Travis you can get good results with USB interfaces if you are using a two channel interface. If you want 8 or more inputs there are USB ones but you'd be much better off with firewire. So define your needs.

jg49, post: 353289 wrote: Travis you can get good results with USB interfaces if you are using a two channel interface. If you want 8 or more inputs there are USB ones but you'd be much better off with firewire. So define your needs.

Thanks for the info, I have asked on a few forums and I am starting to get an idea, I can't imagine I will need to record any more than two channels at once currently.

So USB will surfice now I am just not sure what makes are good.

I am considering this:
[[url=http://[/URL]="http://www.thomann…"]CAKEWALK UA-25 EX CW - U.K. International Cyberstore[/]="http://www.thomann…"]CAKEWALK UA-25 EX CW - U.K. International Cyberstore[/]

I've also looked at focusrite,E-MU and MSI. I am not sure what is best, any ideas?

I am looking for:
Recording bass, guitar and vocals (seperatley) (max: 2 at once)
RCA Phono Output (to go to my amp for my monitor speakers)
Headphone out with volume control (two would be nice but not necessary)
Good audio and build quality

travismoore, post: 353279 wrote: ... but there is no way to get a Firewire port on my laptop (has no PCI slot).

Gotta do your homework or you limit yourselve:

[[url=http://[/URL]="http://www.sweetwat…"]SIIG 2-port Cardbus FireWire Adapter | Sweetwater.com[/]="http://www.sweetwat…"]SIIG 2-port Cardbus FireWire Adapter | Sweetwater.com[/]

I have never used this card, but it will allow you to expand your options...well, the overall cost too;)

Space, post: 353303 wrote: Gotta do your homework or you limit yourselve:

[[url=http://[/URL]="http://www.sweetwat…"]SIIG 2-port Cardbus FireWire Adapter | Sweetwater.com[/]="http://www.sweetwat…"]SIIG 2-port Cardbus FireWire Adapter | Sweetwater.com[/]

I have never used this card, but it will allow you to expand your options...well, the overall cost too;)

I had already looked at these but my laptop does not have a slot for them.

I have never used any Cakewalk equipment but neither have I heard anything bad about them. Most of the interfaces in that price range are not much different from each other in quality, certainly not an OMG difference anyway. This has all the features I would be looking for. It has a built in compressor/limiter not sure if this is a good thing or not, my thought is every extra they put in is some corner that gets cut elsewhere but once again I don't think in this range there are huge differences

The interface in question is a repackaged "Edirol", so it isn't something Cakewalk has built.

But directly to the op's question...what kind of notebook do you have that does not incorporate a pcmcia slot, or maybe it is an express card slot?

Even the express card slot can be fitted with a firewire card.

Space, post: 353314 wrote: The interface in question is a repackaged "Edirol", so it isn't something Cakewalk has built.

But directly to the op's question...what kind of notebook do you have that does not incorporate a pcmcia slot, or maybe it is an express card slot?

Even the express card slot can be fitted with a firewire card.

I have an Acer 5732z (the one with 4GB ram and a 500GB HDD). All it has in the way of slots is a 5-in-1 card reader