Which sound card would you recommend ?

[biuro74]

Hi,

I am going to change my sound card sooner or later but not because of it's old, not working, or something like this. I am p***ed off by Creative's development which is not able to write properly drivers for Windows 7 x64 and Audigy (SB0090). Example: well known bug with microphone (I've got 4 GB of RAM and I've got "robot" recorded voice more than "sometimes"), or lack of MIDI support.

My next card has to be not expensive, as I'm not intended to pay extra for something I've got already. It must offer just similar capabilities to Audigy: good sampling rate (24-bit/48 kHz is enough), similar noise level, ASIO timinigs. MIDI support is a need as I use this kind of interface. I've tried MIDI to USB cable once and I won't use it again. Maybe it was broken, I don't know. It can be used, it can be PCI or PCI-e version, no difference.

My system is: Windows 7 x64, Windows XP 32-bit (which I'd like to forget slowly), 4 GB RAM, 2.1 speakers Creative I-Trigue L-3450.

I am considering Turtle Beach Riviera at this moment.
Have you got your own ideas ?

P.S.
Yes, I've tried Damian_K modded drivers which are good except one thing: mic stopped working. It's silent now

 

[MaxP779]

Asus xonar dx/d1 or xonar ds.

 

[Marsman]

M-Audio 2496. For ASIO it will beat the pants off a Xonar. However it does cost 2 and a bit times the Riviera, which kind of rules it out as far as being cheap goes, unless you can get a bargain on the popular auction site.

DX/D1 and DS do not support MIDI. The D2 does, not cheap though.

 

[biuro74]

Asus xonar dx/d1 or xonar ds.

I'm not sure if D1, DS and DX do have MIDI. Asus website doesn't mention it, but there are plenty distributors who claim card is equipped with additional MIDI bracket. It might be mistake as on Ebay listings contain just TOSLINK bracket...