some questions about laptop recording

[leavings]

I currently have an Aardvark Q10 that I use to record on my desktop PC. I've been very happy with it, but now I need to make live recordings. Since I wanted to get a laptop anyways, I figured I would go for it over a portable stand alone unit. I've done a little bit of research (including on this board) but I have some questions that I'm hoping someone can answer for me.

First, it seems that a laptop won't work with any interface that requires an internal PCI card due to space issues (if someone can affirm or contradict this please do). Someone mentioned to me, though, that I could use a laptop in conjunction with a card if I hooked the laptop up to a docking station. The question is, how does the card connect with the docking station? I thought docking stations only worked with peripherals that don't have cards. I would love to be able to use my Q10 or perhaps a 24/96 so I could have more inputs and wouldn't have to worry about the firewire/USB connection being fast enough. Is this possible?

Second, if I can't use an interface that requires an internal card, does anyone know of other interfaces that have more than 2 XLR inputs? I hear about the M-audio firewire 410, but that has 2 XLR and 2 1/4".

Third, this might seem like a silly question, but if I want to be able to interface with my desktop do I need to buy a PC laptop? Could I share files directly if I bought a Mac powerbook? Also, I already have Cakewalk Pro Audio 9 and would rather continue using that than buy and learn new software. Is CPA9 Mac compatible?

Thanks!
Peter

 

[Bulls Hit]

You can't use a pci card in a laptop.

Have a look at the Presonus Firepod. 8 xlr inputs, inbuilt preamps, firewire interface. Someone around here picked up one new recently for $500

 

[leavings]

Awesome, this looks like exactly what I want. Thanks for the tip.

Anyone know about the Mac-PC compatibility question?

Thanks,
Peter

 

[syrupcore]

mac-pc compatability is sort of a problem. there is no cakewalk/sonar for the mac to answer your first question. really, the only way to do it (unless you buy into pro-tools) is

a) get an app for the mac that is OMF compatible. google it. it's a way for audio software to share very very basic information like where the files are supposed to be

b) export your track on the mac from the beginning of the song as wav files, burn them onto a CD and then import them into cakewalk.

I'd look at the MOTU boxes as they come with free software for the mac - audiodesk. I dunno if audiodesk is omf compatible though. otherwise, save yourself the headache and the cash and get a PC laptop and install cakewalk on there (sonar is worth the upgrade, i promise)