I need a reliable external sound card to use with Ableton...

[sureshot111]

I have just given up on my current sound card, a Maya 44 USB. It crashes Ableton after about the 3rd use after install and doesn't recover.

So I need a recommendation for an external usb soundcard with 4 outputs minimum (2 x phono). I'm not a rich man either so any modestly priced recommendations would be greatly appreciated guys.

Thanks in advance.

[buzby]

i dont know the price range of the various Motu soundcards but i have a traveler and im happy as a pig in shit with it - there are smaller cheaper ones also - in my humble opinion, excellent pre-amps for the price for the price of the soundcard

i also have a NI AK1 - the dj4 or 8 might be more what you are after - again, i dont know the current prices

used to own a lexicon omega - nice interface - i think in affordable price range

might be a good idea to specify your price range

hope this helps

[$4mU3l]

I have just given up on my current sound card, a Maya 44 USB. It crashes Ableton after about the 3rd use after install and doesn't recover.

So I need a recommendation for an external usb soundcard with 4 outputs minimum (2 x phono). I'm not a rich man either so any modestly priced recommendations would be greatly appreciated guys.

Thanks in advance.

Rock solid pre-amps, drivers and cases:

http://www.rme-audio.de/products_fireface_400.php

http://www.motu.com/products/motuaudio/ultralite-mk3
(They offer a 75€ summer-discount until 15th of September)

Granted, these interfaces aren't the cheapest but from my experince it's not recommended to waste you money for "beginner" crap. As you will get nothing on eBay for those cheap devices if you recognize it's crap or you want to have something more professional one day. I also know that well programmed drivers like the RME drivers will also save you a lot of cpu consumption. Therefore it's also a naive calculation... Stronger cpu or high quality audio interface...

O.K...I've got also an affordable suggestion with a respectable performance:

http://www.emu.com/products/product.asp?product=15185

[sureshot111]

Excellent response guys, I'm looking into all the suggestions and more are welcome, especially those along the lines of the E-MU and it's decent priced tag.

Thanks