Re: [microsound] laptop audio interfaces?

["Jonathan Hughes" <Jonathan@xxxxxxxxxxxx>]

>> i have an older mac G3 laptop available now for music use (the black one
>> with the upside-down apple logo when opened) and i'm wondering what my
>> options are for a soundcard/audio breakout box. ideally i'd like
>> something with an integrated MIDI in/out as well with at least a pair of
>> stereo outs (4 pairs would be nice too). my main computer has a MOTU
>> 2408/mk II. could i use this somehow if i found the proper PCI card for
>> my laptop? i'm not even sure if my laptop has room for a card... any
>> help would be highly appreciated!

You'd need a Magma chassis to use the 2408, since laptops aren't big enough to hold PCI cards.

I have the same laptop and for live work, I just use the headphone output. It's got a very low noisefloor and sounds perfectly acceptable in a live situation. For higher quality output, I use a MOTU 828, which is a firewire device that has 8 ins and outs. The new 828 mk II has a bunch of new features including a midi interface (http://www.motu.com).

That powerbook accepts PC cards on the side, so you could use the Echo Indigo or the Digigram Pocket VX.

M Audio (http://www.m-audio.com) has a new firewire interface (the 410) that looks pretty cool (4 ins and outs and MIDI), and Metric Halo (http://www.mhlabs.com) makes two different models (they're much pricier, though).

As far as USB goes, there are a ton of options, including ones from tascam, M Audio, Edirol (Roland), and others. 

You didn't mention what software you're using, but you should check to see how it works with the drivers for the various audio interfaces. I know that some software doesn't work with with the Edirol ASIO drivers, and I'm sure that there are other combinations that are less than perfect.

Jonathan

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