Laptop Recording

[Eye2iSF]

I currently have a desktop recording system running cubase 1.6. I would like to use my laptop to sequence when I'm on the road. What would I need to make this happen? midi interface; sound card, etc.? Any suggestions on equipment?

[Jim Wintringham]

Do you want to use the laptop along with a music keyboard? If yes, the keyboard will be your 'soundcard'. You would need an interface cable...probably a USB to midi.
If you just want to edit or build midi files, the laptop has built in sound capibilities, or you could add a 'virtual soundcard' using a 'software synth'...that would be all you would need.

[scottdemarko]

2 words. "Pro Tools" While there are certainly a variety of options you can go with, a good pro tools M-Box (which is highly portable) is the best way to go for recording and creating a effective in/out solution for audio recording and playback.

I should point out that a Motu solution might work better for your situation however. All depends on the situation and the budget. Some people need that extra kick such as a Motu system or a pro tools system, some people can make it happen with just the built in sound card. (of course that would obviously limit the amount of tracks you can do at once....




Take care,
Scott Demarko


scott@trendplanet.com
AIM: TrendPlanet

[jzucker]

Originally posted by scottdemarko
2 words. "Pro Tools" While there are certainly a variety of options you can go with, a good pro tools M-Box (which is highly portable)

I would not recomment M-Box due to the latency you experience with USB based audio devices. Firewire is the way to go with notebook computers. If portability is an issue, check out the m-audio FW410 the Presonus Firepod. The maudio is a bit more portable but the firepod has 8 mic inputs and much better performance specs.

[scottdemarko]

1. What latency? I have not seen it happen with using an M-Box to date.

2. The FirePod is AWESOME! Great recommendation, and at the price, I think i'll get two. Seriously cool.


The guys from Presonus did a live recording with the firepod a few weeks ago at the T.O.P. concert here in Fort Wayne. You can check it out by typing "firepod" into the search box on Sweetwater.com ...

[jzucker]

Originally posted by scottdemarko
1. What latency? I have not seen it happen with using an M-Box to date.


Do you monitor inputs in real time? If you do, you will experience latency on any USB interface. The combination of the hardware design and XP's slowness in servicing the interrupt makes for 10-20ms latency when doing real-time monitoring. If you monitor with real-time plug-ins enabled it's even more of an issue.

Some companies have attempted to get around this by offering a "zero latency" monitoring mode. What this really means is a set of wires soldered from the inputs to the outputs but it's useless if you want to monitor software based effects.

[cohyster]

Originally posted by Jim Wintringham
Do you want to use the laptop along with a music keyboard? If yes, the keyboard will be your 'soundcard'. You would need an interface cable...probably a USB to midi.
If you just want to edit or build midi files, the laptop has built in sound capibilities, or you could add a 'virtual soundcard' using a 'software synth'...that would be all you would need.

If you don't really need a (quality) soundcard as a middleman between your MIDI keyboard and your computer... what is the exact purpose of a sound card as far as recording MIDI goes, if there is any? **assuming a pretty decent sequencing software such as SONAR or cubase is being used.