Audio recording drives! Creative!

[BrokenKingdom]

Ok haha I'm hopeing to get more advice on this thread then I did on my last thread here.

I'm looking for an internal drive similar to Creative Live! drive! something I would be able to hook an EQ up to or hook my guitar directly into on the front of my PC.

I've seen these in person and know people who have owned them and I've only heard wonderful things about them. Problem is I've lost touch with these people from my recent move and have absolutly no info on them.

What would be a good product to buy? Where could I buy it? How much would a decent product run for (US$)? ect. ect. I don't want to break the bank and at the moment with the recent move and all I'm a bit strapped for cash.

I'm looking to spend about $200ish.

Thanks!

[TwoRails]

Sounds like you might be looking for some M-Audio product(s). See if this is what you're looking for:

http://www.m-audio.com/index.php?do=products.family

and

http://www.m-audio.com/index.php?do=products.list&ID=pciinterfaces

[BrokenKingdom]

TwoRails = the best. :) Thanks!

As far as pci cards go I'm thinking about this one Audiophile 2496 (http://www.m-audio.com/products/en_us/Audiophile2496-main.html) because it's cheaper then the 192 on that site haha.

Is that a good choice?

I am looking for a condenser mic, would you have any recomendations as far as that goes? Would I need a mic pre amp? And someone once told me that it's almost a necessity to have an amp for the headphones and mentioned "syphonpower" or something like that? Is that true?

I will only be recording acoustic guitar(My new Martin DCX1E!! :) ) and vocals(My new..wait no.. same old vocals)

[TwoRails]

From what little I know about them, BrokenKingdom, I think they are pretty good. I know they have been recommended here at the Forums. The next level up would be very expensive and crossing over to Pro stuff.

I did a Forum search on "2496" and there are some good thread to read, if you like.

Don't know how fussy you want to be (recreation? demos? etc) but if it's just for very casual use, and you're a gamer, you can use something like an Audigy 2. You can hook up a mixer to them, but you are stuck with 2 channel recording.

[BrokenKingdom]

Hmm no I don't think 2 channels will be enough ;)

Well I'm an acoustic musician and as of right now I only have on-board audio and a computer mic. So needless to say anything I make sounds like it was recorded inside of a jet engine after throwing pots and pans in its intake while in the middle of a thunder storm as animals are.... well you get the idea it, sounds like dooky.

I've searched for that card and everything i've read says its great so I think I'll take my chances with it. Thanks for the help! :)