Help with Soundcards. Mixers etc. for recording?

[ChrisMetal]

Hi Guys,
(damn been a a while since i posted, but i still got my Warpig pups in my Epi, need to get some for my 7 String though...)

Anyway to the topic on hand...

I'm trying to decide on a route to go with recording guitar, possibly band stuff in the future. So my dilema? My on board sound card is creating problems, and my current external gear, MOTU 8pre and M-Audio fastrack are both causing pops and clicks(probably down to latency). If could get the 8pre to work properly that would be helpful cause it cost me a packet but anything i try to do in cubase studio 4 or in the Asio setting doesn't seen to aid it. So I assume the motherboard Creative SB is causing problems somewhere.

Firstly I need is a decent PCI express soundcard, thinking M-Audio/E-MU, but one I can connect to a small format Mixer. I can't afford the nicer stuff that RME, Lynx etc put out.

Secondly I need a nice small format mixer which will be able to support around 8-12 channels, and i can get multiple speaker outputs if possible. 2 XLR.

A lots to ask for but you guys seems to know your stuff... if you can recommend any other route i'm open for. Unfortunely my budget will probably be around 400 total.

thanks for all the help(sorry if in wrong section).

 
 

[Johnny Mac]

Pops and crackles is something I have to contend with on my PC too. I've been informed my machine can't handle all the processing power and I have an EMU-1820 in that.
Do you hear it only in tracking or in the final mix?

Quad core CPUs with 4 Gig of ram and firewire audio interfaces seem to be the best place to start. Well that's what I'm going to do.

[ChrisMetal]

I have a AMD FX-57 and 2GB RAM, I think it may only be DDR.. it loads stuff pretty quick though.

I use my USB fastrack for everything at the moment, including playing just general music through itunes and media player etc. So playing back stuff, it rarely if ever pops as far as i recall. I think it mainly has problems while recording, I get the ocassional clip spike once in a song in cubase where it's almost like a freeze but then continues recording, Its odd and random.
I just don't want to f**k my monitors..

[Johnny Mac]

What spec machine is it?

Do you use it for gaming too?

[HTH AMPS]

I have a Midiman Delta1010 thats surplus to requirements - it runs off a PCI card and has eight balanced analogue ins and eight balanced analogue outs (can record them simultaneously, so great for recording drums).

I'd let it go for £100.00 (only selling as I've not got a mixer anymore and it was easier to buy an Mbox2 Mini as an all-in-one unit.

[ChrisMetal]

What spec machine is it?

Do you use it for gaming too?

AMD athlon 64 FX-57 CPU 2.81GHz
2GB RAM DDR
Nvidia 9600 GT 512
200GB HDD

Gaming, hmm a bit, but not much, only a couple installed. I don't play often.

I have a Midiman Delta1010 thats surplus to requirements - it runs off a PCI card and has eight balanced analogue ins and eight balanced analogue outs (can record them simultaneously, so great for recording drums).

I'd let it go for £100.00 (only selling as I've not got a mixer anymore and it was easier to buy an Mbox2 Mini as an all-in-one unit.

How do you hook up the M-Audio Delta1010 to a mixer btw?