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External Sound Cards

beatsme

beatsme

macrumors 65816
Original poster
Oct 6, 2005
1,204
2
can anyone recommend a decent external soundcard, whether FireWire or USB? I don't need anything fancy, just something with the good old-fashioned line level RCA inputs and outputs. Optical in/out would be nice but it's not necessary. Doesn't have to be professional quality (though I don't want a piece of crap), since I'll just be using it to horse around with GarageBand...
 
it's typically referred to as an interface, not a sound card.

lots of choices in the budget area, determined mostly by features. i don't think you're going to find one w/ only RCA's -- typically, budget interfaces offer mic pre's and balanced line level inputs, so you're looking at XLRs and/or 1/4" and/or those combo jacks.

start here to see the plethora of choices.
 
ah...I've been undone my lack of specificity :)

I've got a Mackie MX-6 for mic inputs and whatnot, so I don't need an interface, per se. I just need something that will let me connect the outs from the Mackie to the computer, and will also connect the computer to my stereo. I was using an M-Audio 2496 sound card (and it had all I needed: RCA ins/outs, MIDI, SPDIF, etc.) in my old G4 tower, but now that I've switched to a Mac Mini I can't exactly add an internal. So I'm kind of looking for something like this, or hopefully something a little better...

EDIT: it's a Mackie DFX-6. I think an MX-6 is a Mazda of some kind...
 
ah, so you're looking for a set of converters, i assume. you'll use your mixer for its pre's and stuff for recording, then its monitor section while listening back. is that right?

how many channels do you need in each direction and what's your budget?
 
zimv20 said:
ah, so you're looking for a set of converters, i assume. you'll use your mixer for its pre's and stuff for recording, then its monitor section while listening back. is that right?

how many channels do you need in each direction and what's your budget?
Click to expand...

just two channels in each direction. Since I only ever record myself (just bass and guitar) I don't have much need for anything super fancy.

my budget...yeesh. Under $100 would be nice, if it all possible.
 
afaik, standalone converters are more than that, but there are 2-channel interfaces in that price range. not sure how good they are, though, you basically get what you pay for.

if you sold your mixer to buy an interface w/ pre's and a monitoring section, what functionality do you lose?
 
zimv20 said:
afaik, standalone converters are more than that, but there are 2-channel interfaces in that price range. not sure how good they are, though, you basically get what you pay for.

if you sold your mixer to buy an interface w/ pre's and a monitoring section, what functionality do you lose?
Click to expand...

well...none, actually. Though I like the idea of being able to still use my Tascam 4-track...which I never use anyway.
 
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