F
FAChiro1
New member
I have an HP Pavillion notebook (that my wife got for me last Christmas.) I had been wanting to get into some computer-based composing and recording. (Thanks Love!)
I have heard criticisms regarding HP's and AMD processors, but after a few months, the platform has been pretty stable, with the exception of one glitch that happened when I let the battery run out.
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Here's my current computer set up:
HP Pavillion ze4500 (AMD Athlon-M 2500+ [1.87ghz], 1 gb ram, 40 gb HD)
I did all the XP tweaks from musicxp.com. This solved the main problem that I have read about regarding the Athlon-M processors regarding the cpu power regulation. Disabling this may cause it to run hotter, but I haven't had any problems (yet!).
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Echo Indigo I/O: a few notes regarding this piece of equipment. My experience with it thus far has been stellar. I originally purchased the Tascan US-122, with operated less than stellar. My guess is it was 1. USB 1.1, less than stellar ASIO drivers. Granted, it worked, but I could not get workable latency below 50ms. Anyways, with the echo, the WDM ASIO driver, I can get down to3-4 ms at 96 khz on my stereo tracks. I usually use it set with a 20 -30 ms latency setting just to be safe. The audio quality, both input and output is great. Very clear, and the output is extremely strong. One of the biggest pluses regarding the Echo is the fac that it is so small. It plugs into the pcmcia slot and the volume control unit sticks out about 3/4s of an inch. Awesome portablity and no need to carry around another piece of hardware. For those of you seeking a small powerful package, I would highly recommend the Echo. Remember of couse that it only has one stereo out and in, though you have virtual outs.
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For composing, I have Reason, which needs no introduction. Awesome software, especially for an old-schooler like me. Analong modeling tweaks, knobs, effects, mixer, and a never ending rack.
I had concern regading the CPU's ability to handle the program, especially when I began using multiple instances of instruments and effects. Well, I did one song using something like 25 devices and the cpu was still hovering aroung 40%. I guess that's pretty good.
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Ableton Live: I just got this program and I have two things to say: 1. It's a great program! Very easy to use, record, arrange, and the effects are awesome. 2. I guess for me, I view it as somewhat cheating! It's too easy to drop in premade loops, do some arranging, and have a complete song. I guess I feel that it is not really an original composition unless you make the loops yourself. But it sounds so good!
The computer seems to handle Live very well and I have read that PC's seem to be able to operate better than Macs when it comes to Live, but that's only what I've read and I have no experience with Macs. With an 8 track session with 2-3 effects on each track, CPU usuage was around 30%.
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Midiman (M-Audio) Oxygen 8: It's relatively inexpensive (130.00). It works well with Reason and Live, but the ne biggest complaint:
THE KEY ACTION SUCKS! Out of all the controllers I've tried, the Edirols had the best key action, though I've heard Novation's controllers are good too. The Oxygen 8's keys feel like they're going to break any minute! (OK, I'm exagerating a bit) but for what it is, it works.
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OKAY, here was the biggest problem I had with the computer set up. It concerns the power supply. When hooking up the audio outs of both the Tascam us122 (usb interface) and Echo Indigo (pcmcia) to my mixer, upon plugging ing the computer power supply, I would get this loud buzz and humming comping out of my monitors. This did not occur when running on battery power. Some research revealed it to be a ground loop problem. I read that this occurs in notebooks that are poorly shielded and if your power supply is of the switching type, whatever that means. I asked my father, who is an aerospace/electrical engineer, but that didn't help because he went into a 2 hour disertation regarding electrical theory and stuff about sine waves !@#$%. After further Google searching, I found a site (I forgot to bookmark it!) that offered a solution. The solution??????????????????? A $1.50 Radio Shack plug adapter. It's the one that changes the three prong to two prong. Upon plugging the power supply in............WHAMMO! No more noise!
I was originally contemplating two things 1) Buy a Mac, and 2) throw the HP notebook into my studio wall and risk divorce.
But the little plug has seemed to fix the problem. My concerns though are....is it safe to operate the computer this way and does it damage the computer?
I only have to plug the audio into the mixer when I want to use external monitors or record on the hardware recorder. Most of the time I'm monitoring with phones on the computer.
Anyways........................hope this helps and I just wanted to let you good people in on my experiences with the notebook thus far.
Roger
_________________
Roger L. Su
Youth In Asia
I have heard criticisms regarding HP's and AMD processors, but after a few months, the platform has been pretty stable, with the exception of one glitch that happened when I let the battery run out.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Here's my current computer set up:
HP Pavillion ze4500 (AMD Athlon-M 2500+ [1.87ghz], 1 gb ram, 40 gb HD)
I did all the XP tweaks from musicxp.com. This solved the main problem that I have read about regarding the Athlon-M processors regarding the cpu power regulation. Disabling this may cause it to run hotter, but I haven't had any problems (yet!).
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Echo Indigo I/O: a few notes regarding this piece of equipment. My experience with it thus far has been stellar. I originally purchased the Tascan US-122, with operated less than stellar. My guess is it was 1. USB 1.1, less than stellar ASIO drivers. Granted, it worked, but I could not get workable latency below 50ms. Anyways, with the echo, the WDM ASIO driver, I can get down to3-4 ms at 96 khz on my stereo tracks. I usually use it set with a 20 -30 ms latency setting just to be safe. The audio quality, both input and output is great. Very clear, and the output is extremely strong. One of the biggest pluses regarding the Echo is the fac that it is so small. It plugs into the pcmcia slot and the volume control unit sticks out about 3/4s of an inch. Awesome portablity and no need to carry around another piece of hardware. For those of you seeking a small powerful package, I would highly recommend the Echo. Remember of couse that it only has one stereo out and in, though you have virtual outs.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
For composing, I have Reason, which needs no introduction. Awesome software, especially for an old-schooler like me. Analong modeling tweaks, knobs, effects, mixer, and a never ending rack.
I had concern regading the CPU's ability to handle the program, especially when I began using multiple instances of instruments and effects. Well, I did one song using something like 25 devices and the cpu was still hovering aroung 40%. I guess that's pretty good.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ableton Live: I just got this program and I have two things to say: 1. It's a great program! Very easy to use, record, arrange, and the effects are awesome. 2. I guess for me, I view it as somewhat cheating! It's too easy to drop in premade loops, do some arranging, and have a complete song. I guess I feel that it is not really an original composition unless you make the loops yourself. But it sounds so good!
The computer seems to handle Live very well and I have read that PC's seem to be able to operate better than Macs when it comes to Live, but that's only what I've read and I have no experience with Macs. With an 8 track session with 2-3 effects on each track, CPU usuage was around 30%.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Midiman (M-Audio) Oxygen 8: It's relatively inexpensive (130.00). It works well with Reason and Live, but the ne biggest complaint:
THE KEY ACTION SUCKS! Out of all the controllers I've tried, the Edirols had the best key action, though I've heard Novation's controllers are good too. The Oxygen 8's keys feel like they're going to break any minute! (OK, I'm exagerating a bit) but for what it is, it works.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
OKAY, here was the biggest problem I had with the computer set up. It concerns the power supply. When hooking up the audio outs of both the Tascam us122 (usb interface) and Echo Indigo (pcmcia) to my mixer, upon plugging ing the computer power supply, I would get this loud buzz and humming comping out of my monitors. This did not occur when running on battery power. Some research revealed it to be a ground loop problem. I read that this occurs in notebooks that are poorly shielded and if your power supply is of the switching type, whatever that means. I asked my father, who is an aerospace/electrical engineer, but that didn't help because he went into a 2 hour disertation regarding electrical theory and stuff about sine waves !@#$%. After further Google searching, I found a site (I forgot to bookmark it!) that offered a solution. The solution??????????????????? A $1.50 Radio Shack plug adapter. It's the one that changes the three prong to two prong. Upon plugging the power supply in............WHAMMO! No more noise!
I was originally contemplating two things 1) Buy a Mac, and 2) throw the HP notebook into my studio wall and risk divorce.
But the little plug has seemed to fix the problem. My concerns though are....is it safe to operate the computer this way and does it damage the computer?
I only have to plug the audio into the mixer when I want to use external monitors or record on the hardware recorder. Most of the time I'm monitoring with phones on the computer.
Anyways........................hope this helps and I just wanted to let you good people in on my experiences with the notebook thus far.
Roger
_________________
Roger L. Su
Youth In Asia