: I don't know how the Soundblaster compares with "real" data acquistion
: cards, but it can't be beat for cost effectiveness (assuming you already
: have the computer).
Analog devices is pushing a DSP based sound card architecture and sells a cheap (or free) software development kit for it. The DSP chip is the ADSP2115, I believe, and the software tools look good- just the thing for those high speed feedback loop and data acquisition problems. A few of the "Personal Sound Architecture" cards are the Orchid Soundwave 32, and the Cardinal Digital Sound Pro 16. These can be had for <$200.