Just Getting Started with my laptop

  • Thread starter Thread starter kevhan999
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kevhan999

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I have a DELL Inspiron Laptop 700m, 2g memory, 30g 7200rpm hard drive with PCIMCIA card slot FIREWIRE SLOT. And, I have a copy of Sonar. What sound cards are good for this? Also, I play guitar and I would want to hook up a midi keyboard and use effects (some).

Now I dont have lots of money, maybe 200-400 because I assume I need to by speakers and maybe a mic as well. Please help, it is hard to sift thru all of the sales pitches to get a real answer.
 
I use a presonus fire box. It's got two preamps and mic/line, 48v phantom power, 2 line inputs, 6 line outputs, a midi in and out put, a spdif in and out, gain knobs for the mic inputs, a headphone jack, and a light that tells you if you're clipping. and it comes with Cubasse LE and a Digital mixer for monitoring. I got mine for 300.
 
thx dude!!!

I am going to check it out for sure. do you have any issues with latency or sound quality?
 
PreSonus Inspire 1394

I did check out the PreSonus firebox. It looks like theres a smaller version for $199 called Inspire 1394. Seems to be same specs but less inputs and outputs which is still fine for me. Have you any experience with it?
 
I haven't really had any problems with sound quality or latency yet. The firebox allows you to choose how much latency there is, from about 1.5 milliseconds to 24 milliseconds. The lower you choose, though, the more of a toll it takes on your comp.

No, I haven't ever used the Inspire personally, but where'd you find it for 200? I've only seen it for around 230. If it has enough line ins and mic pres for you, then I'd say buy it. Though, have you checked to see if it comes with Cubase LE? Also, you gotta consider if your home studio is gonna grow any, and if down the road your needs will grow as well, exceeding qhat the Inspire gives you.
 
I have the Inspire 1394. ***It does not have a midi port*** You could still use your keyboard as a strictly audio source. One member of my group has a Kurzweil. Records just fine with the stereo inputs on the 1394. But, if you need midi, get the FireBox, or one of the other interfaces that *state* they have a midi port. I don't do any midi, so the 1394 works great, for me.
 
thanks for the advice guys. i found the 1394 on ebay for $199 and in fact it does come with cubase LE. But I do need midi so I might to get the firebox
 
I have a similar set-up. Using a Dell B130 laptop w/ M-audio ozonic midi controller/ audio interface. I run reason 3 for production and record with adobe audition. I love the ozonic. The sound is clean.
 
I also have a FireBox and like it for the time being as a small setup, But as for latency your computer setup should have no problems, Just make sure you have things set right in Cubase. If need be up the number of buffers and the size of the buffers and you should have no problems. Also make sure in the preferences section that you dont have the (Lower Latency) box checked. I know it sounds kinda stupid but that little check messed with me for a week while trying to figure out why my recordings kept skipping and clicking when I only had 5 tracks with EQ playing. The help menu in Cubase is pretty self explanitory.

-Hover
 
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