[vox-tech] Best Linux Audio Cards (PCIe? USB?)

[ME]

No responses? Bummer. I'll be impolite and impatient, and reply to my own
message...  (Since archived messages help others...)

Maybe listing specific items will generate discussion...

There was discussion in Feb 2005, in the creative forums, of a new card
that was supposed to be for "PCIe x1" that was to be called Zenith
http://tinyurl.com/d8k5o as a tiny URL for
http://forums.creative.com/creativelabs/board/message?board.id=soundblaster&message.id=10044&query.id=172989

Come Sept, 2005, this product is not listed at
http://www.creative.com/products/welcome.asp?category=1&

There was talk of a Audigy 3 that was supposed to be PCIe x1, but an
article from late 2004 stated that there were no plans for an Audigy 3
with PCIe support. http://www.theinquirer.net/?article=19702

As for USB...

I see the Audigy 2 NX (Priced ~ $70 ands up)
http://tinyurl.com/46aot tiny URL for:
http://www.creative.com/products/product.asp?category=1&subcategory=204&product=9103
Shown as supported:
http://www.qbik.ch/usb/devices/showdevcat.php?id=7
http://www.qbik.ch/usb/devices/showdev.php?id=2375

and the Audigy 2 ZS (Priced ~ $220 and up)
http://tinyurl.com/9m63s tiny URL for:
http://www.creative.com/products/product.asp?category=1&subcategory=204&product=11226
Stated as working:
http://www.linuxquestions.org/questions/showthread.php?s=&threadid=361056

(USB) EDIROL UA-1X (Price ~ $70)
http://music.columbia.edu/pipermail/linux-audio-user/2003-December/008279.html
http://www.thomann.de/artikel-165708.html?sn=7602194ba738aebac6eab165bbcb000f

According to kernel docs, these require firmware from manufacturer to work:
TASCAM US-122 USB Audio/Midi Interface w/Phantom (Priced ~ $170 and up)

Tascam US224 Dig Audio Workstation USB Interface (Priced ~ $180 and up)

Tascam US428 Dig Audio Workstation USB Interface (Priced ~ $300 and up)

Comments? Suggestions?

TIA
-ME

ME said:
> Hello LUGOD Members,
>
> An associate of mine has purchased a system with 2 PCI slots (now occupied
> with cards) 1 PCIe x1, 1 PCIe x4 and 1 PCIe x8 slots (which are unused.)
> The machine has no audio on-board or as a card.
>
> (I realized the primary targets for PCIe have been throughput-intensive
> hardware such as Video Cards, FireWire, and Gig/10Gig Ethernet.)
>
> For conveinience, it would be nice to have a sound card be internal.
>
> I do not see any PCIe Sound cards on the market. Do any of you know of
> any? (If they exist, they must work with Linux.)
>
> Assuming no PCIe audio cards are on the market, there is the option of
> USB. Anyone have favorable experience with USB sound "cards" and Linux?
> Best devices would not require 3rd-party drivers, but would be able to use
> existing stock kernel drivers/modules.
>
> The USB Audigy2 (Creative) has received praise from some users on /.
> Looking through the 2.6.13 kernel config, I see support through ALSA for
> "Tascam US-122, US-224 and US-428 USB drivers" but these appear to require
> firmware updates with usx2yloader.
>
> Going with OSS vs. ALSA does not matter as much as "working with Linux."
> Best:     No 3rd party drivers or firmware. Works with Stock Kernel.
> 2nd Best: 3rd party drivers and/or firmware updates
> Worst:    Nothing. No sound.
>
> Suggestions welcome.
>
> Thanks!
> -ME
>
>
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