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Re: LAPTOP recommendations for LIVE LOOPING?
At 11:56 PM 3/31/2003 -0800, Rick Walker/Loop.pooL wrote:
>I am in the market for a laptop computer so that I can
>record, use Ableton's LIVE as a realtime performance enhancer
>and use real time USB/Midi control over soft synths.
>
>I anticipate using a Digi Designs M-box to get audio signal into the
>computer.
>
>What have you bought that you dig in terms of a sound card.
>It needs to have USB 2 and midi/in out (and preferably SPDIF if that's
>even
>possible).
I'm having pretty good luck with M-Audio's Quattro card. Currently, I'm
using it on my Titanium PowerBook 667, but in the past I've also installed
it on my old Sony Vaio & Dell Latitude C810. It provides 4 channels I/O
at
16/24bit & 44/48/96k sampling rate + Midi In & Out. 24bit/96k is only
available on 2 channels (either in or out) simultaneously, and it also
features zero-latency monitoring for recording. I usually have mine set
up
with quad-outs at 24/48k, which does me pretty well since I'm
predominantly
using VSTi's (you mention above that you're planning on using an Mbox for
input, so you'd probably end up with a similar config). Unfortunately,
it's only USB 1.1, but I've never noticed any problem. Also, no S/PDIF.
I'm using the Quattro with an Oxygen keyboard and getting latencies in the
~5-9ms range. I'd recommend (if you haven't already considered it)
getting
a laptop with multiple USB ports, since too much data could clog your pipe
on a single interface. If possible, see if the multiple USB ports are on
different data busses, although that may be too much to ask on a laptop.
M-Audio originally got some bad reactions to the Quattro's initial
release,
because there was a groundswell of interest at it's initial announcement
so
they brought it to market a little prematurely. Since then, they've put a
lot of development time into getting the drivers right, and they've good
stable releases on Wintel, OS9, & OSX.
As for other possibilities, it also sounds like you've checked out some of
the specs on the new Emagic 6|2 -- USB with 6 ins, 2 outs, MIDI I/O, and
S/PDIF. Wish I could tell you more about it, but I've not laid hands-on
myself. I can say that over on the Laptop Mozart list, no-one's ever said
a good word about its sister card -- the Emagic 2|6 -- which evidently
really shows configuration and latency problems. Also, given the way that
Emagic has treated PC users in the wake of its purchase by Apple, I just
don't trust 'em on that platform.
In addition, the Edirol card has gotten good reactions from users as long
as you factor in the extra budget to buy third-party drivers. Evidently,
the original drivers which Edirol provide suck.
Anyway, hope that helps some....
-c-
_____
"i want to reach my hand into the dark and *feel* what reaches back"
-recoil