. balanced jacks 8 Analog audio outputs on 1/4 in. balanced jacks 1 S/PDIF coaxial input 1 S/PDIF coaxial output 24 bit, 44.1 kHz, 48 kHz 1 MIDI input 1 MIDI output A|WDM Yes
1 ADAT/ TOSLINK optical input 1 ADAT/ TOSLINK optical output
Aardvark Pro Q10 PCI 8 Discrete microphone preamp inputs, also act as 8 1/4 in. jack inputs 8 Analog 1/4 in. jack outputs 1 S/PDIF digital input on RCA connector 1 S/PDIF digital output on RCA connector 24 bit, 96 kHz 1 MIDI input 1 MIDI output No Yes
4 1/4 in. jack insert sockets
2 Monitor outputs (stereo)
Inputs 7 & 8 act as Hi-Z inputs when selected
Echo Mia MIDI PCI 2 Balanced analog 1/4 in. jack inputs 2 Balanced analog 1/4 in. jack outputs 1 S/PDIF digital coaxial input 1 S/PDIF digital coaxial output 24 bit, 96 kHz 1 MIDI input 1 MIDI output Yes Yes
Echo Gina 24 PCI 2 1/4 in. jack balanced audio inputs 8 1/4 in. jack balanced audio outputs 1 S/PDIF coaxial digital input 1 S/PDIF coaxial digital output 24 bit, 96 kHz _ _ Yes Yes
1 S/PDIF optical digital input 1 S/PDIF optical digital output
ADAT 8 channel optical digital input ADAT 8 channel optical digital output
Echo Layla 24 PCI or CardBus 8 Balanced 1/4 in. analog inputs 8 Balanced 1/4 in. analog outputs 1 S/PDIF coaxial digital input 1 S/PDIF coaxial digital output 24 bit, 96 kHz 1 MIDI input 1 MIDI output and MIDI thru Yes Yes
1 S/PDIF optical digital input 1 S/PDIF optical digital output
ADAT 8 channel optical digital input ADAT 8 channel optical digital output
Tascam US-122 USB 2 XLR phantom powered mic inputs Stereo line level monitor outputs on RCA sockets _ _ 24 bit, 44.1 kHz 1 MIDI input 1 MIDI output No Yes
2 1/4 in. balanced line/guitar audio inputs
2 Insert points on 1/4 in. jack connectors

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