newbie: laptop external soundcards

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titan

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I have a thinkpad and my soundcard is attached to my motherboard--this means I have to go with getting some other sort of soundcard. I don't have much money, but I need about 4 inputs and outputs. All I want to do is run 3-4 mics in at a time through different channels or whatever. I have heard usb and pcmcia and firewire....i don't have a firewire port though.

what is pcmcia and can i use it?

is usb worth getting?

I only have 200 bucks. will that get me anything or should I save up and get something better? what should I get?

Thanks for putting up with all my questions...

--titan
 
Trying to record on a laptop is very different from a regular PC. You're limited by a much less responsive hard drive and fewer input options. Not having firewire limits your options even more....and a $200 budget rules out the other cards.

You are basically limited to either PCMCIA or USB. the only PCMCIA card I can think of right now is the Echo Layla and is 8i/o and is $800. As far as USB,the M-Audio Audiosport Quattro is a 4i/o USB device, it runs around $260. The Tascam US428 is a USB mixer/input device that claims to do 4i/o at once. It goes for $500.

I can't think of any other devices that will do 4i/o and are USB. Additionally, I have not used any of the products I mentioned, I just know they exist.

Hope it helps
H2H
 
i agree with h2h, though, you might consider using a small mixer and stereo usb input device running into the computer....or you could overdub...it all depends on what you are trying to record.
 
I haven't used the maudio stuff, but I have a Tascam US-428. Its actually 4 in/ 2 out. It works just fine. On your budget, the maudio device is your best bet.

Don't listen to the nay-sayers about USB. They are right that USB is inferior to almost every other type of recording device out there- but it DOES work and they do what they claim to do.

Laptop hardware is generally much slower than desktop hardware, but if that's what you have to work with don't worry about it. Just use what you have and figure out creative ways to get your recording sounding like you want it to. In any case, that computer with a maudio usb device will be better than a cassette 4-track. :)

Have fun,
Chris
 
usb it is...

now does the quattro have built in preamps? I know the duo does by looking at the m-audio website. They are the same price, so that probably means it doesn't....I will probably go with the duo and just deal with only having two in's...I could always use a mixer and run several channels from the mixer into one input on the duo right? Not quite as sophisticated but it should work with a little effort in setting the levels right?

Thanks for the help guys. rock and roll.

--titan
 
oh and how would I be able to hook up monitors? does the duo have plugs for them in addition to headphones?

sorry about all the Q's. thanks!!
 
Head on over the www.midiman.com and have a look at the Quatro pro. You'll have to look at the manual to find out about the connections. I glanced over it and it looks like a pretty nifty device.

It has 4 ins and 4 outs. Use 2 of those outs for your monitor system. I don't think it has a headphone jack, so you'll have to use the headphone jack on my monitor amp or your mixer. I run my outs to my mixer just so that I have all my level controls in one place.

I did notice that it has no xlr inputs. That means you'll need xlr-1/4" adapters which can degrade the quality of sound and cost $14 each. If you already have an external mixer with preamps on it, though, you are set. As it is, the Quatro won't allow you to use condensor mics that need phantom power. Neither does my US-428, but I have an outboard preamp and a mixer so I can get away with it.

Have fun!
Chris
 
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