Audio Interface Question????

[matb123]

Hi all, currently been looking into getting an audio interface as my onboard sound driver is shite and asio just doesn't seem to be cutting it for me.

My main problem is I am unable to produce atm, when i add more than 2 tracks in a sequencer with a few effects on (nothing big, couple eq's, filters etc...) it stops playing and tells me my computer/audio driver is unable to process.

On my asio settings I have turned my buffer size up as I have been told this helps sometimes with this problem, it has helped a fair bit but not enough as like I said i can only have a couple tracks playing before my computer/audio driver cannot handle it.

I have heard this could be because of my sound driver is not good enough, i dont think it is my computer spec as I have 2gb RAM and i know a few people that have the same amount RAM without experiencing any of these problems.

Please correct me if I am wrong in thinking that buying an audio interface/sound driver will fix the problem??
If I am wrong could you please let me know how I could fix this problem?
Thanks.

[matb123]

Any suggestions please???

[IK Obi]

Yeah buying a dedicated external Soundcard will help. Especially with your Asio. What budget are you looking at spending and we can recommend some good ones for you.

[Syrebral]

I know it's probably a bit old now, but I bought a Native Instruments Audio Kontrol 1 for about AUD$300, it hasn't skipped a beat the entire time I've used it. USB plug'n'play, 4 outputs, decent line-in and mic set-up. Keep in mind I'm using a quad-core PC to produce on too, so the audio interface is assisted with latency and overall load by the power of my computer. Something to think about perhaps, but whatever you buy, read reviews and go with your gut. I did and I wouldn't look back. Don't know how I got on without the AK1 actually.

[matb123]

Yeah buying a dedicated external Soundcard will help. Especially with your Asio. What budget are you looking at spending and we can recommend some good ones for you.

Hmm say about 150 quid?? Also, i know this is a very newbish question but one that i still need answering... How would i set up Asio with an external soundcard because in a DAW, say FL for example, I would go into the audio options and set my input device as the external soundcard rather than Asio?? So how do you get the two to work together if thats what you meant??

Thanks for your time, appreciated

[matb123]

I know it's probably a bit old now, but I bought a Native Instruments Audio Kontrol 1 for about AUD$300, it hasn't skipped a beat the entire time I've used it. USB plug'n'play, 4 outputs, decent line-in and mic set-up. Keep in mind I'm using a quad-core PC to produce on too, so the audio interface is assisted with latency and overall load by the power of my computer. Something to think about perhaps, but whatever you buy, read reviews and go with your gut. I did and I wouldn't look back. Don't know how I got on without the AK1 actually.

Yeah that sounds like exactly what i need to be honest! Basically im looking for an audio interface/soundcard that helps with the latency and skipping/stopping issues and one that also has inputs for a mic.