Great, basic & inexpensive soundcard for Live performance?

[PaxImperial]

What's a great, basic, and inexpensive soundcard solely for live performance?

I only need (loud) master outs and headphone monitors (so, two stereo channels out).

is the m-audio fastrack my only option?

(I have a MOTU Ultralite but I use it for my studio and am tired of disconnecting and re-connecting it for every gig)

(I'm sure it's been asked a dozen times but I couldn't find a proper thread on this)

Thanks!

[Tarekith]

Check out the NI soundcards, way better than the M-Audio stuff, especially for Live use.

[subsynth]

Focusrite has some newness about to drop:

http://www.focusrite.com/products/audio ... rlett_8i6/

Already got mine on order. (And glad I didn't buy the Saffire 6 a few weeks ago!

[Brian Ffar]

I would also suggest the NI stuff.

I have the Audio 4 DJ for Traktor and I would imagine that it's a very workable solution for live performance being that it's bus powered/USB.

[wlkngmachine]

how does the sound quality on the NI soundcards compare to the MOTU ultralite? i have the ultralite too, i love the sound and bring it to tons of gigs but it might be nice to have something a little smaller. Btw, if you have already experienced the ultralite DO NOT get anything M-audio, i had a few of those including the fastrack and it was just the most bootleg piece of sh*t ive ever owned

[Tarekith]

I had an Ultralite and went with a NI Audio 4 DJ for awhile. The NI card is really close to the MOTU, for live use I'd have no hesitations at all in recommending it. I plan on picking up one of the new Audio 6 DJ's myself for playing out, don't want to bring the RME Fireface400 with me all the time.

[hijo de la pula]

And glad I didn't buy the Saffire 6 a few weeks ago!

Why not? I've had mine for almost a year now and I think it's fantastic.

[subsynth]

And glad I didn't buy the Saffire 6 a few weeks ago!

Why not? I've had mine for almost a year now and I think it's fantastic.

Since I didn't buy the Saffire I can now buy Focusrites new USB 2.0 offering, the scarlett, see my link in previous post.

[hijo de la pula]

Oh, OK, fair enough. I thought you had prior experience with the Saffire 6 USB and know something I don't.

[Coupe70]

Too bad NI dropped the Audio Kontrol 1 - it had
4 outputs like the NI DJ4, but a mic input and
monitoring section and the 3 buttons & the wheel
were a nice bonus...

[martin808]

if you have an express slot, echo indigo dj has good drivers, low latency, 2 stereo outputs and sounds great. I've used one for years and never had a problem.

I also have an echo audiofire2 which has a similar spec except with 2 inputs as well and I like that just as much.

[Moody]

^ Agreed, the Echo Indigo products are great for a simple setup that works.

[Brian Ffar]

I had an Ultralite and went with a NI Audio 4 DJ for awhile. The NI card is really close to the MOTU, for live use I'd have no hesitations at all in recommending it. I plan on picking up one of the new Audio 6 DJ's myself for playing out, don't want to bring the RME Fireface400 with me all the time.

I also have an Ultralite as well as the Audio DJ 4, and while I would imagine that the Ultralite components and build is overall better for a studio setting, it's probably not worth the risk of lugging such a nice piece of equipment out for a live set if you have something like an NI soundcard available.

[swishniak]

that new little apogee looks nice.

[Tarekith]

I had an Ultralite and went with a NI Audio 4 DJ for awhile. The NI card is really close to the MOTU, for live use I'd have no hesitations at all in recommending it. I plan on picking up one of the new Audio 6 DJ's myself for playing out, don't want to bring the RME Fireface400 with me all the time.

I also have an Ultralite as well as the Audio DJ 4, and while I would imagine that the Ultralite components and build is overall better for a studio setting, it's probably not worth the risk of lugging such a nice piece of equipment out for a live set if you have something like an NI soundcard available.

Exactly my thoughts, and the main reason I plan on getting another NI card for playing out. I know my FF400 is better, but the difference is not worth the risk of something happening to the good card.