Setups under US$200.00

[notesetter]

Anyone have suggestions for a simple audio/MIDI setup under US$200.00? I've just started my adventure with Ubuntu Studio 7.10 (brand new to Linux) and I'm running it on a 4 year old Compaq Presario 2100. These are some of my specs:

2 ghz pentium
80 gb HD
256 MB RAM (probably upgrading to the maximum 1GB at the first chance I get)
2 USB 1.1 compliant ports--no firewire :(

My initial thinking is that I'll go with a used Tascam US-122 Audio/MIDI interface. Is there anyone on the forum who has had any luck with one of those? Any other suggestions within budget?

Thanks,

Dave

[disturbed1]

$200 is pretty tight :D

You need of course more RAM, maybe and extra HD, and a good sound card, or at least midi input card.


What type of projects are you looking to do? Input sources and final plans for output.

[notesetter]

I'm really just looking to put down ideas and get familiar with Ardour and Rosegarden. I've done very little audio engineering (although I know the kinds of things I want to do.) What I'm really looking for is a basic Audo/MIDI USB interface, probably used, that I know will work in Ubuntu. I don't need to record more than one track at a time, and I don't have a ton of gear to hook up to the MIDI ports. Of course, eventually I'd like to be running a big rig through a 64 bit system with dual processors and like 8 gigs of RAM, but I'd better learn to make a smaller setup sound decent first. I'm really just looking to learn the ropes here.

Input sources:

MIDI Keyboard
Roland Guitar Synth (balanced line outs)
Electric Guitar with effects (balanced line outs)
Classical guitar
Sure SM57 vocal/instrument mic (probably not going to record myself singing)

Output:

Short instrumentals using between 2 and 8 tracks (stereo), mostly in rock trio format (Drums/Guitar/Bass) and some acoustic across a wide range of stylistic genres.

Any ideas?

Thanks

Dave

[angelsguitar]

I'm using an M-Audio Delta 1010LT card with Ubuntu Studio 7.10. It has Audio and MIDI interface built in. Sells for around $200 new but you can get a used one for a lot less (try Ebay:))

If you really don't need a lot of inputs and outputs, another good alternative is an M-Audio Audiophile 2496. It records up to 24bit 96Khz and has built in MIDI. It sells for around $100 new. Maybe that leaves you some cash for a memory and/or Hard Disk update.