Audio for Vista Laptop -Edirol UA1EX? or XiFi Gold?

[KBbites]

Hi guys:
For now, I'm monitoring sounds from DAW etc thru headphones from the internal sound -hiss of the components can be heard. Not a fault of the newly purchased Parkard Bell lappy

So a USB audio device is considered.

First, Creative's Soundblaster X-Fi Gold - a USB stick capable of 24bit/48kHz - wow. Not expensive too, but does it work for music not games?

Then, they've got the E-mu - 0202 USB - a ASIO/ WDM compatible with zero latency monitoring! Guess I'll need this big box for real DAW?

Then, I remember the M-Audio - Transit seems nifty - but does it really support Vista?...hmm

After hours on the internet, I found nice features on - Edirol UA1EX - supports every driver/ OS and has got little volume knobs for headphones/ mic! wow! The price online seems pretty good for what it's capable of!

http://www.floridamusicco.com/proddetail~prod~ua1ex.htm

Is this the best bet for money guys?and where can I buy it here? Any tips? Thanks!

Thanks 4your time.

 

[KBbites]

No one can help ah?
BTW, talked to Creative people, the X-Fi is out as it does not support ASIO. FYI.
And I have written to SweeLee I think they sell Roland/ Edirol.

 

[Cheez]

What do you intend to do? Any recording? Or just monitoring/playback? What kind of software are you running (DAW software, VST plugins?)

 

[KBbites]

I think mostly software like Ableton and minimal recording for now - with headphones plugged directly into the lappy for monitoring
But will get a line out of it to a pair of speakers so I thought the sound wouldn't b dat great on speakers or even headphones. Will these external USB soundcards improve the sound drastically? Can you recommend one if so? Thanks

 

[Cheez]

If you are going to do just simple recording, any of the external soundcards from M-audio or Emu will do. It gives you relative good quality, and has ASIO. I suggest also looking at Echo Indigo. It's PCMCIA. Easy to use, and great quality. It has no preamp, though. But for simple recording and just starting out, it may suffice.

 

[KBbites]

If you are going to do just simple recording, any of the external soundcards from M-audio or Emu will do. It gives you relative good quality, and has ASIO. I suggest also looking at Echo Indigo. It's PCMCIA. Easy to use, and great quality. It has no preamp, though. But for simple recording and just starting out, it may suffice.

Thanks for your tip!:mrgreen:
Where can I get this Echo from and roughly how much? I think my lappy has only express card. I got this 17inch Vista quite cheap from the last PC show and now I'm trying to do a little audio with it!

 

[Cheez]

Can get Echo from Swizer. They do delivery to wherever is convenient for you. Go to the echo website (www.echoaudio.com) to find the contact for Swizer (Singapore distrubutor). The latest Indigo works with Express Card.

 

[KBbites]

Thanks a mil:mrgreen: