My friends want to use their computer to record themselves from a mixer, so they need a soundcard with an RCA in (I actually don't know what kind of outputs the mixer has; it's this one. I'm assuming it'll have RCA outputs for recording purposes. If this isn't so, please set me straight!).

It's a high school garage band so naturally, monetary resources are limited. The first thing that came to my mind was the AV710, but it's playback-oriented, if I'm not mistaken. Therefore, we're looking for a no-frills, barebones card. All it really needs to have is an RCA stereo input and some sort of output for playback purposes, for which we'll be hooking it up to a receiver. (I'm assuming pretty much every soundcard would have that). We're hoping to keep it in the $100 range or less.

For those visual learners out there:

[intruments, mics] -> [mixer]RCA output -> RCA input[soundcard -> computer where it's recorded]output (1/8", RCA, coax, or optical) -> [receiver]

Thanks.

EDIT: I know that I can get a Firewire or USB Audiophile for around $130, but I was hoping for something cheaper, if it's out there. The AV710 of the input world. Also, internal or external, doesn't matter.

The internal Audiophile 2496 is down to $100, and has RCA inputs and RCA outputs (also digital I/O, in case it's ever needed, and MIDI in/out which the band may find a use for!). In my experience, a very good card for recording. The drivers are rock solid (even under Win98) and very easy to use, which is a big bonus.

http://www.zzounds.com/item--MDOAP2496

(just an example, above).

You can get a adapter from RCA to mini-jack. That might be easier and cheaper.

The EMU 0404 is right on that $100 mark. Also as has been mentioned, you can use a simple RCA->mini adapter with almost any sound card you wish.

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Yeah but the drivers stink. Frankly I wouldn't put a high school band through that, who just want to record without hassles.

Thanks fewtch! That looks pretty good, so if nothing else comes up, we'll probably go with that, the Audiophile 2496.


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I guess that's true, but the computer only has onboard audio right now, so we'd have to get a real soundcard anyway, and I figure it'll be well worth a little extra money for a more substantial, higher-quality recording setup. Unless anyone else thinks this would be just as good? I'm also thinking now that an external card would be more convenient.

So what's a cheap external card that has decent inputs?

The Edirol UA-1X might suit your needs. USB. RCA in/out. About $50.

ESI Juli@, you can have both RCA and 1/4" TRS.. neat drivers and better card overall than AP2496.. a few bucks more though..

Terratec EWX also worth a shot, if you can find one nowadays, it should be cheap.

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They aren't that bad! In fact, you can be recording at 44.1 KHz (CD quality) using any Windows program without even touching the card's settings. Only if you want to do more than just simple playback and recording (say effects or increased resolution/sample rate) do you need to mess with the control panel.