Thinking of recording music. Is the X-Fi Fatality for me?

I want to start recording music with my computer from my guitar. I'm computer literate but have never really bothered with sound cards. The X-Fi Fatality looks like what I want, but are there other cards that can do the same, cheaper. I'm just looking for a card that can record music through a guitar or keyboard through the jacks. Please help!

If you want to record music with Creative, get the Elite Pro. The breakout box has a guitar input. For that kind of cash, you may want to look at the ENU line. It won't play games as good as the Creative stuff, but they are design with music creation in mind.

Thank you Uncle Ben. That cleared some of the mud, but what is a DI box?

Thank you, it helped alot.

dude, get something along the lines of music production, do not get Creative X-Fi, get something that's made for production with great Software. Personally, i wanted mid-range price with good quality. Go down to Guitar Center and ask them man, they will help and maybe even cut you a deal... I got the PreSonus Firebox that comes with Cubase software. it just depends on your budget man. Do your research, go down to GC and ask the ProAudio fellas; they will help answer anything, plus ppl that come in who don't work might even help you... look on musiciansfriend and just go down to GC or pickup some Recording magazines or something. just remember you need:

- software:
A.) i recommend Cubase, or if you got the money
Propellerhead Reason
1.] Reason=the best shit, comes with EVERYTHING, a LOT of bands use this, one of my favs THRICE uses it. it's got drums if you got a MIDI controller, awesome quality, and so much versatility...it's worth it (i just can't afford it), this is Professional Quality if you're looking for it and it's what i will end up getting.
2.] Cubase LE= awesome stuff, a lot of versatility and has quite a lot of features and not that intimidating compared to other software. this is excellent for mid-range and i recommend nothing lower, it's either Cubase or up to Reason IMO.

- mic/cable (make sure it's a good mic too, i got the Shure SM57 which is made for guitar micing; and i got an XLR cable since the box has XLR inputs). If you want the mic for singing, you can get the Shure SM59 which is the vocals mic. Shure's the sh*t.

-USB or Firwire port:
mines Firewire, it's faster in terms of transferring and better quality in terms of music production/recording. (if you got USB, but no IEE394, get a PCI Firwire card, that's what i got. it's got 4 ports, which is plenty, since i only use 1, lol.

-speakers/headphones:
in order to hear what you've recorded(recording), you need headphones or powered Speakers. I was recommended M-AUDIO BX5a, but i just use headphones cuz i was on a budget. you can't hear through PC speakers, you'll need "powered" speakers, otherwise you won't hear a thing [unless if you attempt at making it so you can hear out your PC speakers:re-wiring,cutting,etc] [[unless they're powered, of course]]]

- time:
will take some time to learn how to recording/mix/edit/etc, but it's worth it.

- make sure you get something you're comfortable with and will enjoy.

- Personally, i wanted something mid-range and didn't want anyhting "cheap". i've been playing gutiar for about 6 or 7 years now and i wanted to be able to record all the songs i came up with and ended up having to write it all down and eventually forget in the process. i wanted something i could hook up to my PC and offer some quality software in terms of price-performance ratio. all i did was research and GC lead me in the right direction. i had some ideas, but after hearing everything about the Firebox (from GC and reviews,etc online), i had to get it. i'm glad i got what i did. i thought i had awesome distortion, but now with Cubase, you can adjust anything, now it sounds phenomenal. i just can't wait till i get REASON cuz i want to get what the Professionals/Artist's use.

Conclusion: it's quite a lot of money, but if you're really into creating your own shit or whatever it's so worth it. don't get any cheap sh*t or low quality IMO.

- Remember: Just ask GC what they recommend you get. Tell em' your price range and they will give you ideas. Research and ask em' what they think about something you may want to get that you did your research on. They'll let you know everything man. If you're lost and they give you some ideas, go home and research their ideas and see if it's what you want. Just ask and do your research is it. Good Luck, lemme know what you end up with. take care bud.

-PreSonus Firebox: http://www.presonus.com/firebox.html
-MusiciansFriend: (awesome for reviews, prices, etc...same prices as GC, unless you ask em' for a deal.) http://musiciansfriend.com/


good luck

I think he knows a bit about the "reproduction" side which is probably why he didn't choose the X-Fi : P