X1 on a laptop issue

I have X1 on a tower and would like to use it on a laptop. (HP Pavillion dm4)
I'm wondering, what does one do about sound quality and midi interface?
My tower has room and I use an EMU board with the midi interface.
What does one do with a laptop?
 
Thanks,
LL

If your only doing midi get a MIDI sport or something like it for $36

johnnyV


If your only doing midi get a MIDI sport or something like it for $36

I actually would advise otherwise -- and go with a solid audio/MIDI device (as mentioned above, for example).  MIDI only devices tend to have some issues and are generally not as stable for some reason (depending on the device, of course).


And, having a full blown audio/midi device gives the user more options without undue cost.

Thanks so much for the replies. Yes I will be recording but I'm yet to determine how involved that will be. I may be using it as a multi track recorder (8 audio in plus some midi in) or maybe not as my tower may be the box that does that.
Thanks again.
 
Jules

johnnyV


If your only doing midi get a MIDI sport or something like it for $36

midi sport wont help him if his soundcard in his laptop isnt high quality.the typical laptop soundcards have a good amount of latency..on midi??
yes on midi too.try switching your soundcard to mme then open up session drummer click on a drum/its a second behind the click(.3 of a second sometimes)
you could always use asio4all though to cure that issue untill you get a good soundcard.

johnnyV


I used to do a lot of MIDI only stuff and yes, the only MME worked but I agree, on board sound cards are a waste of time. Sounds like the OP needs a multi in interface any how. I only mentioned the MIDI sport as a inexpensive solution to midi only work. But possibly the better alternative would be a USB controller.I keep forgetting about those.

it was a good suggestion johny.i wasnt stepping on your toes bro..your a good guy  :)

Vinny, Some laptops do work better than others but this information is never talked about in reviews.My little Asus netbook certainly has worked better than most other laptops I have used before. I have managed to do 12 track live audio recording @16/44.1.using my interface. The netbook has very marginal specs. I'm sure a dual core with 4 gigs of ram would do better. Without the interface all I can manage is MIDI in MME mode and MS wavetable, I have never tried ASIO4all as I don't want to disturb my Tascams ASIO drivers. There used to be some kind of improved audio input via express card slot. Don't think they make them anymore.

http://www.echoaudio.com/...rd/IndigoIOx/index.php

My Son had to try 3 laptops before he found one to use for DJ work with Tractor. The worst one was the most powerful a Dell, he ended up with an Acer at half the price. I had and Acer that never worked very well as a DAW so it's nothing to do with brand. It's just the way they slap them together out of zillions of possible parts. That's why they say Macs were better (in the old days) cause they never strayed from using their own tested parts. I think Towers are better because you can build them out of known to be good parts.

I didn't read all the replies.... just browsed the first few so......

I would not recommend getting one of the el-cheapo midi cord things.  

If you are serious about using a lappy for recording ( and there is nothing wrong with that)  go ahead and spend the money to get a nice audio/midi external USB interface that uses ASIO drivers. 

You can get something decent that will do a good job with 2 channels for around $200 or less. 

I used my external Focusrite on my stock Dell lappy for over 3 years. Then about 1.5 years ago I built a custom desktop tower and I still use the external Focusrite on it.  Works like a charm. And if I need to use the lappy, I just swap the cord and I'm recording mobile. 

The interface is the heart of the recording system so don't skimp on that part of the studio gear.  Get a good one. 

And there's another bone of contention with shopping for a laptop! How often do they tell you what the speed of the hard drive is! That's because one week they use brand x and the next week brand Y You have to take the thing apart and look at the label to be sure. I know CJ is always saying use an external USB drive but a laptop with only 3 ports ( 2 of them share bus) and a mouse and a usb interface and then a hard drive will most likely act up. Look for a SATA port. There seems to be a combo port on some laptops now.