Laptop Audio

Warwick Bassmonkey

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I've kind of inherited a laptop on indefinite loan... which is handy because I've got to go away for a bit and I can maybe use it to carry on creating musical doodles for my forthcoming mega-selling phrygian jazz ambient chill extravaganza.

Not massivley powerful by today's standards, but not bad... it's a 1GHz PIII with 512MB ram.

So I'm wondering if I can get it fixed up so I can plug a little keyboard into it, and run Reason or something like that.

Anyone got any suggestions?

The M-audio Ozone looks good in theory, but I'm nervous of M-audio stuff and USB in general, but if it does what it says on the tin, it'd be ideal.

Hey Ott.. you said you were using a laptop to write on... what are you using for your audio/midi interface? And is it any good?

Thnx all.
 
If you're nervy of M-Audio, Edirol do some very similar things... can think of the PCR-1 and PCR-A30 off the top of my head (unless someone warns me off Edirol - who I've found to be pretty good, Im saving up for a PCR-1 for live stuff).

Hope this helps, am sure there other solutions too. :)

J.
 
IMNSHO Creative have soiled themselves forever with their crappy drivers and lousy documentation.

If Echo made an Indigo-based mini-keyboard unit (like the Ozone and PCR), I'd be there like a shot, but they don't as far as I know, sticking to what they do well, which is standalone soundcards.

J.
 
I've got a Edirol PCR-A30 and i really can't fault it.

Nice keyboard action, very nice nobs and sliders, great audio drivers, low latency, nice build quality, powered by the USB buss [unlike the Ozone with its nasty wall-wart] and a 2 1/2 octave keyboard [unlike the Ozone with its 1 1/2 octave effort].

USB side of things has given me zero hassle and for £130 it is a total bargain.

Only drawback is that I bought mine in Tokyo so the manual is all written in Wiganese.

If anyone works out how to configure the fucking thing, let me know.

:rolleyes:
 
</div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td>QUOTE (JPsychodelicacy)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'>Edirol do some very similar things... can think of the PCR-1 and PCR-A30 off the top of my head[/quote:0764436d8c]

Ah, thanks J... that's exactly the sort of thing I'm looking for - audio and midi controller in one. The PCR-A30 looks the business.

</div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td>QUOTE (Ott^ @ Apr 5 2004, 09:29 AM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'>USB side of things has given me zero hassle and for £130 it is a total bargain.
[/quote:0764436d8c]

How the buggering blue blimey did you get one for 130 quid? Is that what they cost in Japan? Cheapest I can find it for in the UK is 220 - is that good? It does look a far better piece of kit than the Ozone, and the USB power would definitely clinch it, even if it weren't for the rather useful extra half an octave down the bottom end... and sliders.

Is there a zero-latency monitoring option for when you're recording audio? I can't find any mention of this for the Edirol on the interweb sites. The Ozone does mention it, though. Could be important... it's always been a very useful feature of the M-audio PCI cards, especially when you have no mixer.
 
</div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td>QUOTE (Warwick Bassmonkey @ Apr 5 2004, 07:10 PM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'> Is there a zero-latency monitoring option for when you're recording audio? [/quote:588fb70a4a]
The PCR-1 does, I don't know about the PCR-A30 (possibly not).

I wouldn't dis-count them bringing out an uprated A30 at some point with that option though ('cos it's older gear).

And yes, *any* electronic equipment bought in the Far East is a *hell* of a lot cheaper... :angry:

J.

P.S. Ott - would you expect a Roland manual written in English to be much more use to you than the Japanese one? ;)
 
I've never had any problems with M-Audio or Edirol.
 
I found this on the web about the PCRA30...

SOS Edirol Anouncement

It says "The PCRA30’s built-in 24-bit/96kHz USB audio interface features quarter-inch jack inputs and stereo RCA outputs, and allows direct monitoring of the incoming audio signal"

That would appear to answer my "zero latency monitoring" question, wouldn't it?
 
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