Is my laptop upto the job?

[Pete Carter]

Ive been looking at get a m-audio fast track ultra r8, (which needs a shorter name) M-Audio Fast Track Ultra 8R USB 2.0 Audio Interfac at DV247.COM . I was wondering if my laptop would get the best out of it. I have a toshiba L40 its has the following spec:

intel core duo 1.6
2gb ram
5400rpm sata hard drive
only 3 usb ports

Im using Ableton live 7 and the laptop is only used for music, i dont even go online with it.


I dont really have an other options for 8 XLR input interfaces because i dont have firewire.
Id like to get a Presonus firestudio but I've been told that i can't just buy a express card to add firewire because i will have latency problems? is this correct?

thanks for any help

Pete

oh and ps Can you expand the number of inputs on the m-audio fast track ultra 8r?

[Raamizdv]

Yep, that spec should be fine mate....... you didn't say whether you had xp or vista tho..... that could make all the difference (vista is crap for music). You can't expand it but if you bought another one, i think you can link them though the software (don't quote me on that tho)
Hope it works for you........

[Pete Carter]

Thanks mate, I had vista when i got the pc, but it locked up twice in the first 2 days i had the machine so i installed xp pro.

if anyone has any ideas about my firewire question it would be great as with the firestudio i could just add more pre's to expand it. im quite likely to want to do this in a year or so. I dont really know why a firewire card on a laptop should give problems but ive heard on lots of forums that some do?

[JAYDMF]

Originally Posted by Pete Carter

Thanks mate, I had vista when i got the pc, but it locked up twice in the first 2 days i had the machine so i installed xp pro.

if anyone has any ideas about my firewire question it would be great as with the firestudio i could just add more pre's to expand it. im quite likely to want to do this in a year or so. I dont really know why a firewire card on a laptop should give problems but ive heard on lots of forums that some do?

Id look into buying a PCMCIA (right order?) card but beware you need one that will be powered which from my experience are few and far between. Question is do you really need the 8 preamps ? or would an interface with gain controls be good enough if you just use xlr to jack cables ? The other option is to get an interface with jack or adat inputs and use something like the behringer ADA or something like this and send the inputs via ADAT. If you have the cash the Octapre is an awesome piece of gear for such occasions.

The only other piece of gear i know of that has 8 preamps is the Tascam 1641 but this only has 4 outs


Edit: if you want soemthing that is fool proof and are prepared to fork out the MOTU gear is top notch, something like the 828 (i think thats the usb version) although with a set of Pres to go with your looking at around £500 ish but you cant really go far wrong with MOTU

[Pete Carter]

the laptop doesnt have a pcmica slot (think thats right?) it has the replacement called a express slot. there are a number of cards avalable but there very expensive. i think ill just go for the m-audio. i have a novation nio at the moment thats great, but i need to record a drum kit. plus £400 is about my limit on money too.

[JAYDMF]

Originally Posted by Pete Carter

the laptop doesnt have a pcmica slot (think thats right?) it has the replacement called a express slot. there are a number of cards avalable but there very expensive. i think ill just go for the m-audio. i have a novation nio at the moment thats great, but i need to record a drum kit. plus £400 is about my limit on money too.

ahh some confusion here, i wasnt talking about using a direct card for audio but you can pick up cards that will fit into either of those slots that will give you firewire ports. like i said you just have to find the right one as it need to supply power, if you use a 4 pin firewire card your going to get a ground loop if both the audio card and laptop are plugged in, this is usually only present in the monitor mix on most card (which is quite strange) but some do pick it up when recording.

[JAYDMF]

Originally Posted by JAYDMF

ahh some confusion here, i wasnt talking about using a direct card for audio but you can pick up cards that will fit into either of those slots that will give you firewire ports. like i said you just have to find the right one as it need to supply power, if you use a 4 pin firewire card your going to get a ground loop if both the audio card and laptop are plugged in, this is usually only present in the monitor mix on most card (which is quite strange) but some do pick it up when recording.

Edit : just thought if your recording drums and thats why you need more pres look at the Edirol UA1000 as this gives you 4 universal jacks but also gives you gain controls over the rest of the inputs (which are jacks). I think theyve stopped making them but you can find them on Ebay and theyre rackmountable.