   cost efficient professional quality soundcard
  A while back I bought an creative Audigy 2, thinking it was at least at the prosumer level (advertised with asio support), of course I should have realized that consumer level cards of phased out midi input and decent analog OR digital input. I've found that synchronized recording is nearly impossible even with the asio drivers in use and very little else going on in the machine, and the analog in is really bad and results in a fuzzy noise (mind you i dont have a breakout box).I've been looking at getting one of the M-Audio Delta series, since they're mostly fairly affordable, unfortunately their models with their own breakout boxes seem geared only for audio recording and no midi, and I don't plan to buy 2 cards -.-Oh yeah, my actual question was something like what sort of gear have the _Hobbyists_ (read: not pros who buy expensive stuff for work, or have access to a studio) have, and are they satisfied with their setups?   
  Being a "pros who buy expensive stuff and has his own studio", i will attempt to answer your question anyway...you are always welcome to disregard, if you like.For really nice MIDI recording, I have liked the MOTU products.  The MOTU Fast Lane USB gives you 2xin and 2xout for MIDI and under $80.  For about $240 you can go for the MOTU MIDI Express 128 which gives you 8xin and 8xout.  I have used the older version of this piece and have had great success with it.  Check out this link at Sweetwater.  They give some fair prices and have a good selection:http://www.sweetwater.com/shop/computer-audio/midi_interfaces/;  Sounds good for midi (the fastlane), but my budget is like 250 bucks for audio+midi, and i'd still need a competent solution for audio recording   ;  I've used a good bit of things in the past and to this day can't believe Im saying this. (due to bad past experience"If you want a nice all around setup for cheap, buy a Sound Blaster Audigy ZS platinum Pro.You will plug it in and go. you wont have to worry about driver issues EVER. plus its not a bad product.;  I have an M-Audio Audiophile 24/96. I am happy with this card, and this card also can run protools M-Powered, which is a plus. I would highly suggest this card.Sean   ;  My secondary soundcard (Besides my RME Hammerfall HDSP + Multiface) is an Edirol UA-25.  Two audio inputs including phantom power and Hi-z, MIDI in and out, USB powered, ASIO drivers, direct monitoring, reasonable latency.  And the mic preamps don't even suck that badly.  Pretty good all-in-one box to help you do almost everything you'd want to do with audio.  It's a nice solution that'll last you a while into the future.;Quote:Original post by Anonymous PosterI have an M-Audio Audiophile 24/96. I am happy with this card, and this card also can run protools M-Powered, which is a plus. I would highly suggest this card.SeanOn a slightly different note, how does this card cope with typical game applications? Specifically 3D APIs, reverb models, and the like. I am probably going to get this card in the near future but wonder about whether I'll need something else for gaming requirements.