Dancing Dots
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Where Music Meets Technology for the blind
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Dancing Dots serves blind musicians and their educators through technology and training

Sound Cards from Dancing Dots

Dancing Dots sells and supports hardware accessories that we know are compatible with our audio production and notation software products. This page focuses on a number of high-end soundcards that not only sound great but which are screen-reader friendly as well. Use them with your current workstation or with one of our Dancing Dots Accessible Audio and Notation Workstation. If you're looking for MIDI musical keyboards and related devices, check out our MIDI equipment page too. By the way, even if you can see just fine and don't need to use a screen reader to make music with your PC, the soundcards below still sound great! Dancing Dots does have a number of sighted customers who order our soundcards and other mainstream products because they get top quality gear, it's competitively priced and sometimes because they realize that their support of our business helps blind musicians everywhere.

For best results with SONAR or Sound Forge, you should acquire a high-end soundcard to dedicate to processing the audio which you can record with any of the sound cards listed below. You will assign JAWS to exclusively use your PC's consumer soundcard such as a SOUNDBLASTER or other low-end audio card.

Online Purchasing

Microphones, Preamps and Mixers

If you wish to record with a microphone you may need a high-quality microphone pre-amp to boost the signal. Check the soundcard's specs to determine whether you need a preamp or not. You will not need a pre-amp to record an audio signal taken via line-in such as the line-out from a CD player or the audio out from an electronic keyboard.

By the way, an excellent workhorse of a microphone is the Shure Beta 58A Supercardioid Dynamic Microphone.

If you already own an audio mixer, you most likely do not need to order an Audio Buddy as your mixer has built-in pre-amps. If you're looking for an excellent multi-channel mixer, consider the Mackie 1202VLZ or the Mackie 1604 mixer.

Desktop Digital Audio Sound Cards

  • All are 24-bit/96kHz full-duplex.
  • Driver support across all platforms, OS and audio standards.
  • Low driver latency and zero-latency monitoring for unequalled performance.
Name Description Online Price Add to cart
M-Audio Fast Track Pro USB Audio Interface and MIDI Interface with 2 Phantom-powered Microphone/Line Inputs and Ableton Live Lite 4 Software -M-Powered Compatible.

The M-Audio FastTrack Pro is a great first audio interface - it makes high-quality recording possible, at an astoundingly affordable price! With it, you can take your musical ideas and visions and put them right into your computer via USB - the FastTrack Pro even includes recording software, so you can get editing and producing right away. There are two microphone inputs - perfect for singer-songwriters - and digital inputs and outputs, so it can even expand when you're ready. Choosing a first audio interface? The M-Audio FastTrack Pro is a great pick!

M-Audio FastTrack Pro USB Audio and MIDI Interface at a Glance:

  • Two phantom-powered microphone/line inputs, plus digital I/O
  • Listen to your music as you record - plus PC and Mac compatibility
  • Bundled Ableton Live Lite 4 and GT Express software
$199.97
M-Audio Fast Track The M-Audio Fast Track may just be the easiest way to record your guitar and voice with professional results. Just connect the Fast Track to the USB port of your computer, plug in your axe, and you're ready to rock. This portable USB audio interface also comes with great Pro Tools M-Powered Essential recording software, so you're ready for 16-track recording with 60+ virtual instrument sounds and included guitar effects! The full version of Pro Tools M-Powered is also compatible with the M-Audio Fast Track.

M-Audio Fast Track at a Glance:
  • Easy USB connection and quality 24-bit A/D transfer works with most computer hardware and software
  • Instrument/line and microphone inputs allow recording any audio source
  • Includes Pro Tools M-Powered Essential recording and effects software
  • Pro Tools M-Powered Compatible
$119.97
M-Audio Fast Track Ultra The Fast Track Ultra 8 x 8 audio/MIDI interface offers high-speed USB 2.0 connectivity, MX Core DSP mixer, and four preamps with award-winning Octane technology. Featuring both analog and digital I/O, it allows recording on all eight channels simultaneously with 24-bit/96kHz fidelity with low-latency. The on-board MX Core DSP mixer processes eight hardware inputs and eight software returns to the eight hardware outputs, delivering flexible routing and monitoring with delay and reverb. Record the way you want with the Fast Track Ultra.

M-Audio Fast Track Ultra Features:
  • 24-bit/96kHz professional audio on all I/O simultaneously
  • High-speed USB 2.0 interface
  • MX Core DSP technology
  • Digital effects processing with assignable parameters
  • Flexible channel routing options
  • Expands DSP mixing interface to 16 x 8
  • 4 preamps with award-winning M-Audio Octane technology
  • 4 XLR microphone inputs including 2 XLR/TRS combo jacks for mic or instrument level inputs
  • 20dB pad on each preamp
  • Signal/peak LED indicator lights
  • Phantom power
  • 6 balanced line inputs
  • 6 balanced analog outputs
  • 2 analog inserts
  • S/PDIF digital I/O
  • Built-in 1 x 1 MIDI interface
  • 2 independent headphone outputs with individual volume controls
  • Full ASIO 2.0, WDM, MME, and Core Audio support
  • Compatible with most major audio production software
  • USB bus power enables analog channels 1 and 2, S/PDIF I/O, and headphone output 1
  • Included power supply required for full 8 x 8 operation
$349.97
M-Audio Fast Track Ultra 8R

M-Audio's FastTrack 8R is a high-speed USB 2.0 interface boasting eight of M-Audio's acclaimed Octane preamps, so you can easily record an entire band at 24-bit/96kHz resolution with great results. Plus, the FastTrack 8R's onboard MX Core DSP technology offers you flexible channel routing, monitor submixing, and even effects routing, all for ultra-affordable price. Plus, it comes with a copy of Ableton Live Lite recording software so you can get starting writing, recording, and producing your music with the M-Audio FastTrack 8R right away.

M-Audio FastTrack 8R at a Glance:

  • Eight high-quality mic pres for full-band recordings
  • MX Core DSP technology for even more monitoring versatility
  • Ableton Live Lite recording software included
$499.97
1754 Quarry Lane P.O. Box 927 Valley Forge, PA 19482      P: 610 783-6692 F: 610 500-5072
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