Yes i have looked at other topics about this on this site but alot aint available in New Zealand..

Hi so i created a topic the other day Would you use this sound card for music and some of yous mentioned Audio Interfaces (Which i know nothing about)so i started to pm Kontakt Guru (Thanks for the help ) and i came up with a new budget of $500 Nzd so instead of me sending Kontakt Guru multiple messages all the time i thought i would ask the AudioSex community on their thoughts..

My OS: Windows 8.1 Pro x64 (Can drop down to Windows 7 if drivers a issue)

Monitors: None (Due to not right environment)

Headphones: Audio Technica ATH-M50

DAW: Ableton Live 9 (If it's needed to know?)

I will start by mentioning i know nothing about Audio Interfaces and my main reason of getting one is for sound quality (Something better then Realtek High Definition Audio standard sound card)

What i have in Mind so far:

ALESIS IO4 24 BIT 4-CHANNEL USB AUDIO INTERFACE

EDIROL UA1G USB AUDIO INTERFACE-BY ROLAND/CAKEWALK

NATIVE INSTRUMENTS KOMPLETE AUDIO 6 INTERFACE (Not sure if usb)

M-AUDIO M-TRACK QUAD USB AUDIO INTERFACE

What do yous think of the ones above? Do yous have any other suggestions?

Note: I cant find RME or MOTU in New Zealand

 

My buddy just got one of these and he was super happy with it. Sounded great to me too.

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

 

Focusrite Scarlett 2i2

 

I'd suggest the Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 as well, or if you need more I/Os the 6i6.

http://www.rockshop.co.nz/shop/recording/focusrite-scarlett-2i2-2-in-2-out-usb2-0-audio-interface-featuring-2-focusrite-preamps.html

http://www.rockshop.co.nz/shop/recording/focusrite-scarlett-6i6-6-in-6-out-usb2-0-audio-interface-featuring-2-focusrite-preamps-midi-i-o.html

 

as above...focusrite...they use real nice preamps in their gear for the price...solid drivers...

 

Take a look at the new breed of interfaces hitting the stores, they seem much improved and have a good price/performance ratio.

SPL Crimson, Audient ID22, Tascam UH-7000, Antelope Zen Studio.

 

Im liking what i read about the FOCUSRITE SCARLETT 6I6 6 IN 6 OUT USB2.0 AUDIO INTERFACE, So just to be clear i can use this as a sound card and can expect better sound then my my onboard?

 

Anything is better than your onboard

But it all depends what you are trying to do.

 

If you wont be using many inputs, on a budget tc konnekt 6 is the best imo. Very nice digital-analog converters. Pre amps are probably better on Scarlet though. But depends if you would be using them...
http://www.tcelectronic.com/desktop-konnekt-6/

 

Focusrite's 6i6 would be a great choice for what you have described as your needs. Also Unlike the Focusrite 2i2 it has Midi as well. Don't know if that effects you, but for some it does.

Now, do you need 2 pre-amps or 1? 192 KHZ? if you compare the Konnect with the 6i6 Konnect only has 1 pre-amp, 6i6 has 2. Konnect has no midi ports. Konnect does do 192khz, but judging from what you have so far I don't think that is a problem.

Just some of the Questions you might ask.

Have fun choosing!

 

After throughly exhausting your favorite retailer and given your budget(which is a great budget) These are the two i best recommend!! All under $500

AKAI EIE PRO ELECTROMUSIC INTERFACE EXPANDER AUDIO MIDI INTERFACE WITH USB HUB


FOCUSRITE SCARLETT 6I6 6 IN 6 OUT USB2.0 AUDIO INTERFACE FEATURING 2 FOCUSRITE PREAMPS & MIDI I/O

 

Beware of Akai soundcards. Worst drivers on the planet, I've heard. Hardware might look nice, but stable and efficient drivers are the most important of it all.

Focusrite also had problems with the drivers but they seem fine now as well a TC electronic. Their Impact II is an extraordinary audio interface with some really nice FX you can use to mix with, record with and monitor with, too. I've got TC Konnekt 48 and I can tell you that those FX are really worth the extra dough. Focusrite also has their version of DSP audio interface as far as I know, but I can't remember the model.

I'd suggest you to choose between Focusrite, TC, Native Instruments or M-Audio for stable drivers. Have you tried searching for second hand RME audio interface? Their cards are so well built that you don't have to worry about it being 2nd hand. Hell, I got my RME HDSP 9652 2nd hand for 300 euro. I know people who bought their RME cards [PCI like mine] back in early 2000s and they still work impeccably. They changed three to four computers in the mean time. ;)

Cheers!

 

That's only related to MAC drivers!!!

Windows 7 & 8 it works like a Pro, also it's plug & play it's kinda big but gives you the pro feeling for only $450 bucks

 

Apogee Ensemble OR Apogee duet are good and reasonably priced .

 

Ohh to late ordered the FOCUSRITE SCARLETT 6I6 6 IN 6 OUT USB2.0 AUDIO INTERFACE before i seen this post.. Thanks every one for your help

 

This thing is going to be killer if the drivers pass the test *yes*

 

Still a great choice

 

I'd like to get one of these


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kjF9J8yfFl4


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jUyqXt8XwIY

 

Steinberg UR28M...kickass card... no complaints AT all.

 

You said that you have 500$ So I suggest the Focusrite 18i20.
Why? Because I had a similar problem as you.

I had a M Audio Fast Track and I wanted to have a better sound, and at the same time, I wanted to have very low latency.
After 2 month studying seriously this question, I came to the conclusion that this sound car give not only a very good sound quality and very low latency, but it have 8 physical analog input and output, plus ADAT connection (ADAT is useful to plug another digital audio device as an extension).

I have it now, and I can tell that there is a huge difference with cheap sound cards. The sound is completely different.

Even the Headphone outputs are giving a much better sound, including a better stereo separation (witch I never though possible under digital audio).

Latency is 2 ms at 48 khz even with 40 tracks vsti project (I have a powerful computer, but not last generation)

I'm using Win 7 x64, Headphones Beyerdynamics DT 880, Speakers Event Opal. DAWs Sequoia and Reaper.