USB or PCI-e sound?

[c double-e]

The PC I use for recording is not recording properly. After several various attempts at fixing this, the best solution seems to be either to buy a new pci-e sound card or an external usb interface. My budget is £50-£100.

The Asus Xonar DX has been recommended
http://www.amazon.co.uk/ASUS-Xonar-DX-E ... 889&sr=8-2,
but I'm put off by the fact that it's some 3yrs old would need windows 7 drivers before I even start.

Then there's this one which may also need win7 drivers - it doesnt seem available outside of the US/Canada
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6829271001

So I've had a look at some usb soundcards
http://www.thomann.de/gb/miditech_audiolink_ii.htm

http://www.thomann.de/gb/lexicon_alpha_studio.htm

another poster previously asked about this one, no price info or availability outside of US?
http://www.electrixpro.com/ebox44.html

Does anyone use any of the above with win7 32-bit, or any recommendations to investigate? The input would come from my mixer's record out (2 rca's)

[Jim B]

My budget is £50-£100.

For that budget have you had a look at this card

http://www.amazon.co.uk/ESI-MAYA44-USB- ... 119&sr=8-1

Also this one

http://www.dv247.com/dj-equipment/mixvi ... -44--72700

I have used the Maya44 in the past (and still have one for backup). It's a good card, reliable and easy to set up. The only fault I can find with the card is that the output in quite low. Both have drivers for Windows XP, Vista and Seven.

If you were to increase your budget I would strongly recommend the Hercules Trim 4&6.

http://www.hercules.com/us/DJ-Music/bdd ... -trim-4-6/

If you shop around for it, you will be able to pick one up for around £160-£170

I use one, and a couple of others guys here do. It's a outstanding card.

Anyway, hope this helps

[Hannes]

To get you, the AI iss just for recording not for Cross itself, correct?

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Juli-ESI/dp/B000N97TY8/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1309535152&sr=1-1-catcorr

For Cross I would get the Hercules if i was on a budget, as Jim already said.

[Jim B]

Sorry, but I missed the recording bit of your post

[c double-e]

Thanks for the replies guys, I'll check them out.

To get you, the AI iss just for recording not for Cross itself, correct?

That's right - in fact they are all for recording onto a seperate PC

[Hannes]

no prob

[community@MixVibes]

Hello,

Personally i would go with an external sound-card, it is quite nice to be able to unplug you usb sound-card and use it on a laptop for example.

[BennyB]

What you should check, is how good your Laptop's power supply. Lower frequency power supply-s ususally cause noise, and quite much.

So, If you are getting a card, get a USB one, with a fine USB hub, that has it's own power supply, so it will help to reduce a lot of noise.

I would recommend U46 Mk2:) Wich is a pro soundcard, and if you contact your mixvibes retailer in your region, they should have a couple of them on stock:)

To your budget: U-Mix 44. I'm using that card, and pretty awsome, with the new drivers suite to any PC, and the dricer has level controlls, for the in and outputs.
Windows will also be able to use it as a default soundcard, both for the in and outputs.
And with an updated ASIO driver you can set any buffer latency settings.

Recording needs a bit more buffer size, so it will record in the highest quality.

Program: Soundforge loves my U-Mix 44. (output assingned to the DJ software, input to soundforge, and my in-built laptop soundcard as Soundforge output).

Still have a decent and stable system... and my laptop is not that strong...