cassettes to digital?

[mkda]

Hi,

I'm trying to convert my dad's huge collection of cassettes to digital format, which would be burned to CD later. However, I'm not sure which sound card is good enough to buy to get the best quality (by this I mean good enough to play professionally ;))...

I'm looking through this shop (http://www.canadacomputers.com/sound.html#sou) for a sound card, but can't really decide which is the best one. I don't want to spend a lot of $ on this as I'm not keen on outputting good sound ... I just care about the input of it.

My friend told me to get Sound Blaster Audigy 2 (which is $83 on the site), but I don't really notice the difference b/w the Sound Blaster Audigy 2 Value (which is $53). Is the bigger price worth it?

Any suggestions?

note: I'm using Nero to get the music from cassettes. Is there a better one?

[theuedimaster]

Supposedly, the Audigy 2 ZS is supposed to be a great value.

http://reviews.cnet.com/Creative_Sound_Blaster_Audigy_2_ZS_-_sound_card/4505-3022_7-31203883.html

The ZS series has gotten constant 8's from Cnet (which says its amazing) Plus, it is really the only quality sound card company that has survived the great transition to onboard channel sound chips.

[DaveSW]

you don't normally get brilliant quality audio from tapes, so pretty much any creative soundcard will do the job. I've used the audigy 2 value for recording from a vcr, and that came out nicely enough. Creative bundle their own recording software, and also I'm certain I've seen a cleanup package in it too (for removing tape hiss etc). ;)

oh yeah, and I think the zs is pretty much the audigy but with a fancy front panel to go into a 5 1/2" bay.

[mkda]

Oh, thanks for your responses...

So.. I think I'll get the Creative Sound Blaster Audigy 2 ZS w/ 1394 OEM for $89 CND :D

[DaveSW]

and why not ;)
and some surround sound speakers to go with that... :D

[theuedimaster]

Oh yeah..... actually I've been meaning to get some new speakers meself. I want those JBL creature speakers....... those are cooooool.