K
korean
New member
hmm. i have a laptop (dell 700m) and i'm wondering if a special kind of sound card is needed to use cakewalk. (probably home studio version)
C
crankz1
...
No, you should be able to use the built-in audio device of the laptop to start with.
However, you will likely achieve greater audio quality by using a more "pro" interface/soundcard.
No reason not to go ahead and get your feet wet with a minimal $$ outlay by using the laptop's stock sound chip.
However, you will likely achieve greater audio quality by using a more "pro" interface/soundcard.
No reason not to go ahead and get your feet wet with a minimal $$ outlay by using the laptop's stock sound chip.
K
korean
New member
what i was planning to do was buy some kind of usb interface. i have the emu 0404, but i sold my desktop. i still have home recording system and gear which i used with my desktop, but i just can't use the emu anymore. i'm looking into m-audio and digidesign. suggestions? comments?
edit: so sitting on my desk i have the emu 0404, a yamaha mg10/2 mixer, and a couple mics.
the m-audio mobilepre usb looks good.
edit: so sitting on my desk i have the emu 0404, a yamaha mg10/2 mixer, and a couple mics.
the m-audio mobilepre usb looks good.
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B
brzilian
New member
Stay away from USB. Go with either Firewire or PC-Card Audio Interfaces.
USB is not a good idea for audio no matter what ANYONE says.
USB is not a good idea for audio no matter what ANYONE says.
MichaelM
New member
So you already have the emu? Why can't you use it with your laptop? Surely your laptop has USB ports. But yeah, firewire would be my choice for a laptop.
J
jayfromjay
New member
I use an IBM R40 with the stock soundcard(blaster or something) P4, 80gig maxtor drive Blah, Blah. Great portable rig. Used the M-audio mobile pre and it worked well. A soundcard upgrade is highly recomended. Laptops tend to be noiser thru the stock soundcards. You can clean it out in the mix but it's a pain.
Some of the programs I use are Cakewalk HS, Pro Tracks, Guitar Pro3, N-tracks and just starting with Reason5.
Some of the programs I use are Cakewalk HS, Pro Tracks, Guitar Pro3, N-tracks and just starting with Reason5.
K
korean
New member
firewire it is 
i'm thinking about the m-audio firewire audiophile computer recording interface
http://www.musiciansfriend.com/srs7/g=rec/search/detail/base_pid/709200/
how do i connect my yamaha mg10/2 mixer to it? i'm assuming line out from the mixer to line in on the m-audio?
this forum rocks. thanks guys!
edit: in order to do multitrack sequencing, i need a sound card that can handle it. i'm sure the soundcard in my laptop won't be able to handle that. but with the m-audio, will i need a soundcard still?
i'm thinking about the m-audio firewire audiophile computer recording interface
http://www.musiciansfriend.com/srs7/g=rec/search/detail/base_pid/709200/
how do i connect my yamaha mg10/2 mixer to it? i'm assuming line out from the mixer to line in on the m-audio?
this forum rocks. thanks guys!
edit: in order to do multitrack sequencing, i need a sound card that can handle it. i'm sure the soundcard in my laptop won't be able to handle that. but with the m-audio, will i need a soundcard still?
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crosstudio
New member
i had the tascam us-428 and it worked well. it was usb1 and it still did a good job.
i now have the edirol fa-101 (for mobile recording) which is firewire and it is great, but it doesn't have the physical faders that the us-428 had... however it does have phantom power built in (which the us-428 does not) and the mic-pres are adequate enough for anything just short of semi-pro recording.
i also have the tascam fw-1884 (for in-house recording) which is firewire and has the faders and such and i find more reasons to dig it everyday. having said that, the mic-pre's on this aren't any better than the edirol.
i now have the edirol fa-101 (for mobile recording) which is firewire and it is great, but it doesn't have the physical faders that the us-428 had... however it does have phantom power built in (which the us-428 does not) and the mic-pres are adequate enough for anything just short of semi-pro recording.
i also have the tascam fw-1884 (for in-house recording) which is firewire and has the faders and such and i find more reasons to dig it everyday. having said that, the mic-pre's on this aren't any better than the edirol.
Zona Mona
New member
Why do you say that, just curious?brzilian said:
B
brzilian
New member
Zona Mona said:
This question has been asked over and over again in the soundcard forum for the past 2-3 years.
USB's communications protocol is not as efficient as Firewire. Firewire is a peer to peer protocol/interface. USB ends up eating more CPU time to manage the transfer of data.
apl
Stand Up Comity
Many users do fine with USB.
acidrock
GO PACKERS!
I think you guys should clarify whether you're talking about usb1 or usb2,big difference.
apl
Stand Up Comity
acidrock said:
The US122 is USB1.
T
tuorum
New member
You mention multi-track, but are you going to actually output the separate tracks to separate output ports or just mix them in software? The difference is that the Firewire Audiophile only has 6 channels out: 2 stereo line outs and 1 stereo SP/DIF. If the 4 mono ports are acceptable, this unit performs well. I was able to output a NovaKill synth with a couple of effects at 5.3ms latency on a P-III 500MHz laptop. (NovaKill synths are synthedit monsters that EAT CPU, but sound great to me). And that was using a no-name VIA Firewire PC-Card expansion.
Firewire for audio (Though USB2 should work just as well), USB1 for MIDI.
Though the Audiophile also has MIDI I/O and it's built like a tank.
Tuorum
Firewire for audio (Though USB2 should work just as well), USB1 for MIDI.
Though the Audiophile also has MIDI I/O and it's built like a tank.
Tuorum
crosstudio
New member
unless you are inputing/outputting more than just a single stereo (2 mono) signal, even USB1 will work just fine. when i say outputting, i'm not talking about the number of tracks in your software, but rather the number of output busses going out of the laptop to an external source.
the tascam us-428 is USB1 (audio + midi) and i never had a problem with it. i sold it because i wanted to be able to record my band practicing and that required more than just a stereo input. the only drawback to the us-428 has nothing to do with USB, its the fact that phantom power was not built into the uniit.
the tascam us-428 is USB1 (audio + midi) and i never had a problem with it. i sold it because i wanted to be able to record my band practicing and that required more than just a stereo input. the only drawback to the us-428 has nothing to do with USB, its the fact that phantom power was not built into the uniit.