Computer problems

[deadmansshoes]

Hi all

I'm fairly new to recording (by myself at least) and I want to record using my computer but I'm having issues which I'm hoping the experts here can help me with.

I currently record on a HP 4010 laptop (old) using an m-audio USB fasttrack. I say record because the soundcard or processor or both can't handle it (if someone could clarify which that would be great). The latency is through the roof and to be fair I only run the sound out of somecrap external speakers.

I also use Cubase SX, Toontrack drum kit from hell & amplitube (it hates the last two).

So I need to questions answering:

A- Can I somehow improve my laptop? or.........
B- What would be the key components for building a tower to use

I have a friend to help me build one and while he is good with computers he knows little about music and sound recording. When answering this question keep in mind I DO NOT have alot to spend on this project at the moment.

But I'd like to know what sort of sound card do I need/do you THINK I should get, minimum RAM , eventually I'd like to have a midi connection do I do this through soundcard or externally, things like that. HELP!!!

Thanks for reading guys.

 

[Jim Lad]

M-Audio makes some great, very dependable audio interfaces and are renowned for keeping up with their drivers but the Fast Track USB is not one of them.
Upgrade to the Fast Track Pro ($200 - $250) and you'll be well set.
Have a read through the following link .. http://www.tweakheadz.com/guide.htm
Have some fun with it.

 

[floorpuncher]

As for improving your laptop, the best (and typically only) thing you can do to increase its performance is add RAM. Aside from that you're typically stuck with what you've got.

As for building a system, it's like putting together a studio... it depends on what your budget is. I know you say you don't have much to spend but what does that mean? $200? $500? $800? The last "budget" system I put together for a buddy of mine was $900 but that also included a monitor and other odds and ends...

As for a sound card, your Fasttrack should replace your onboard soundcard in your configuration. You should also make sure that in your DAW you're using ASIO drivers instead of the default Microsoft Sound drivers... I'm not sure about Cubase but the option can usually be found in your preferences. This, I can almost gaurantee, is your problem with high latency.

What are you going to use MIDI for? If you're just looking to use a MIDI keyboard controller you don't neccesarily need a MIDI connection. M-Audio Oxygen series keyboards are USB. I use one with EZ Drummer Drumkit From Hell and Garritan Personal Orchestra with no problems.

Doesn't the Fast Track have MIDI?

**EDIT** After seeing Jim Lad's post I realize I was thinking about the Fast Track Pro...

 

[Jim Lad]

Yes, the Fast Track Pro has midi, SPDIF, inserts, Phantom Power..... basically everything except ADAT I/O which would be pretty well unnecessary for a beginner.

The Fast Track USB is basically just a line in but doesn't support ASIO.
It's an entry level device, designed to get you interested but not a very good one.

Note, by the way that FP's budget starts at $200.
That's no accident.

 

[floorpuncher]

The Fast Track USB is basically just a line in but doesn't support ASIO.

Again, I must have been thinking Fast Track Pro...

Note, by the way that FP's budget starts at $200.
That's no accident.

I can't, for the life of me, figure out what this is supposed to mean...

 

[Jim Lad]

Then it was an accident!
I don't think you're really going to get a decent audio interface, that you'll still want in a year for under $200.

Now: Having said that........ here come the "Yes you cans".

 

[floorpuncher]

I don't think you're really going to get a decent audio interface, that you'll still want in a year for under $200.

Oh...I was refering to a computer system budget... not an audio interface...

but, for the record: yes you can!

 

[Jim Lad]

................................

 

[TeyshaBlue]

Hi all

I'm fairly new to recording (by myself at least) and I want to record using my computer but I'm having issues which I'm hoping the experts here can help me with.

I currently record on a HP 4010 laptop (old) using an m-audio USB fasttrack. I say record because the soundcard or processor or both can't handle it (if someone could clarify which that would be great). The latency is through the roof and to be fair I only run the sound out of somecrap external speakers.

I also use Cubase SX, Toontrack drum kit from hell & amplitube (it hates the last two).

A- Can I somehow improve my laptop? or.........
B- What would be the key components for building a tower to use

I have a friend to help me build one and while he is good with computers he knows little about music and sound recording. When answering this question keep in mind I DO NOT have alot to spend on this project at the moment.

But I'd like to know what sort of sound card do I need/do you THINK I should get, minimum RAM , eventually I'd like to have a midi connection do I do this through soundcard or externally, things like that. HELP!!!

Thanks for reading guys.

First of all, the HP 4010 is pretty low end for this application. It's only got 512mb of RAM, which is likely what's killing you right now. Less available ram = more time writing/reading the drive which drive is pretty small (60 gigs don't go far these days in DAW-land) and slow (5400 rpm), and the processor, Intel Pentium M 1.8, while a little lean, is at least capable. You could get by with that if you upgraded the RAM abit, but you also need a bigger drive. By the time you've done that, you're 1/3 of the way towards a new comp.

Minimum, 2 gigs of ram. Well, since you're running XP, you could get by with 1 gig, but that will limit the plugs you can run sometimes. As for an interface, we need to know how many tracks do you intend to record at the same time? What will you be recording (instrument, voice...etc). Most contemporary interfaces boast midi implementation, but even if they don't, stand alone midi interfaces are dirt cheap.

 

[Atom Bomb]

The Fast Track USB is basically just a line in but doesn't support ASIO..

It does now... I think i mentioned it in another thread elsewhere in the forums before that you and i were talking in.

Goto the m-audio home page and register your unit (possibly optional) and just download the asio drivers for it. Its pretty straight forward installation.

I believe the asio drivers were implemented early in 2009.... I stand to be corrected.




http://www.m-audio.com/index.php?do...6&PID=fa76e34e9f3de0b8b3d0b6f1e7b32912&OS=x71


just pick whichever operating system you have.

I am still on SP2 and when i installed the most recent version of the drivers from this page i had ASIO capability....

 

[deadmansshoes]

Some great advice guys thanks very much. I have clearly been misled into believing that RAM has very little relation to what I'm trying to do.

But surely the amount of memory I have is somewhat irrevlevant (though I did recently move EVERYTHING but my software onto a portable hard drive i.e music & film etc and that freed up plenty of space).

Anyway to spark some real debate what would you good folks suggests is a minimum spec for say the processor & which do you recommend? Likewise if I were to build a PC which soundcard would you suggest?

I've heard alot of talk about ASIO I already have ASIO4all but I'll look into the fast track drivers as well just out of curriosity

 

[TeyshaBlue]

Some great advice guys thanks very much. I have clearly been misled into believing that RAM has very little relation to what I'm trying to do.

But surely the amount of memory I have is somewhat irrevlevant (though I did recently move EVERYTHING but my software onto a portable hard drive i.e music & film etc and that freed up plenty of space).

Anyway to spark some real debate what would you good folks suggests is a minimum spec for say the processor & which do you recommend? Likewise if I were to build a PC which soundcard would you suggest?

I've heard alot of talk about ASIO I already have ASIO4all but I'll look into the fast track drivers as well just out of curriosity

Well, if you are archiving on an external drive, then yeah, you can keep using that small one. What's more limiting than size tho, is the speed of the drive. That coupled with a very inadequate amount of RAM is a real problem.


I'm interested in a minimum spec discussion as well as I may be shopping lappys again soon. I've heard most contemporary DAW programs can really make hay with a dual core processor.

 

[Supercreep]

Problem is that your laptop is weaksauce. Is a lappy a must? Desktop will net you more horsepower and is amenable to upgrades and more options for heat and noise management.

Decent lappy specs today would be a dual-core @ 2.6+ghz, a minimum of 4g RAM, a 64-bit OS, and at least a 7200rpm HD. You'll want a backup drive and possibly an internal SSD. Firewire, USB2 etc.

 

[Jim Lad]

It does now...

Thanks for that.
I have a young lady who owns one, coming over to record today.
She's not quite ready but I think our time would be better spent upgrading her USB Audio and showing her how to use a DAW.
I can probably give her Magix Music Studio 12 and download one of the free DAWs at the same time. Krystal Audio Engine looks to be user friendly.

Thanks again, Atom Bomb.

 

[Jim Lad]

I'm interested in a minimum spec discussion as well as I may be shopping lappys again soon. I've heard most contemporary DAW programs can really make hay with a dual core processor.

Yes they can and if you care to try out Mixcraft 5, you'll find that it has a "Force single CPU" setting which in effect, dedicates one processor to your DAW and leaves the other to cope with unforeseen power draws such as scans etc.
Vista is particularly guilty of doing things without asking.

 

[floorpuncher]

I will say that I bought a laptop because I also go to school. It allows me the flexibility I need without having to spend money on two setups... in hindsight though, I should have bought a lower end laptop and a built a high end desktop. Right now I'm using an HP Envy15... don't get me wrong it's a beast of a laptop: Intel i7 processor, 6 gigs of RAM (upgrading to 12 soon), 1 gig video card, 500 gig hard drive... but it still doesn't get the performance you can get out of a desktop. It gets hot a lot quicker and, aside from RAM, I'm stuck with what I've got in terms of upgrading any hardware.

As for your memory... memory is perhaps the most critical aspect in terms of the speed of your computer with the second being the speed of your actual hard disk your processor coming in third. This is not to say that processor speed is not important just not as important as most believe it is.

In terms of a processor I would stick with AMD if possible and anything at 1.6 or better should do you fine. Although the new i series processors from Intel are pretty fucking awesome but expensive) I would suggest a minimum of 4 gigs of RAM and a video card that has 512mb minimum DEDICATED memory. Again I prefer AMD so I'm partial to ATI video cards.

A sound card isn't too important as your interface will be replacing your sound card in your configuration so you could get away with something relatively cheap like a Creative Sound Blaster or something like that...

Did I miss anything?

 

[Jim Lad]

Other than the obligatory "Buy Monitors"?
Naw!

 

[floorpuncher]

Other than the obligatory "Buy Monitors"?
Naw!

Oh yeah... Damn!

 

[Supercreep]

Why does OP need a video card with dedicated memory? IME integrated graphics work just fine for audio.

 

[floorpuncher]

Why does OP need a video card with dedicated memory? IME integrated graphics work just fine for audio.

Well, some of the higher end DAWs like Pro Tools and even Sonar can be pretty intensive on video (He's using Cubase I know but I don't know what that's like in terms of video requirements)... if you have a video card with dedicated memory you're not having to worry about cutting into system memory.