Using a laptop/desktop to play live shows with eMagic software instruments???

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pisces7378

pisces7378

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Hey Guys,

I just recently bought eMagics' EVB3, EVP88, and the EVD6 software instruments. They sound AWESOME! I love them. But they are "in the box" so to say in that they are confined to my computer. Well my studio is in my house, but my band practices somewhere else across town. I can not... ok, I WILL not disconect my computer and bring it out of the studio and across town everyday for practice. That has desaster written all over it.

How can I get these sounds to the practice space and to the stage for live shows? My guitar player's girlfriend has about a 3-4 year old Gateway laptop with a Pent III in it. I could not find out how many mHz the Pent III functioned at but since the slowest Pent III was 650mHz I am just assuming the worst and thinking it is that.

She gave me full permission to strip it down, do whatever I need to do to use it. But it only has 64MB of RAM. Also the hard drive is only like 5GB. The OS and Microsoft Word already eat a big chunk of that up. It has Windows 98. It has 2x USB, SCSI, Serial, Printer, and PCMCIA connectivity. Right now it runns like molasses just to do normal computing functions like write someting in Word. So I know that Logic Audio Platinum and a software instrument would give it a nervous breakdown. I would have to do a complete re-install, maybe a different more stable OS like XP. I would deffinitly have to buy some memory to get it up to at least 128MB which is the system req. according to eMagic. But what about the HD? It is only 5GB. I don't know shit about replacing HD's inside laptops.

I would have to buy a Firewire PCMCIA cardbus card so that I could use my midi-keyboard controller through my MOTU 828 mkII (I just KNEW that going Firewire instead of a PCI card based interface would be a good idea in the long run).

But what do you guys think? I am on a shoe string budget here. Beleive me, the thought has crossed my mind that I could just save myself a whole lot of headache and just get a new Dell laptop that would do the trick. Or hell even the lowest level Apple PowerBook would probably REALLY do the trick. But I just DO NOT have that kind of cheese lay8ing around. I am more in the $250 range. But I do not want to spend $250 on the project and it just not work. I do not have any experience with laptops. I just know that they have a tendency to break a LOT more than desktops.

What do you guys think? Three to four year old Gateway, stripped down, added RAM, new OS, Firewire PCMCIA card... will it still run like shit? Or do you think I might be able to squeeze a Hammond organ sound out of it?

Any other suggestions are MORE than welcome!
 
It'll be fine .. almost.

All your running is a single VSTi to jam with. No problem.

I might do the same with Amplitube VST (guitar) at our jams beleive it or not. Use a laptop as my 'amp'. (I own a mamoth mesa boogie amp .. but can't really use it there.)

A PIII is fine , 5GB is fine (well .. it's small , but it's fine for your purpose) .. the 64MB of ram needs help.

You're gonna need Windows 2000 or Windows XP to get the WDM driver advantage .. and therefore may need to upgrade the ram to at least 128 .. but most likely 256.

Tristan
 
oh yeah ...

once you get the ram , and you'll need it, are you going to line out straight digital into the Motu viaa firewire? .. or will you use a soundcard to send an analog signal into the motu?


Tristan
 
I planned to get a firewire PCMCIA bus card for the laptop and firewire the MOTU 828mkII into the Laptop. Since the MOTU has both audio and MIDI interfaces it is great for this.

I will use my Fatar StudioLogic SL-880Pro keyboard controller to play notes "into" Logic via the midi in the MOTU, and then output a stereo signal (i.e. two mono signals) from the "Main Outs" on the MOTU and into some kind of sound reinforcement system. Most likely our rehearsal PA system.

Sound kosher to you?
 
Depending on how many different sounds/the nature of the sounds that you are using, you can could get a cheap but decent rack sampler...

I'm considering doing that for my live setup, but if I had another computer I spose I would go with that.
 
Well I only want to use the eMagic EVB3, EVP88, and the EVD6 software instruments. Not a sampler.

I wish there was some piece of hardware that I could get (besides a whole computer) that would allow me to use these soft-inst.
 
Pisces, sorry to abandon your topic but how is that firewire MOTU serving you? I'm thinki9ng about the MOTU 869 but since most here tell me to go PCI...

Thanks!
 
Well I have had a Delta-66 for years. It was pretty good.

But this MOTU is 100 x better in my opinion.

I honestly think it boils down to your needs. 1st of all I DEFINITELY recommend MOTU. M-Audio just doesn't sound as good no matter if it is PCI or Firewire.

The converters on the MOTU are just an entire generation more advanced than the M-Audio cards. But as far as the difference between a MOTU 2408mkII (PCI based) vs. the 828mkII (Firewire based) it comes down to a price/need/flexability ratio. Yes I know a three way fraction isn't possible, but work with me here.

There are no IRQ interupt problems, no "wrong PCI slot" problems, no compatiability issues (well almost none).
Basically if the PC/Mac is Firewire ready, then you are in like Flinn. Also it is so portable. When I bought it, I basically realized that I do not NEED to record 24 simultanious tracks EVER. So a 2408mkII with a $1,000 price tag paled in comparison to the 828mkII and it's $740 price tag. For me, the price itself sold me the product.

I NEVER in a million years thought that I would even consider mobile use of my interface. I thought:
"Hell, I hate laptops! I would NEVER use one for mobile recording. Besides, I will never EVER be in a taxi cab on the way to the airport and feel the need to lay down a vocal track. So why would I worry about portability?"

Well as you have seen in this thread, situations present themselves. I can almost 100% guarantee that at some point within a year of you purchasing a firewire interface you will find a really good reason to thank God for you buying a portable non PCI-based interface. If I had bought the 2408mkII or some other PCI based interface, then I would have to lug a PC over to my practice space everyday, then lug it back, set it all back up and then tear it down and do it again the next day. With the money I saved by buying the MOTU 828mkII instead of the 2408 (aprox: $260) I can either fix up and trick out a used laptop, or just save a few paychecks and buy a brand new re-furbished Dell laptop or something. I would never recommend Dells for being your primary recording platform, but for gigging using software instruments and soft-samplers... WHY NOT?!?

Also do not forget that the MOTU 828mkII comes with the MIDI interface built in. Just one less thing to have to worry about. Also you can daisy chain these machines together for double the I/O if you ever find yourself needing to track the Vienna Boys Choir or 300 Piece orchestra. (yeah right!)

Jesus I sound like and advertisement for MOTU. They should bloddy hire me. Marketing department here I come.
 
Thanks,

And you do sound like a salesman. A very good one. ;)

Guhlenn
 
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