Need Suggestions for a Decent Sound Card for Recording

[Ultralight]

Hi. When it comes to audio cards my experience is limited. Since I utilize an audio card for mostly gaming I don't need the best.

However, my son is musically inclined and has been getting into using musical score software. He has a semi-decent keyboard with Midi In/Out jacks. He would like to be able to connect to the PC I built for a second family PC and record his music.

The problem is the current sound card is a Sound Blaster Audigy SE 5.1/7.1. It does very fine for what I built this sytem for but there is no way to connect via midi.

So, any suggestions for a decent card? Again, I don't need the best but something he can start out with and is stable. I couldn't even tell you a budget because I haven't a clue, but let's say no more than $100.

Here are the system specs of the PC he will be using:

EPoX 9NPA+Ultra (socket 939)

Athlon 64 3200+ single core

2 gigs of PC 3200 RAM

250 gig SATA HD 7200rpm

Windows XP w/SP3

Thanks.

 

[mpilchfamily]

If i'm not mistaking all sound cards have midi capability. It may require and adapter but somwhere on the card should be a set of pins for a midi adapter to plug into.

But you don't need a new soundcard for this. You can get a USb midi adapter for your system for about $30.
http://www.google.com/products...99&sa=title#ps-sellers

 

[tcsenter]

Originally posted by: Ultralight
However, my son is musically inclined and has been getting into using musical score software. He has a semi-decent keyboard with Midi In/Out jacks. He would like to be able to connect to the PC I built for a second family PC and record his music.

Searching Google for "semi-decent keyboard with Midi I/O" doesn't seem to narrow things down to just the make and model your son wants to plug into his computer, for some weird reason.

 

[nerp]

M-Audio Audiophile 2496. He could use this card for years and years for the vast majority of his music production needs. Comes with quality MIDI in/out and RCA ins and outs. It's a solid investment and there are even 64 bit drivers for it, so you don't have to worry about it being made useless with an OS upgrade.

 

[Ultralight]

Originally posted by: mpilchfamily
If i'm not mistaking all sound cards have midi capability. It may require and adapter but somwhere on the card should be a set of pins for a midi adapter to plug into.

But you don't need a new soundcard for this. You can get a USb midi adapter for your system for about $30.
http://www.google.com/products...99&sa=title#ps-sellers

I have been looking into the Midi to USB to PC offerings and M-Audio makes a decent 1x1 component that I believe will do the job. At this point I've got to see if he wants to continue and get serious or if it is a passing fad.

@nerd -- that is a very nice sound card. If he ever decides to get really serious I'll get that card. By the way, I have the same EPoX board with same 4x512 Ballistix configuration except it is DDR-400. Wish I had the Opteran.

 

[herm0016]

i have the same board with 1 gig ocz, and a 4000. great board.
the maudio stuff works well, we use the larger stuff in our studio and our mobile recording rigs.