Re: Audio Interface for Notebook Users

[mark sottilaro <zerocrossing2001@yahoo.com>]

I'd stay away from USB1 interfaces.  I tried my
M-Audio Audiofile USB on a 1.4 mhz Thinkpad and I
wasn't able to get acceptable results in terms of
latency.  For almost no difference in money I was able
to get an M-Audio Solo firewire interface that's been
working vey nicely... although on a 1.2 mhz Powerbook.
(Thinkpad doesn't have native firewire but
PCM-CIA/Firewire converters are cheap)

I think maybe the new Thinkpads do have firewire, as I
almost bought one.  Ended up with a Toshiba though, so
wish me luck.  It's being configured as we speak...

--- Krispen Hartung <khartung@cableone.net> wrote:

> I might give the M-Audio USB unit a try then. It's
> not terribly expensive.  So far I really like
> M-audio gear, especially their solid state recorder.
>  I still like the Indigo IO, but plugging my guitar
> chord into that thing with a 1/4 to 1/8 adpator
> makes me nervous. It just hangs there, and easily
> wiggles around. I bought a really high quality
> instrument chord that is designed for computer use
> (the Monster cable that goes from 1/4 to 1/8 and
> doesn't require an adaptor), but the thing is so
> thick and robust that it overpowers the input jack
> of the IO. It's like I need some sort of harness
> that will keep it stable in the input jack. 
> 
>  Thanks.
> 
> Kris
> 
>   ----- Original Message ----- 
> 
>   Latency should be no problem if you're only using
> a few channels.  In
>   theory USB/Firewire devices are more suspectable
> to bus contention
>   than a PCMCIA card, but if you only have one
> high-speed device on the
>   bus it isn't an issue.  Just avoid having the
> audio interface,
>   scanner, video digitizer, and external backup hard
> drive all going at
>   the same time :-)
> 
>   Historically firewire has had a better reputation
> than USB, but
>   they're about the same now.  USB is a bit
> twitchier with hubs, you
>   have to be careful never to mix USB1 and USB2
> devices on the same hub.
>   If you're plugging directly into the computer
> you're fine.
> 
>   Jeff
> 
> 


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