E-MU 0404

My rating is because this is sort of like a tale of two E-MU's. When I first got it I was running WinXP and found this unit to be easy to set up and use, not to mention that it sounded great. Then I replaced my machine with a new notebook running Vista. E-MU does not work and play well with Vista. Much as I liked it when I first got it, I've given up on the idea of ever using it again.

External USB2.0 connected interface with 2 mic/line/guitar inputs, digital IO, and balanced and unbalanced monitor outs along with MIDI in and out. Comes with a lot of bundled software, including Proteus VX.

Preamps sound okay, but not equal for example to my Presonus TubePre. For other info, see above.

AC adapter, no battery power. It does have phantom power, but I don't know if it really is 48v

Sonar, Cubase, Proteus VX, Wavelab, Amplitube, Ableton Live

As I said before, in XP this unit was great, but is absolutely useless with Vista. If you're running XP, go for it. I've heard that E-MU is telling dealers they're having a lot of trouble writing drivers to use any of their products with Vista, so...

Not only would I not replace it if stolen, I'm in the process of selling the one I have.

The Creative E-MU 0404 recording interface features Patch Mix DSP internal patch bay, and is a very usefull for recording on a home computer with professional results. The unit ships with Cubase LE and Wavelab Lite and some other recording based applications. I have been using the Creative E-MU 0404 for years and have had great results condidering the low price I paid for it, only 79 bucks! The onboard DSP is great for adding professional effects processing to Amplitube 2 without any drain on the CPU. I can record with zero latency even after adding VST effects in Cubase. Here is some more general info from the Creative E-MU website that sums it up pretty well-
The E-Mu 0404 PCI Digital Audio Recording System is a 24-bit/192kHz* PCI audio interface that delivers everything you need to record, mix, and play back audio on your PC with hardware-accelerated effects and soft mixing. It works with all major PC audio and sequencer applications offering faultless analog and digital I/O, pristine sound quality, and all the hardware-accelerated effects, mixing, and monitoring of E-MU's popular 1820M, 1820, and 1212M Digital Audio Systems.
I/O includes 1/4" analog, optical and coaxial S/PDIF, and MIDI. 24-bit/192kHz* A/D/A converters deliver an incredible 111dB (A/D) and 116dB (D/A) signal-to-noise ratio. E-DSP hardware acceleration taken from E-MU's more expensive systems gives you an effects processor that can deliver over 16 simultaneous hardware-accelerated effects. The E-DSP processor frees your computer from running CPU-intensive plug-ins to boost performance. It ships with over 500 effects presets with allowances to add more plug-ins to your system as needed.
E-DSP also provides zero-latency, hardware-based mixing and monitoring via the included PatchMix DSP mixer, so no external mixer is needed. The E-MU 0404 ships with ASIO 2.0 and WDM drivers, Steinberg Cubasis, Steinberg WaveLab Lite, SFX Machine LT, and a trial version of Minnetonka's diskWelder BRONZE.
The 0404 PCI ships with the Power FX software update, giving users the ability to run over 600 hardware-accelerated effects as VST plug-ins for Cubase and other applications. Power FX also introduces EMU's first expansion plug-in, with more reverb and delay effects.

The card type interface is PCI, and takes up only 1 slot internal. It does have some breakout cables for input 1/4 inch, Midi in/out/and optical. I use it like a virtual tape recorder just like a real studio. Easy to setup right out of the box.

It does have some breakout cables for inputs that are 1/4 inch standard Hz, Midi in/out/and optical. I use it like a virtual tape recorder just like a real studio. Easy to setup right out of the box. I use a Tascam 4 track mixer as a preamp. "You will need a preamp to record with this unit" Use a mixer, or a guitar preamp, or just line out off of any preamp. 2 inputs left/right, 2 outputs left/right. Each input is actually 2 stereo inputs! because you use ASIO, And ASIO is stereo! You are onlly limited to how many tracks you can record and play back given your processor speed and memory. I plug the left/right outputs on the 0404, dirrectly into my studio monitors. This is really cool for listening to web playback and video too. You can add a limiter amp and a compressor for web playback using Patch Mix DSP.

This unit is powered by the PCI slot "bus Powered", so it doesnt require any other power supply. Has no mic or line preamps though like I said above, so you will need a preamp to record mic/line inputs.

ADAT No
AES EBU No
ASIO Yes
Analog Inputs 2
Analog Outputs 2
Audio Formats WDM, ASIO
Audio Formats Other No
Bus Type Connectivity PCI - Desktop
Core Audio No
Digital IO spdif
Digital IO Other No
Digital Ins 2
Digital Outputs 2
Direct Sound No/Note: Doesnt need it! Its ASIO!!
Dynamic Range ADA 111-120 db
EASI No
GSIF No
Height 8.5 inches
Length 11 inches
Linux No
Macintosh No
Max Bit Rate 24-bit
Midi IO Yes
Phantom Power No
Platform Windows
RTAS No
SPDIF Yes
Sample Rate up to 192k
Software Production Tools* PatchMix DSP
Special Features DSPFX, Midi i/o
Sync No
WDM Yes
Width 3.5 inches
Windows Yes

Patchmix DSP is a stand alone patchbay, but it runs in conjuntion with your software host such as Cubase and that makes it really powerful!
The E-MU 0404 ships with ASIO 2.0 and WDM drivers, Steinberg Cubasis, Steinberg WaveLab Lite, SFX Machine LT, and a trial version of Minnetonka's diskWelder BRONZE.

Like I have said above, I've been using it for years and have recorded my album with it and I am selling it online through Itunes and many other online music services. Its production/studio quality! I recommend it to all musicians that are looking for a real recording/easy to use tracking solution. Lol, if it was stolen, I would have to buy it again!
The only thing I wish it had was a built in preamp. But for the price, you cant beat it!