Laptop soundcard questions

  • Thread starter Thread starter tenrange
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tenrange

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I recently purchased a used laptop and have been looking at audio interfaces to do some recording on it. I would like to use a Firewire interface with a minimum of 2 inputs. I have been looking at the M-Audio Firewire Audiophile.

The specs on my computer are
1.2 GHz
768 MB Ram
Windows XP(SP2)
it has one USB port but no Firewire port. I am planning on getting a PCMCIA firewire card.
I am currently using Tracktion for recording. Most of the interfaces that I have seen say that they will work with XP with service pack one but make no mention of SP2. Do most of these interfaces work with SP2 also? Are there other Interfaces that I should be looking at? The laptop is not my main computer for recording. I will only be using it for recording stuff on site that I can not record at home. I would also like to keep the cost to around $150. USB would be a good option for me because the computer already has a USB port but from what I have been reading on the net, it sounds like USB is not as reliable or as high quality. I will probably only be recording 1-2 tracks max so I don't need something that will do more than two tracks. Any advice that you guys can send my way would be appriciated.
 
that computer will be fine for 1-2 track stuff...so will the usb...get a tascam us-122
Its 200 bucks (us currency) and works flawless on my laptop thats a p3 1000mhz and yes...most software runs fine on sp2 now.
 
I used to use Edirol UA-5 (they updated it to UA-25) on my laptop. Great little machine. Works excellent with Tracktion.. ( I love Tracktion :D )

And USB is OK for 2 tracks!!! I've never had any problems.
 
I use a PreSonus Firebox firewire 400 interface with my laptop. I get great results with it and it does work with SP2. You may have to download a MIcrosoft patch though http://support.microsoft.com/kb/885222 as SP2 in general can to be troublesome for audio. I do use a PCMCIA card also, but to connect an external hard drive via firewire 800 for audio data. That also works great.

I think the Firebox is closer to $400, but worth it if you can increase your budget. It comes with great pre-amps and runs trouble-free.

In any case, I believe firewire is capable of higher data transfer than USB.
 
I've had good experiences with the M-Audio Mobilepre... not very expensive (I guess they go for about 150 now), simple, and nice quality...check that one out. Built in 48v pres too.
 
I used Mobilepre once for a small project. It's great. I didnt like the plastic case too much, but if you're not travelling too much with it its perfect.
 
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