Hi all
I am finally taking my musical creations live, and want to use my laptop (Athlon 2000, 512 M ram, XP Home) with an interface. I will transfer tracks from my CW PC via 24bit 48k (or 44.1) spdif; then mainly just playback, but also rearrange a bit during rehearsals (backing tracks plus vocals, guitar, keys live).
I know it's not a proper gig but whatever!!!
Software, I have Live 4 (preferred as stable) and Sonar 3. Also Samplitude 7. Have thought about MBox to get Protools 6.7, but it is only 2 out (ie stereo). Also rumoured to be unreliable.
Any ideas? I am thinking a mulitple outputs device either 4 or 8 outs; input stereo is fine, inc. spdif (or adat); new EMU 1616 PCM cardbus looks promising, or Motu Audiophile ... I once had a Quattro M-Audio, 4 in/out, which was unstable, and sounded horrible.
Has anyone used any of these 'in action' and are they giving high sound quality and reliable? (yes I know PAs sound nasty usually).
Thanks all.
Inteface for laptop - discussion
Hi all!
The most suitable portable interface (for me) would appear to be the Focusrite Saffire, but like the Emu 1616 Cardbus, it isn't out yet...
*** Moral of the tale:***
Lots of activity in the portable/ external firewire or USB box area... so WHY NO PRODUCT FROM CREAMWARE???
Since this is what everyone wants. The Noah was pointless (competing with millions of rack synths, and CW people who've spents loads on plugins aren't about to duplicate their purchases).
These new synth boxes look kinda weird, expensive one trick ponies... does CW know what it is up to? We live in hope... perhaps we should club together and buy the music bit of the company... (only joking!!!)
The most suitable portable interface (for me) would appear to be the Focusrite Saffire, but like the Emu 1616 Cardbus, it isn't out yet...
*** Moral of the tale:***
Lots of activity in the portable/ external firewire or USB box area... so WHY NO PRODUCT FROM CREAMWARE???
Since this is what everyone wants. The Noah was pointless (competing with millions of rack synths, and CW people who've spents loads on plugins aren't about to duplicate their purchases).
These new synth boxes look kinda weird, expensive one trick ponies... does CW know what it is up to? We live in hope... perhaps we should club together and buy the music bit of the company... (only joking!!!)
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ScofieldKid
- Posts: 307
- Joined: Thu Nov 13, 2003 4:00 pm
- Location: Oregon
- Contact:
Hi all
well I just bought an M-Audio 1814, I am sure you will all be horrified, but I am only using it digitally for ADAT input AD to replace a Fostex VC8; and spdif or adat to digitally master off tracks from the PC to the laptop.
It was only £340 UK, and comes with loads of vaguely useful software, and can be used with Pro Tools M-Powered (LE) (when I buy it for about £220), it is quite a good deal.
I will report back on quality, etc, when I get around to unboxing it and trying it out - with a PC laptop and also a G5 Imac.
I have been recording vocals thru a Mackie 1204 mixer, quite ancient, so I should also have better quality preamps on this too.
I am not running a pro studio
Also, I have 'heard' that CW will be bringing out an external box (like these with dsp) in 15 - 24 months.
No rush then!!!
well I just bought an M-Audio 1814, I am sure you will all be horrified, but I am only using it digitally for ADAT input AD to replace a Fostex VC8; and spdif or adat to digitally master off tracks from the PC to the laptop.
It was only £340 UK, and comes with loads of vaguely useful software, and can be used with Pro Tools M-Powered (LE) (when I buy it for about £220), it is quite a good deal.
I will report back on quality, etc, when I get around to unboxing it and trying it out - with a PC laptop and also a G5 Imac.
I have been recording vocals thru a Mackie 1204 mixer, quite ancient, so I should also have better quality preamps on this too.
I am not running a pro studio
Also, I have 'heard' that CW will be bringing out an external box (like these with dsp) in 15 - 24 months.
No rush then!!!
If anyone is still there, the M-Audio 1814 is NOT recommended. (It does analog and Adat via Firewire)
The little mixer, with the 1814, does not allow routing between analog and Adat - to do this you have to run a sequencer (Sonar, Cubase etc), and reroute on a mixer channel.
This all adds latency and is a right pain.
So I am about to return the 1814 to the shop.
I went back to using my Fostex VC8 for analog to Adat (to get 8 more analog inputs for synths etc). This does not sound quite as good as the M-Audio ( it is much older) but at least it works properly.
I will swap the 1814 for a M-Audio 410, which is a straight Firewire analog interface, with ProTools LE as well for £220.
(The competing products are the Edirol 66, or the Presonus Firebox, but they don't have the Protools facility)
Then the plan of passing audio from Creamware to the other PC for editing in ProTools should work.
The little mixer, with the 1814, does not allow routing between analog and Adat - to do this you have to run a sequencer (Sonar, Cubase etc), and reroute on a mixer channel.
This all adds latency and is a right pain.
So I am about to return the 1814 to the shop.
I went back to using my Fostex VC8 for analog to Adat (to get 8 more analog inputs for synths etc). This does not sound quite as good as the M-Audio ( it is much older) but at least it works properly.
I will swap the 1814 for a M-Audio 410, which is a straight Firewire analog interface, with ProTools LE as well for £220.
(The competing products are the Edirol 66, or the Presonus Firebox, but they don't have the Protools facility)
Then the plan of passing audio from Creamware to the other PC for editing in ProTools should work.