Need help choosing a soundcard

[G-bo]

Hi folks,I need to pick someones brain about what sound card would be good for my computer setup.I'll try to be as through as I can here.I plan on recording my guitar straight into the computer and using guitar rig 3 so I guess I will need a direct box as I do not have the rig kontrol pedalboard,If I understand the program correctly it can be used as a plugin or a stand alone unit, and I will be picking up some kind of keyboard to trigger vsti's.This is what I have right now,the computer is an AMD dual core 4200+ with 2 gigs of memory,160 gig hard drive,running windows XP Pro with service pack 2.the sound card in it right now is a crappy soundblaster of some kind,I would like to run a half decent soundcard,I'm not making demo's here just recording for myself.As it is right now I cannot even get guitar rig to work without distorting really badly so what would you recommend for a decent soundcard?Oh don't know if it matters but the daw is Cubase SX-3.Thanks a lot folks,Cheers.

[TimOBrien]

THE guide with 'you cant go wrong' suggestions:

http://www.tweakheadz.com/soundcards_and_audio_interfaces.htm

(And you should bookmark and read the the ENTIRE guide, too...)

[G-bo]

Hey thanks a lot for the hookup to that great website,I think I've decided to go with an M-Audio 2496 it's a cheapie as far as sound cards go but looks like it will do everything that I need it for(recording guitar and Midi tracks)If anyone else is using this card now and wants to give their opinion good or bad would be glad to hear from you,more info the better I say.Cheers.

[TimOBrien]

Nothing cheapie about that card; its a good starter card that'll give good sound.

The classic trio in that group are the M-Audio2496, the Emu0404 and the Echo Mia (I started out with a Mia). All great 'no fail' cards.