Need new external sound card

[Ada]

Heyo!

My "M-Audio Fast Track Mk II" is not sufficient anymore because I now need a soundcard that can deliver audio to RCA and headphones (3.5mm or tele) simultaneously. The "Fast Track" mutes the RCA output when I connect headphones and the sound card is hidden away in a box so it's not easy accessible.

So basically all I need from the soundcard is good audio and stable drivers. Any recommendations? I feel completely lost. Microphone jacks and all that jazz is not required and I don't really need anything else than stated above. Looking for most affordable solution that would work for me. Thanks in advance!

Would Creative Sound Blaster X-Fi HD work or is that some solution for home entertainment rather than for mixing?

[zosomagik]

I use a saffire 6 and I like it. The device you mentioned seems legit, but are you talking mixing as in DJ'ing? or like mixing down your own productions?

[outbound]

I use a saffire 6 and I like it. The device you mentioned seems legit, but are you talking mixing as in DJ'ing? or like mixing down your own productions?

Second'ing the Saffire 6!

[zosomagik]

I use a saffire 6 and I like it. The device you mentioned seems legit, but are you talking mixing as in DJ'ing? or like mixing down your own productions?

Second'ing the Saffire 6!

Yeah it's good, and plus if you're talking about like DJ mixing you're gonna want something with 4 outputs so you can audition tracks and the saffire 6 has a button where your can turn the headphone outputs to 3/4

[Tom_Autobot]

Sorry lads, but the saffire 6 is one of the worst external cards you can have! Its completely outdated.
It was one of the first multichannel interfaces, but Its only usb 1.1, so latency times are awful for modern production. The conversion quality has come a long way since they brought them out too.

Focusrite knew that it was outdated, hence why they were replaced it with the USB 2.0 Scarlett series, which are fantastic value for what you get. There are better devices, but you cant knock the Scarletts for bang for buck.

You'll be able to run more than twice as many instruments and plugins at low latency settings (so you dont get a notiable delay when you play something in) with a Scarlett than with a Saffire 6.

Change the Scarlett for something like an RME and you can triple the ammount.

[Tom_Autobot]

if you just want a couple of outputs, the Native Instruments Traktor Audio 2 is bargain.

[zosomagik]

I've had problems with my scarlett, and my saffire 6 has never let me down. Also, I've never had any latency problems with it.

[erratech]

I had a lot of problems with my saffire 6, terrible. I just upgraded to the NI Audio 6 and it goes pretty well for what it is. Tom Autobot works for one of the tiny handful of companies that does proper latency testing of soundcards, their charts are great if you can find them. Company is Scan Audio i think.