The world of audio recording and processing hardware is large and, bewildering, and it uncomfortably straddles both the analog and digital worlds. It’s not always clear if a particular device will work with a computer, or what devices are necessary for digital audio recording.
This appendix contains a sampling of sound cards, mixers, analog-to-digital/digital-to-analog converters, microphones, and portable digital recorders in various price ranges to give you an idea of what is available. This is far from a comprehensive catalog, but hopefully it will give you a good start in understanding audio gear.
The simplest Audacity recording setup needs three things: a computer running Audacity, an analog-to-digital/digital-to-analog converter, and some kind of interface to connect microphones or musical instruments to your ADC/DAC. This could be as simple as a laptop and a microphone. You can start out cheap and simple and build up over time as you want.
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I like PCI and PCI-e for very fast, trouble-free multichannel recording. PCI-e is faster than PCI, because each PCI-e slot has its down dedicated bus while PCI devices share bandwidth. Both are excellent and least-hassle.
PCMCIA interfaces are for laptops. PCI, PCI-e, and PCMCIA often require separate breakout boxes for connecting mics, mixers, preamps, and other devices. Some of them, in place of breakout boxes, use breakout cable bundles.
- Digigram VX222HR
24-bit/192 kHz ADC/DAC, 2/2 stereo balanced analog and digital I/O, includes breakout cables. $550. Windows and Linux.
- M-Audio Delta 44
24-bit/96 kHz ADC/DAC, 4-in/4-out balanced and unbalanced 1/4″ TRS, includes breakout box. $149. Windows, Linux, and Mac.
- M-Audio Delta 1010LT
8 × 8 analog I/O, S/PDIF, 24/96 kHz ADC/DAC, word clock for accurate device synchronization, 2 mic/line preamps. Includes breakout cable bundle. If you want to connect more than two mics you’ll need an external preamp. $199. Windows, Linux, and Mac.
- M-Audio Delta 1010
24/96 ADC/DAC, 10-in/10-out rackmount breakout box, 7.1 surround playback, S/PDIF in and out, word clock for accurate device synchronization. Includes breakout box and cables. $799. Windows, Linux, and Mac.
- AudioScience ASI5641
Professional digital-only sound card with four stereo/eight mono AES/EBU inputs and outputs, 24/96 kHz ADC/DAC. Requires a breakout box. Price is about $1,295, plus $295 for a breakout box. Windows and Linux.
- RME Hammerfall Multiface II
The RME Hammerfall Multiface II audio interface is a high-end multichannel recording interface with multiple computer interface options: their own HDSP PCI, PCI-e, and PCMCIA cards. See the PCMCIA section for more information on the Multiface II. The HDSP PCI/PCI-e cards cost around $300.
- Digigram VXPocket 440
PCMCIA, S/PDIF stereo input and output, 24/48 kHz ADC/DAC, two balanced mic/line inputs, includes breakout cables. $650. Windows and Linux.
- RME Hammerfall DSP Cardbus + Multiface II
The RME HDSP PCMCIA Cardbus Type II is the laptop interface card for the Multiface II audio interface. It delivers extremely low latency, high bandwidth, and low CPU load. $400. Windows, Linux, and Mac.
The Multiface II has 24/96 kHz ADC/DAC, 8 analog I/O, 1 ADAT, 1 S/PDIF, word clock, 1 stereo analog output for headphones or stereo mix out, 16-channel MIDI. It goes for around $800, and you can often find it bundled with the RME HDSP for around $1100. You’ll need a separate preamp to connect microphones.
There are also PCI and PCI-e interfaces for the Multiface II.