Dancing Dots
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. The Delta 1010LT has 2 integrated pre-amps but you may wish to add an Audio Buddy if you require more than that.

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 2 balanced outputs(TRS), 4 unbalanced outputs(RCA), 2 front panel mic/instrument preamp inputs, insert jack(1/4 in TRS)

The Fast Track Pro delivers all the mobile recording flexibility of the Fast Track USB, plus even more professional features. You get 2 front-panel mic/line inputs complete with phantom power for condenser microphones, inserts for outboard effects balanced and unbalanced analog outputs, S/PDIF digital I/O, MIDI I/O, and more. Fast Track Pro also features near-zero latency direct hardware monitoring and low-latency ASIO software monitoring, plus an A/B source switch and dual output pairs for DJ-style cueing. Fast Track Pro is compatible with most popular PC and Mac music software. USB connection and bus power along with class compliancy for Mac OS X* make it a breeze to set up.

$199.95
Delta 1010LT PCI 8x8 Unbalanced Analog I/O, S/PDIF I/O, MIDI I/O

The Delta 1010LT delivers much of the same universal connectivity, high fidelity and seamless performance as the popular Delta 1010 on a single PCI card--and at a fraction of the price. Multiple analog I/O, MIDI, S/PDIF and surround sound support are all here. Two inputs even have mic/line preamps on XLR connectors, saving the expense of outboard preamps. It's all on a compact, half-size PCI card with two color-coded breakout cables. Combine up to four Deltas in your system for a maximum of 32 analog and four stereo S/PDIF inputs and outputs.

$199.95
Delta Audiophile 2496 PCI PCI 2x2 Analog I/O with MIDI & S/PDIF I/O

The Audiophile 2496 PCI embodies a quantum leap in computer audio fidelity and performance unequalled by other audio cards in its price range. This critically acclaimed PCI card features premium digital audio converters, elegant board design and ultra-stable drivers just like the rest of the Delta line, but with a simpler I/O configuration. As a member of the Delta family, the Audiophile 2496 supports all computer platforms and major software programs, ensuring seamless integration and rock-solid performance. See why the Audiophile 2496 PCI is one of the best-selling digital audio cards in the industry.

How does it sound? In a word, stunning. This has to be one of the best sounding cards we've had in for review - Computer Music

$99
Presonus Firebox

The Firebox is the most powerful 24-bit/96k FireWire recording interface that fits in the palm of your hand. The Firebox is a complete 24bit/96k personal recording studio with PreSonus microphone/instrument preamplifiers and 24-bit/96k sample rate. SONAR is one of the many digital audio workstation software applications which the Firebox supports. The perfect hardware and software combination for a professional quality, powerful, yet compact personal computer-based studio.

$299
Delta 1010 PCI 8x8 Balanced/Unbalanced Analog I/O, S/PDIF I/O, MIDI I/O

Recognized around the world as the top choice in host-based PCI digital audio solutions, the rack-mount Delta 1010 is designed to handle the needs of the most demanding project and professional studios. Superb engineering and ultra-high quality converters deliver fidelity surpassing systems that cost many times more. Multiple inputs accommodate recording numerous tracks simultaneously, including zero-latency monitoring for seamless overdubs. Multiple outs route individual tracks or soft synth/sampler timbres to a mixing console, or directly drive up to 7.1 surround sound systems. The analog outs also remain live for monitoring while mixing or transferring digital signals via S/PDIF. MIDI I/O rounds out everything you need to take advantage of today's music software. Combine several 1010s for as much I/O as you need.

None can match its audio specification: the 1010 is the best sounding 8-in/8-out soundcard I've reviewed to date. Sound on Sound

$449
Delta 44 PCI 4x4 Analog I/O

Need a great sounding audio interface without digital I/O? The Delta 44 offers the same features and high performance as the Delta 66, but is designed for the user who does not require digital I/O. And like its big brother, the Delta 44's breakout box handles four balanced/unbalanced, +4dBu or -10dBV signal level analog inputs and outputs. You get the same 24-bit/96kHz fidelity, industry-standard driver support and bulletproof operation as is found across the entire Delta family.

$149
Delta 66 PCI 4x4 Analog I/O, S/PDIF I/O

The Delta 66 delivers 24-bit/96kHz to your desktop, complete with digital I/O for pristine file transfers and surround sound pass-through. The rugged external breakout box gives you the convenience of making connections to the four 1/4" TRS analog inputs and outputs right on your desktop - no more fumbling behind the computer. Need more professional connectivity? Simply add the critically acclaimed Omni i/o for a full personal studio solution.

$189

Laptop or Desktop Digital Audio Sound Cards

Presonus Firebox

  • 2 analog line inputs, 6 analog line outputs
  • 2 2 PreSonus microphone/instrument preamplifiers
  • S/PDIF input/output, Low latency monitoring
  • Headphone output Powered via FireWire bus or externally
  • MIDI input/output
  • Compatible with Cakewalk SONAR and other popular multi-track software.

The FIREBOX has the highest record/playback track count of its size with the ability to record six inputs and playback through ten outputs simultaneously all at pro-quality 24-bit/96kHz. Two ultra-low noise high-headroom microphone/instrument preamplifiers with 48V phantom power are on the front panel for quickly and easily connecting your favorite microphones and instruments. The FIREBOX also includes a high quality stereo headphone output with volume adjustment on the front panel. The headphone output has its own two-channel driver stream which can be used as a separate stereo bus or two-channel output giving you the ability to send a “cue” mix to the headphone output and a main mix to the main output. Two additional balanced TRS line inputs are located on the rear of the FIREBOX along with six balanced TRS line outputs. Two channels of S/PDIF input/output and MIDI input/output are also included via DB9 breakout cable. A software router/mixer is also included for further flexibility and power. The 1/3U-wide metal chassis of the FIREBOX is designed to fit the MAXRACK rack-mounting system from PreSonus and can be racked with the TubePRE, COMP16, EQ3B and HP4 for a neat and compact computer recording system. The FIREBOX works with both four and six-pin FireWire (IEEE 1394) connectors and can be powered by either 6-pin FireWire bus power, or powered by an external power transformer. The Windows XP and Macintosh compatible FIREBOX supports Cubase, and is also compatible with many popular ASIO/WDM and Core Audio based applications including Logic, Sonar, Audition, Digital Performer and others.

List Price: $499.95, Our Online Price $299


M-Audio Audio Buddy

Ultra quiet, phantom powered dual mic preamp and direct box.

List Price: $119.95, Our Online Price $89

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