As it seems there is some interest in multichannel audio capture cards - useful to capture matrix decoders output, for example - I thought to start a list; features should be as following:

• fair price - less than 500 quids
  
• multichannel line input - 4 ch min, 8ch welcome
  
• variable sample frequency - 44,1 & 48kHz min, 96kHz welcome
  
• interface in order of preference: PCIe, PCI, USB, FireWire
  
• Windows compatibility mandatory, WIN + MAC appreciated
  
• RCA analog input/output are very welcome
  
• S/PDIF digital input or output are highly appreciated
  

In production:

• ESI U168 XT - 16in 8out USB 2.0 24/96 dig. in/out - https://www.esi-audio.com/products/u168xt/
  
• ESI U86 XT - 8in 6out USB 2.0 24/96 dig. in/out - https://www.esi-audio.com/products/u86xt/
  
• TASCAM US-16X08 - 8in 8out USB 2.0 24/96 dig. in/out - https://tascam.com/us/product/us-16x08/
  
• Behringer UMC1820 - 8in 10out USB 2.0 24/96 dig. in/out - https://www.behringer.com/product.html?modelCode=P0B2J
  

discontinued:

• ESI ESP 1010e - 8in 8out PCIe + 19" interface 24/96 dig. in/out  - https://www.esi-audio.com/products/esp1010e/
  
• ESI ESP 1010 - 8in 8out PCI + 19" interface 24/96 dig. in/out - https://www.esi-audio.com/products/esp1010/
  
• Roland Edirol UA-1000 - 8in 8out USB 2.0 24/96 dig. in/out - https://www.roland.com/us/products/ua-1000/
  

NOTE: only line inputs/outputs are taken in account

waiting for your inputs (pun intended!)

Related threads:

High-end audio capture cards (some with 4ch in) - https://fanrestore.com/thread-82.html
Dolby SDU4 Hardware Dolby Stereo/Surround decoding - https://fanrestore.com/thread-1850.html

last update: 2020-12-16

Added Roland Edirol UA-1000

Just one note, RCA connectors can be easily adapted to fit into normal big jacks. And symmetrical jacks are better for future proofing if you want to do some more professional stuff in the future, since symmetrical audio is higher quality, but compatible with non-symmetrical inputs typically.

(2020-12-17, 02:07 AM)TomArrow Wrote: symmetrical audio is higher quality, but compatible with non-symmetrical inputs typically.

I guess symmetrical=balanced, while non-symmetrical is unbalanced, right?

Yup, same thing