There certainly are other options.
Both Steve and I do it with a dedicated sound mixer and USB adapter. Very highly recommended.
That’s my Peavey PV6 mixer on the right. That mixer is $105 and the adapter is $30. You can also get the mixer with USB built-in. Behringer makes some very nice mixers (one in particular is not recommended. Check here first).
ART equipment tends to be very highly regarded on the forum. I don’t own any stand-alone microphone digitizers except the Shure X2U. I would not buy another one. It has weak volume which is a fairly common complaint of USB microphones in general. Again, I don’t have a Scarlett or a Dual Pre. The formal but small sound mixer doesn’t have weak volume problems.
I keep my other sound card and it still has its uses?
I don’t see how. They promise electrical impossibilities in their documentation.
not a problem of concern for what I want
They will all produce a single sound track. Some of them do it as half of a stereo show, some of them as a mono track. Converting to what you need is simple key clicks in Audacity. Note: Audacity will convert a single voice into “two track mono.” One voice appearing on both left and right for the listener. That’s technically not “stereo” but you can do that as well. You can cause your voice to slide left and right and also create “fake” concert hall effects. That’s usually done for specific theatrical reasons. Never deliver a simple reading that way.
The dual channel systems will allow you to add a second matching microphone and do real stereo. If you want your voice to slide left, move your chair closer to the left microphone. That’s usually disorienting for the listener and to be avoided.
If your computer is broken you should fix it or get a different one. This is a forum for Audacity and associated equipment. Computer repair may be getting too far into the weeds.
Please note the Zoom H2 produces a terrific sound track without involving your computer at all. The Zoom H4 will let you plug your microphone in and record that.
Also note that when you do finally get a working voice track, you will then be in a position to address microphone physical problems, consonant popping and room echoes. So don’t promise anybody an audiobook reading so fast.
The Car Talk radio show decided to self-produce and stop paying WBUR radio station for studio time. I think that lasted two shows and it was so painful they went back to WBUR.
Koz