Due to my experience, especially the EMU0404 is a low-cost audio card, which doesn't have a sound quality appropriate for (OAM)Hauptwerk sample sets.
The card has a strong sound colouring, for example boosts high frequencies in an unnatural way.
Thanks to Helmut Maier for this explanation!
I have a E-MU 0404 and with some sets, I have had sometimes problems with high frequency noises in the sound (sets where the highest harmonics are not filtered out during the noise reduction proces).
Because of the explanation given by prof. Maier, I reduced the frequencies above 10kHz with about 6 dB (with a 3-band equalizer in PatchMix) and the resulting sound is far better!
Are there others with the same experience? If so, should the EMU 0404 remain on the list of recommended soundcards?