Recording gear compatible with laptop??

[celerond]

Hi,

Just want to get started doing some recording..

I have a Toshiba Equium A60 155, 2.8gh 256ram laptop, windows xp and I was gonna add some more ram and get Fast Track USB which has the spec below...

My basic question is, will this work ok on my laptop???

Thanks

Fast Track USB

Full Features

easy to connect and use
professional 24-bit/48kHz sound
dynamic microphone input (XLR) with gain control and signal LEDs
switchable instrument/line input (1/4”)
stereo headphone output (1/8”)
stereo output jacks (RCA)
level control for headphones and main outputs
USB bus-powered
compatible with GarageBand and most other music software
USB class-compliant (OS X 10.3.5 and higher) for plug-and-play operation
direct hardware monitoring for synchronized overdubs
mono switch sends input signal equally to left and right channels


includes GT Player Express software:
• professional effects
• guitar amp and stomp box modeling
• plays standard audio files with variable speed playback
• standalone operation, ReWire or VST plug-in



Specifications

general

sample rates 44.1kHz and 48kHz
dimensions 5.5" x 4.25" x 1.75' (14 x 10.8 x 4.5 cm)
weight .45 lbs (.2 kg)

Microphone Input

max input -2.2dBu (0.6 Vrms), min. gain
signal to noise ratio -100dB @ 48kHz (A-weighted), min. gain
dynamic range 100dB @ 48kHz (A-weighted), min. gain
THD + N 0.0053%, 1kHz, -1dBFS @ 48kHz, min. gain
frequency response +0.08 / -0.12dB, 22Hz to 22kHz @ 48kHz, min. gain
available gain 45dB
input impedance 1M Ohms

input (guitar setting)

max input +3.2dBV (1.5 Vrms)
signal to noise ratio -97dB @ 48kHz (A-weighted)
dynamic range 97dB @ 48kHz (A-weighted)
THD + N 0.0049%, 1kHz, -1dBFS @ 48kHz
frequency response +0.00 / -0.45dB, 22Hz to 22kHz @ 48kHz
input impedance 500K Ohms

input (line setting)

max input +2.3dBV (1.3 Vrms)
signal to noise ratio -98dB @ 48kHz (A-weighted)
dynamic range 98dB @ 48kHz (A-weighted)
THD + N 0.0045%, 1kHz, -1dBFS @ 48kHz
frequency response +0.01 / -0.35dB, 22Hz to 22kHz @ 48kHz
input impedance 20K Ohms (bal.), 10K Ohms (unbal.)


line outputs
max output +2dBV (1.2 Vrms)
signal to noise ratio -105dB @ 48kHz (A-weighted)
dynamic range 105dB @ 48kHz (A-weighted)
THD + N 0.0039%, 1kHz, -1dBFS @ 48kHz
frequency response +0.03 / -0.15dB, 22Hz to 22kHz @ 48kHz
crosstalk -100dB, 1kHz, channel-to-channel
output impedance 240 Ohms

headphone outputs

max output (@ 32-ohms) -2 dBV (0.8 Vrms)
signal to noise ratio -102dB @ 48kHz (A-weighted)
dynamic range 102dB @ 48kHz (A-weighted)
THD + N 0.0395%, 1kHz, -1dBFS @ 48kHz
frequency response +0.05 / -0.20dB, 22Hz to 22kHz @ 48kHz
crosstalk -80dB, 1kHz, channel-to-channel
output impedance Less than 1 Ohm
headphone impedance 32 to 600 Ohms recommended


Compatibility
ASIO 2
WDM
Kernel Streaming
Mac OS X Core Audio

Min System Requirements
Windows XP (SP1 or higher)*
Pentium II 350 w/ 64MB RAM
* Home and Professional Edition only. Windows Media Center Edition is not currently supported.

 

[Freddy]

It will work. However, it only allows one microphone to be attached, and has no phantom power (which may be important if you want to use a microphone that needs it later).

Depending on what you want to do, it may be worth spending a bit more to get something that will give you more options. I know, I bought one and it is now rotting in a drawer.

 

[Mindset]

The fast track sucks IMO
Sucked for my friend, will suck for you.

 

[celerond]

Initially I was looking at the M Box mini, but it won't work on my system as far as I know..

Anything else out there worth looking at??

Cheers

 

[Freddy]

There are loads to be honest. Either USB or Firewire. I assume that the laptop has some kind of firewire connection. 4 pin is fine.

What would help is to know what you want to record (voice, guitar, keyboards, sax, drums, midi?), and to have some idea of budget for the interface. There is a wide range to choose from.

 

[celerond]

Only got a usb connection.

I'm really looking for something pretty compact, with software as I want to be able to bring it with me on my travels. Recording a few guitar and vocal tracks intitially and possibly some bass, keyboard and drum machine in the future..

As for budget, depends what I can get for the money. Up to around 400euro.

 

[Freddy]

Ok, well, there are still plenty to choose from.

I've not used this supplier, so this is not a recommendation, but this list shows some of the available options and prices .. http://www.thomann.de/index.html?partner_id=97926&page=gb/cat.html?gf=usb_audio_interfaces&oa=pra

I would suggest that you might want at least 2 XLR mic inputs with phantom power (that way, should you want 2 mics on an acoustic you can). You may also want midi at some point. You will want to connect headphones. You want to be able to plug in an electric guitar. Oh, and it needs to be portable.

Something like the Tascam US-144 may be worth a look?

 

[celerond]

thanks, I'll check those out..

Someone mentioned that laptop drives run at 5400 RPM and it may be a problem recording. Any thoughts on this?, not really sure what my laptop runs at or how to find out. And can I make it faster?

 

[Freddy]

Check this site for tweaks. http://www.musicxp.net/

Have DMA enabled on the drive if it isn't already. 7200 is better and a 16MB cache is ideal, but you may well find that 5400 works fine for you (it's just you and I doubt you will have a high track count). If needed, however, you could get an external drive.

To see what's on your laptop, an easy way is to Google "Belarc Advisor" and run it. Then copy the model number of the listed drive and plug that into Google.

 

[celerond]

Thanks again, the Tascam US144 looks good..

I only have 4200rpm, if I got something like this would it solve the speed problem
western digital external hard drive

Cheers

 

[Freddy]

Yes, probably - but I would wait and see if you actually have a problem first. You may find all is fine. It will depend on the number of tracks you have and the types of plugs you use (some make greater demands than others on disk i/o - ones that use large soundfonts for example), some greater demands on CPU).