Laptop audio interface

[Mike1901]

Hi,

I am just starting to get slightly more seriously into sound editing (still as a hobby, but still...), and am finding that my inbuilt AC97-based soundcard isn't up to the job - ASIO performance is dire once I have more than 4 or 5 FX in a project. What would be the best sub 100 audio interface to go for? The main requirements are low latency and I need it to be portable, as it will be carried aroud with my laptop.

The only one I've found so far is the X-FI from Creative which goes in my ExpressCard slot, but I have no idea if it's any use, as it's marketed more towards the gaming market.

Thanks,

Michael

[The Elf]

It would be worth a search on these forums. This type of question comes up several times a week.

[Colin J Morris]

Mentioning the x-fi card brings back memories. Memories of this thread.

Ah what fun we had that day...

[ef37a]

Hi Mike,
Less than £100 is going to get you very little. I can definately vouch for the M-A fast track pro, old now yes but very solid and reliable but still a bit over the ton.

If you are going to use dynamic mics the Emu 0404usb 2.0 is said to have better than most AI's pre amps and very good sound quality plus the ground switches could be a life saver with a lappy!

But I really do think you need to put another nifty on your budget or be forever struggling.
Dave.

[comradec]

I use Edirol's UA-1EX with my laptop. It's very portable, has good sound quality and low latency, and has never let me down. Moreover, it's less than 50 quid.

If you want to spend a bit more, then the Alesis iO|2 looks a good buy.

But, as has been said already, there are many, many audio interfaces in the sub-£100 category.

[Mike1901]

Hi!

In the end I took your advice - spent a bit more cash and got the Sonar Power Studio 250 (http://www.guitarworld.com/article/cake ... studio_250) - got recommended to me by the friendly guy in Digital Village and after having a play with it in the shop, decided it was worth me getting.

Thanks everyone

[comradec]

In the end I took your advice - spent a bit more cash and got the Sonar Power Studio 250

That's just a re-badged Edirol UA-25 with a paint job thrown in. It's a good interface but I hope you actually need the Cakewalk Sonar software that came with it as that puts up the price quite a lot. The UA-25 itself comes with Cakewalk Sonar LE, which is a lighter version of the software.

[Mike1901]

In the end I took your advice - spent a bit more cash and got the Sonar Power Studio 250

That's just a re-badged Edirol UA-25 with a paint job thrown in. It's a good interface but I hope you actually need the Cakewalk Sonar software that came with it as that puts up the price quite a lot. The UA-25 itself comes with Cakewalk Sonar LE, which is a lighter version of the software.

I don't - but I thought for the extra £20 the full version of the Sonar software might come in handy, plus I get Amplitude LE as one of the bundled extras, and I've been after a decent-sounding VST amp simulator that gives me a slightly 'fuzzier' tone than the one that comes with Cubase.

[comradec]

Sounds like a good deal then. Have fun.