Hi Dreamer,
I own the M Audio audiophile usb.
Can't really compare it to anything else as it's the only midi/audio interface I've owned. I'm quite happy with mine, I've had it for about 2 to 3 years.

The only other sound card I owned was an audigy nx2 usb. It didn't have the midi interface. I mainly bought it so that I use soundfonts directly, giving me an alternative to a more complicated software set up required to run fonts on my laptop.

I had to get an external card because my last 2 laptops (Dells), didn't have PCMCIA slots that I could put the PCMCIA type card into.

I just connect my laptop / Audiophile via a USB cable.

best wishes
Rikki





[This message has been edited by rikkisbears (edited 07-22-2007).]

Dreamer,

For most of the equipment listed all you need is an inexpensive USB 2.0-A to USB 2.0-B cable and the appropriate drivers. The drivers are installed in your laptop, then you need the software to work with midis, Band In A Box, Power Trax Pro, etc. This ain't rocket science and you sure don't need to spend lots of money to get the highest quality midi and audio recordings.

Good Luck,

Gary 8)

Thanks, ViLo: that was very helpful; Audiophile has a Firewire model too



so now I have one more choice, at least.

Thank, Rikki
very helpful and informative, as always.
Now I know that the Audiophile is a good candidate for my setup.

Gary,
the USB cable could work for midi, meaning that the USB port could be an alternative to the midi ins/outs, but what about the audio? Both the Audiophile and the Edirol cards can handle audio signals and have a sampling rate of 96 kHz at 24 bit. Can an USB 2.0 port accomplish this?

Here is another option: the Tascam US-144:



well, at least those things don't cost an arm and a leg...

Just to make this topic useful for others who might have the same problem, here is another valid contender, even if the price is in another league (it's almost double, compared with the others and more than double compared with the Audiophile USB): the Edirol FA 101.

Dreamer,

I also use the Audiophile 24/96 module and have had it for 3 years. It is very convenient as I leave everything else plugged into it all the time and just have to connect one usb connection for both audio and midi when I want to use the laptop with my set up.

It is a well established and have used it with 3 different laptops using Windows 2000 and XP. However, make sure what you get works with Vista is you are going down that route as so many things don't

Regards - KFingers (Keith)

Dreamer,

I also use the Audiophile 24/96 module and have had it for 3 years. It is very convenient as I leave everything else plugged into it all the time and just have to connect one usb connection for both audio and midi when I want to use the laptop with my set up.

It is a well established and have used it with 3 different laptops using Windows 2000 and XP. However, make sure what you get works with Vista is you are going down that route as so many things don't

Regards - KFingers (Keith)

Thank you, Keith: the Audiophile looks more and more interesting, especially considering the price
Re. Vista, I have installed it on my PC together with XP (taking advantage of the dual boot option), but on my laptop I have XP only, so no problems there.