recommendations for usb interface

[rob]

team... any recommendations for a audio interface for my PC
I need 2 channels in and out, only +4dB balanced line level, no monitoring or bells and whistles. A usb type would be good, so i've got the connections up on my desk top. Don't need mic amps. Sample rates to 96K

This is not so much for recording music but getting audio from my test gear into and out of my PC.

oh and cheap of course

:) Rob

[PeterR]

stay away from usb1 if you can, it can be very fickle even with 2ch I/O @ 48k.

edirol have some USB2 stuff.

have you considered firewire? presonus and m-audio have really small firewire interfaces. You'd have to get a six pin firewire card for them to be bus powered on your pc.

bus powered can be risky too - noise etc.

this is cool

http://www.echoaudio.com/Products/FireWire/AudioFire2/index.php

[toadmark]

I can vouch for firewire too. Although if you go for a Motu I/F you must use a firewire card with the Texas Instruments chipset. The Presonus & Edirol I/F are not so picky.

Firewire seems to sustain much greater data rate than USB does, but USB seems to burst higher than firewire. Cos Audio is a constant stream, go firewire.

I've seen all three in action, they seem to be fine!

Have a look at the FA-101 here

http://www.rolandcorp.com.au/default.aspx?prd=593

[scott]

I bought a Mackie Spike to use for a similar reason.
The first one crashed my computer(s) both laptop and pc then broke.
They sent me a new one. Nice.
It crashed my computer a couple of times so I threw it at out on the lawn.
It was cheap though.
Im thinking of getting an Alesis HD24. Nice and portable and not computery.

[toadmark]

I've got an Alesis HD24 and love it! Clients have the option of buying the HDD from their session(s). And HDDs are so cheap now ... 320Gb for less than $200 ... crazy.