Recommend a USB soundcard for making FRD files?

[ByronInPortland]

Greetings all,
I built my speakers and the next step is measuring them so I can design a crossover.
I currently have:

• A Dayton Audio calibrated microphone and Phantom power supply
• A Dayton Audio DATS V3 for the ZMA files.
• An amplifier (of course)
• A laptop with a mono microphone which (I believe) can not play and record simultaneously.
• I intend to use ARTA.

So I need an external sound card. There are so many to choose from! Most are 5+ channels and most don't have the XLR input needed for the microphone. The amplifier takes unbalanced/RCA inputs. I don't know what to look for in a soundcard. What specs are important? I also don't want to spend more than . . . say . . . $100.

I'm hoping someone on this forum could just tell me what they are using, or would recommend.

Thanks in advance!

 

[Mark Tillotson]

I've used Scarlett Solo, has phantom power and one XLR mic input plus one 1/4 jack instrument input, plus line jacks on the rear, runs from USB without other power, compact. Used it for measurement for a while until I was tempted by the QA403...

 

[bwaslo]

I've had good experience with Presonus Studio c24, a USB2 soundcard. Has never missed a beat even at 192kHz sampleing, record and play are on a common clock source, doesn't need drivers in Windows, has 2 well-matched recording channels, XLR, phone jacks,. I believe the current model is c26, which I think has the same attributes.

 

[ByronInPortland]

Thank you both. I found a used Presonus Studio C24 for $80!