Hello,

currently I have an USB sound card Sound Blaster MP3+ (I think that it was later renamed to SB Connect!). It is about 5 years old and I've been thinking about replacing it with something better. I use it mainly for music listening and recording guitar via the line-in (using cubase and amplitube and other VST effects via Asio4All). While there are no problems with that, it can be somewhat noisy and it doesn't surprise me. Also, when comparing CD Audio from PC and from an old CD player, the sound card has quieter and muddier sound.

I would like to connect the new soundcard to an integrated preamplifier, like the old one.

From what I've been researching, taking into account quality and my budget, e-mu 0202 and e-mu tracker pre always come out on the topm, because of their tech specs + 192 kHz sample rate.

But I have a few questions:

- do I really need the 192 kHz recording sample rate? is this going to "fit" through the USB without skipping?
- how come other soundcards, be it firewire or usb, don't have so high sample rate, dynamic range and SNR?
- is the dynamic range higher because of 192 kHz sample rate? is it just a measuring trick, or is it really so?
- can anyone recommend a better alternative?

I have seen people recommending m-audio sound cards, but it seems to me that their specs are quite lower for the price...

No.
No, its because of bit depth. Sample rate has nothing to do with dynamic range.

i am sorry, i made a mistake... didn't take the time to review what i wrote
but i don't get it, if there is a sample rate of 192 kHz, that means that it's capable of recording sounds of up to 96 kHz... what's the point? very few people can hear a 20 kHz tone, why bother to record with 192 kHz sample rate?

1st of all a dedicated solution is desirable.

The most interesting approach is clearly the Behringer USB guitars one.

BTW, if you want something cheap but functional check out Line 6' solutions (or similar).

Last but not least a good STUDIO audiocard is an alternative too.

thank you for your reply, but
i didn't ask for a guitar interface, i asked for a good soundcard that can be used for playing music and with a good line-in plug (low noise, high dynamic range)... i am satisfied with the software i currently use and my guitars, i just need a new sound card.

basically, i would like to know is there something better than e-mu tracker pre for the price?

I have an Emu 0202 USB (refurb) that I picked up on Musican's Friend for a ver attractive price.

It clearly records and plays simultaneously at 24/192 without skipping.



I think they exist, but they cost a lot more. But here's a caveat, the 0202 I have is about 10 dB worse than spec or Rightmark tests of the same model I've seen on the web.



No, in fact running it at 192 KHz makes it perform worse than it does at 44 Khz by a few dB.



Even 10 dB worse than spec, the 0202 USB is a lot better than it needs to be to be sonically transparent.

Here is a list of reasons I'd look for more and pay more for an audio interface:

(1) There's really only 1 mic input on the 0202 USB

(2) Theres no phantom power for that 1 mic input.

(3) For lots of things I do, 2 channels is not enough.

(4) In audio production applications, balanced outputs would be a plus.



For openers, 2 real mic inputs and phantom power are worth paying for unless you don't need them. Meeting spec would also be nice.

I think that the 0202 is a clear notch up above my next cheaper USB interface, the Behringer UCA 202. No, it doesn't sound any better, but the headphone jack and the unpowered mic input fit my need for this application.

And, if you're not convinced by HA rhetoric about 44 KHz being more than a high enough sampling rate, the eMu 0202 could be a perfect platform for convincing yourself with.

This is the reason I mentioned e-mu Tracker Pre, which has balanced outputs and Phantom power.

I should've said that I will be using this at home, so this will be for home recording only. I don't have any condenser microphones, but maybe i'd like to buy some one day.

So, you're saying that i'd better go for the tracker pre, than 0202?
It costs about $150. I couldn't find anything better for the price...

Very good question

If you don't want to spend too much, and are not planning to migrate to Windows 7 any time soon (who knows if/when drivers will be available), check out the M-Audio Transit. I had this until last year and was very happy with the sound quality.

Chris