Upgrading my soundcard from Creative's Audigy EX because it just doesn't cut it for recording and performance. Mainly I use my laptop, so the sound interface has to be either connected through PCMCIA or firewire. No USB because I heard you'll get interference. What I'm looking at is RME's multiface or Motu 896 fo the high end choices, and Motu 828 or Echo Layla 24 for the low end. I'm currently leaning toward the multiface because I believe it'll support more tracks on cubase/nuendo but the Motu 896 has built in pre-amp + mixer on hardware. Does anyone have hands on experience with using these cards and can give me comparision suggestions?

Make sure you can test or get a refund on a PCMCIA device; some products might be prone to interference from your laptop.

I use an 828 on a desktop PC - it works great. I'd assume that the 896 is of a similar standard.

I own and use the RME HDSP + Multiface. I used it on my laptop with no issues (it even has Linux drivers, I believe), and now I use the PCI version in my desktop.
The RME has a software mixer too, but the lack of preamps will bite, as you'll need a channel strip for each channel if you really want to multitrack a bunch of microphones. However, don't expect the mic pre's on the MOTU to be super high quality. A great channel strip (like a single channel on a mixer) like a Great River or something will set you back more than the MOTU costs. It all depends on how deep you want to go.

As an aside - RME has the Fireface, which is a lot like the MOTU, except there's only 4 pres (pretty good ones), with several inputs without pres, that can be used simultaneously.
So you get a firewire unit that, out of the box, allows you to connect 4 mics, and 8 sources that don't require them (or 8 channel strips, etc. etc.)

Fireface is HELLA expensive with a retail price of $1300 :P

Now i'm also looking at Presonus Firepod as another possible alternative.

Steinberg is offering preamp boxes to go with the multiface. But they're charging bloody $550 for quad mics; which is almost the cost for another multiface.

I can attest to the echo layla 24/96 as being one fine box of laptop powered audio sweetness. Runs like a champ on my 667 tibook.

But...if you want to go that route, you'll need preamps for your channels...i found some inexpensive 8 channel rack mount pre's from a company called "SMPROAUDIO". One is an 8 channel analog and the other is an 8 channel analog with an ADAT lightpipe output on it (Behringer offers similar products) and with it i'm able to do 16 channels. The sound quality isnt great from the pre's...but no complaints for the price point(cheap!)

Thats my 2cents!

dk
LCL