Using a labtop - USB audio interphases??

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Ok i'm thinking about running my home studio through a lap top verses a desktop. I know you can't install the standard recording audio card into a laptop but I have seen interphases with 1/4" inputs ins and outs that you plug into your computer via USB. Would one of theses work with a lap top and would still need a new audio card or would the standard audio card that comes with the laptop be sufficient? Also I have an oppurtunity to pick up a laptop at very little to no price. The downside is that it is only 32mb of ram with an origninal Pentium processor i think around 133mhz. It is operating under windows 98 and seems to run quite quickly. Would this do the job if i only used it for audio recording? I'm thinking about upgrading the ram to 512mb if it is at all possible. Well anyways any help would be apreciated on the pros and cons versus laptops and desktops and also usb interphses versus internal audio card interphases. Thanks!
 
Because you are lQQking at lap Vs desktop, you need to know your environment, what are you recording? Where are you maketing it?

Laptop is Ok for portable projects. But if you want to record quality product then that's a different story. Most projects are adaquite to be carried to a audition on laptop provided the project is recorded on quality equipment?? And, played back using quality monitors.

But the drivers in most laptops are suspect?

Give me a bit more info on what you want to do and the feedback will be more informative...

Lyon
 
I'd be (extremely) surprised of you can upgrade that laptop to 512M ram. It was made back when 128M was godly...

That said, I squeezed 12 tracks out of a similar machine using n-track and the built in sound card. (yuck!) So I did the same thing you are doing- looked for an external soundcard. USB is the cheapest option- firewire is the best.

If you have a USB device you will not need another soundcard. And don't let the nay sayers convince you that USB audio doesn't work. On paper is looks ugly, but if you only need 4 tracks going in at once (with a stereo mix coming out to monitor) then you'll never be bothered by the bandwidth limitations of USB. It works. Those who say it doesn't are mathematicians with high track count needs that never actually used the damn things. ;)

I love laptop recording. The first time I recorded a scratch recording of a new tune in a hotel room I was elated. To be honest, though, that 133 machine is going to get really crowded really fast. You are likely better off investing your audio hardware in an upgradeable desktop computer.

Laptop audio (like everything else laptop) is expensive and only worth it if you really need it, in my opinion.

Take care,
Chris
 
Thanks,
Yeah I knew that the P133 probably wouldn't do the job, the thing was it was sitting around my office not being used... too bad. I'm looking at recording for my band as well as a few other local band. Not serious recording, we won't be selling it anytime soon, but I'm not saying that I want to skimp on audio quality. I think I am still going to look at doing it through a lap top, so I can record our gigs, and not to mention lap tops are really cool. I like the idea of being able to carry my computer around with me. So will USB do the job for me? Also will I be limited with the soundcard of the laptop? And as I understand the USB device takes place of my internal soundcard, is this correct?
 
Yup- the usb device replaces the internal card. Thank heavens. :)

Chris
 
What would you reccomend?

Ok thanks. I'm almost certain this time that I will be using a laptop equiped with a USB audio interphase. Which interphase would you reccomend?
 
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