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Subject: Soundcard for laptop (XP)

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Original Message 1/15 21-Nov-05 @ 08:08 PM Edit: 21-Nov-05 | 08:11 PM - Soundcard for laptop (XP)

Anders Klitgaard

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I was planning on gettting the M-Audio Fast Track USB, but the reviews at MF are so bad! Alternatively, I could get the M-Audio MobilePre USB, which fares better with the reviewers, but it's a step down from 24 bit to 16 bit.

My purpose is to record guitar via a Shure SM57 as well as speech in the same mic. Please recommend me an alternative soundcard in this category to be used with a laptop (XP). Thanks!

M-Audio Fast Track USB

M-Audio MobilePre USB

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Message 2/15 21-Nov-05 @ 10:56 PM - RE: Soundcard for laptop (XP)

milan

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Edirol UA-25 perhaps? i'm happy with my FA-101

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Message 3/15 21-Nov-05 @ 11:51 PM - RE: Soundcard for laptop (XP)

Anders Klitgaard

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quote
milan wrote:

Edirol UA-25 perhaps? im happy with my FA-101

Thanks, Milan. Yes, I was about to go back here an update the thread with the news I've aquired. I now think there are better products out there than the two by M-Audio listed above. Edirol UA-25 being one of them. However, in a user review I read that the USB interface is USB 1.1 (rather than 2.0). Is that so? It is not clear from the Roland web site. As an alternative, I now consider the Presonus Firebox. It is more expensive than the Edirol. What worries me the most however is whether Firewire will be around when I need a new laptop, say, 3-4 years from now. And if the Firebox's version of FW (FW 400) will then work with FW 800 or whatever will be current at that point in the future.

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Message 4/15 22-Nov-05 @ 09:39 AM - RE: Soundcard for laptop (XP)

The Moujik

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In a similar vein, you have the Edirol UA101 (USB2) and the Edirol FA66 (cut down version of the FA101 I think).

I also like the look of the Emu 1616 & Emu 1616M PCMCIA systems.

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Message 5/15 22-Nov-05 @ 11:15 AM - RE: Soundcard for laptop (XP)

Anders Klitgaard

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quote
The Moujik wrote:

In a similar vein, you have the Edirol UA101 (USB2) and the Edirol FA66 (cut down version of the FA101 I think).

I also like the look of the Emu 1616 & Emu 1616M PCMCIA systems.

Wow! Thanks a lot for telling me about those Emu systems. I didn't know soundcards were available with PCMCIA interface.
The UA101 is rather more expensive than the Firebox.
Just glancing at it, the FA66 seems as if it may be the Firebox's rival - they both have the Firewire interface and are priced about equally at Thomann. However, it is not a user favorite at MF, for what it's worth (only 3 ratings).
I'll take a closer look at the Emu systems. Surely, they must have been reviewed in the magazines. Does anyone know more on this? Thanks.

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Message 6/15 22-Nov-05 @ 12:02 PM - RE: Soundcard for laptop (XP)

The Moujik

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The Emu cards got a very positive write-up in Sound On Sound magazine, which is how they came to my attention.

There are a few good PCMCIA cards available - the Echo Indigo range for example are very popular & reasonably priced. I have one myself.

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Message 7/15 22-Nov-05 @ 12:05 PM - RE: Soundcard for laptop (XP)

Anders Klitgaard

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I have a Dell Inspiron 9100 laptop. It is not one of those that are tested by EMU, cf. this page. Unfortunately, my PCMCIA controller isn't listed on this page. I have checked the user manual for the Dell Inspiron 600m, which has been verified to work with EMU 1616M. Like mine, it says: "Data width (maximum): 16 bits; CardBus 32 bits." I wonder if the 16 bits listed here means that the interface does not take the full advantage of the EMU's 24 bits...?

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Message 8/15 22-Nov-05 @ 01:03 PM - RE: Soundcard for laptop (XP)

The Moujik

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I'm pretty sure one thing has nothing to do with the other; hopefully someone who knows more about it than me will come along & confirm...

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Message 9/15 22-Nov-05 @ 01:09 PM - RE: Soundcard for laptop (XP)

Anders Klitgaard

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Hi Moujik
Have you seen the PM I sent you?

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Message 10/15 22-Nov-05 @ 03:15 PM - RE: Soundcard for laptop (XP)

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surelythe datawidth is just about the bus (assuming it's dual by doubling the bandwidth per cycle using 2 halves of cycle wave?) that shouldn't effect the bitrate of the actual sample device (the unit itself) surely

no firewire on this lappy?

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I had an idea for a script once. It's basically Jaws except when the guys in the boat are going after Jaws, they look around and there's an even bigger Jaws. The guys have to team up with Jaws to get Bigger Jaws.... I call it... Big Jaws!!!

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Message 11/15 22-Nov-05 @ 05:58 PM - RE: Soundcard for laptop (XP)

Anders Klitgaard

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quote
k wrote:

surelythe datawidth is just about the bus (assuming its dual by doubling the bandwidth per cycle using 2 halves of cycle wave?) that shouldnt effect the bitrate of the actual sample device (the unit itself) surely

no firewire on this lappy?

FW 400 on this lappy confirmed! Hi K!

Would you say that Firewire is generally superior to the PCMCIA interface?

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Message 12/15 22-Nov-05 @ 07:39 PM Edit: 22-Nov-05 | 07:40 PM - RE: Soundcard for laptop (XP)

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i'd say so yes... dunno why, i never actualy looked up the data rates

but, firewire is designed for data transfer and is the prevailing preferred technology of the two

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Message 13/15 23-Nov-05 @ 07:15 AM Edit: 23-Nov-05 | 07:17 AM - RE: Soundcard for laptop (XP)

Anders Klitgaard

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Emu has just posted a link to a German review of the 1616m. If my German does not fail me, they prefer it to the competition, including the Firebox:

"Gegen�ber Konkurrenten wie M-Audios FW-1814, der Presonus Firebox oder Edirols FA-101 zieht das 1616m mit seiner hohen Klangqualit�t, dem eingebauten DSP und dem Phono-Vorverst�rker mehrere Ausstattungstr�mpfe aus dem �rmel, verzichtet auf der anderen Seite auf Buspower-Betrieb und Mac-Unterst�tzung. Dennoch ist hervorzuheben, dass der Betrieb ohne MicroDock M v�llige Mobilit�t gestattet, wenn auch ohne Eing�nge. Kompakter geht es nicht mehr." The full review.

My XP-based laptop uses the 4-pin mini non-powered connector anyway.

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Message 14/15 23-Nov-05 @ 06:08 PM - RE: Soundcard for laptop (XP)

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oh well i looked it up, and it's 33mb/sec burst like pci cards.. as long as your lappy has a compatible slot it should be ok i guess, i'm just not that sure about e-mu cos of my exsperiences with the 1820m and also due to the slew of driver probs reported on the www by users... also, firewire can migrate from laptop to desktop whereas a pcmcia card cannot without some adapter pci card.

mebbe i'm just a bit conditioned by earlier pcmcia solutions which didnt really do as well as expected... also, there's way more choice for firewire devices

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Message 15/15 23-Nov-05 @ 09:20 PM Edit: 23-Nov-05 | 09:27 PM - RE: Soundcard for laptop (XP)

Anders Klitgaard

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Thanks for your advice, K. Yes, user experiences are very important - it is what first alerted me to the fact that the M-Audio product I was initially hooked on could be a lot of trouble (Fast Track USB). I then started looking elsewhere, and discovered Firebox. Being a guitarist, I have the Boss BR1600CD. However, I don't like working on this interface - the screen is very small and dialing through the menues is annoying - plus I tend to forget how to do things because I don't use it that much. On top of that I don't like digital effects. Sure, they are fun to play with, but ultimately they alienate me from my way of playing. It's as if they introduce distance between my fingers and the strings. I feel more comfortable working on the computer - I want to migrate to PC recording eventually. Do you think Firewire 800 is right around the corner for applications such as the Firebox? Note that the manufacturer has lowered the price - it's as if they've got something up their sleave.

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