Thatsastrat
Max Output Level: -65 dBFS
- Total Posts : 1267
- Joined: 2004/05/09 02:20:19
- Status: offline
How do you people work around this with your laptops?
My laptop has 3 usb ports, two usb 2, one usb 3. I have a mouse plugged into one of the usb 2 ports. I have read that your sound card should be put on a port by itself, and that most sound cards do not work well with usb 3. So do you get a hub and plug that into the other usb 2 socket to use for the mouse and everything else, and leave the other usb 2 for the sound card? Or can I move the mouse to the usb 3 port leaving the open usb 2 port for a hub to plug in other devices. Or are you doing something else that I am just not thinking of. Thanks for any of your replies. I don't plan to use this setup much, but when I leave the warm confines of my bedroom studio, I would like to know how others are coping with these issues.
post edited by Thatsastrat - 2013/09/14 12:20:48
Sonar Platimum, Win10 32bit, Quad Q6600,4G DDR2 Ram, BCF2000, Lexicon Lambda interface,Tascam US 1800, WD 500 GB HD, M-Audio AV40 Monitors, Line 6 DI Gold, Guitar Rig 5 Pro, hand full of guitars, Kawia PH50 Keyboard,Digitech GNX3 http://www.soundclick.com/thatsastrat/%3C/a%3E http://www.myspace.com/thatsastrat/music
|
garrigus
Max Output Level: 0 dBFS
- Total Posts : 8599
- Joined: 2003/11/05 17:23:21
- Location: www.garrigus.com
- Status: offline
Re: How do you people work around this with your laptops?
2013/09/14 12:24:28
(permalink)
|
Living Room Rocker
Max Output Level: -77 dBFS
- Total Posts : 675
- Joined: 2009/09/16 22:10:24
- Status: offline
Re: How do you people work around this with your laptops?
2013/09/14 12:28:58
(permalink)
Thatsastrat
My laptop has 2 usb ports, one usb 2, one usb 3. I have a mouse plugged into the usb 2 port. I have read that your sound card should be put on a port by itself, and that most sound cards do not work well with usb 3. So do you get a hub and plug that into the usb 3 socket to use for everything else, and leave the usb 2 for the sound card? Or are you doing something else that I am just not thinking of. Thanks for any of your replies. I don't plan to use this setup much, but when I leave the warm confines of my bedroom studio, I would like to know how others are coping with these issues.
There is little you can do to compensate for a lack of USB ports. This why it is important to consider your needs when putting together a home/project studio. Just as when you would consider and research a proper, sufficient sound card/interface in your budget and purpose(s). I found a laptop with four USB (3) ports and one thunderbolt port (for firewire connectivity). This machine was $1300 and has enough connectivity for my sound card, two controllers and external hard disk drive with one USB port free. I would not trust a hub, but it can serve you well for your mouse and external HDD. I am not sure I would connect a controller and certainly not a sound card (as you mentioned) to a hub. If you do not have any USB 3 peripherals, then I don't see any real advantage to using that port for a hub over the USB 2 port. BTW, I have not experienced any problems utilizing the USB 3 ports for my USB 2 peripherals. Kind regards, Living Room Rocker
|
stratman70
Max Output Level: -45 dBFS
- Total Posts : 3044
- Joined: 2006/09/12 20:34:12
- Location: Earth
- Status: offline
Re: How do you people work around this with your laptops?
2013/09/14 13:13:34
(permalink)
I only have 4 USB 3.0 ports on my new Asus laptop. Roland octacapture works fine in the USB 3.0. So do all of my other 2.0 devices.
I did buy a small 4 port powered USB 3.0 hub-haven't had to use it yet. I have obe USB 3.0 ext HD and I put a second internal HD in my laptop by removing the optical drive.
No USB issues.
|
joden
Max Output Level: -65 dBFS
- Total Posts : 1263
- Joined: 2007/09/22 17:03:46
- Status: offline
Re: How do you people work around this with your laptops?
2013/09/14 13:24:02
(permalink)
FWIW, I have used a non-powered hub with ASIO drivers with no dramas - have not done anything overly demanding, just backing tracks and softsynths. And believe it or not that was with a Behringer QX series mixer and the Behringer ASIO driver 
|
bapu
Max Output Level: 0 dBFS
- Total Posts : 86000
- Joined: 2006/11/25 21:23:28
- Location: Thousand Oaks, CA
- Status: offline
Re: How do you people work around this with your laptops?
2013/09/14 15:50:35
(permalink)
Thatsastrat
I have read that your sound card should be put on a port by itself
Well, I have my Cakewalk-Roland UA-1G USB soundcard on a USB 2.0 hub and it works just fine. I, on the other hand, fail to work fine 99% of the time so there is balance in the universe.
|
Jim Roseberry
Max Output Level: 0 dBFS
- Total Posts : 9871
- Joined: 2004/03/23 11:34:51
- Location: Ohio
- Status: offline
Re: How do you people work around this with your laptops?
2013/09/14 16:01:52
(permalink)
Dongles typically work fine with USB3 ports (even 3rd party controllers).
I run a small USB hub (break out cable) for my iLok, eLicenser, and Waves keys.
This allows them to connect via a single USB-2 port... and I can move them quickly/easily as a group.
Inexpensive... and convenient
|
Cactus Music
Max Output Level: 0 dBFS
- Total Posts : 8424
- Joined: 2004/02/09 21:34:04
- Status: offline
Re: How do you people work around this with your laptops?
2013/09/14 16:06:56
(permalink)
I have my DTX drums and Interface in the 2 USB ports. At least I think they are because they look like they always did.
Wireless mouse /keyboard dongle in USB 3? it's a weird looking one right?
I leave the 4th USB ( 2-3?) port empty and use it for USB sticks and external storage.
My printer is wireless.
I guess if I had a controller I might use my powered hub..it's USB 2 so not sure how that works now.
|
lawajava
Max Output Level: -55 dBFS
- Total Posts : 2040
- Joined: 2012/05/31 23:23:55
- Location: Seattle
- Status: offline
Re: How do you people work around this with your laptops?
2013/09/14 17:22:34
(permalink)
I imagine folks with desktops are chuckling and possibly thinking "wow laptops must be a hassle so glad I have a desktop."
I used to be a desktop guy, but it has been so incredibly freeing to have Sonar set up on a laptop. I can put in more time in more places with it because of the mobility.
So yeah, a little USB planning and with a laptop you're good to go!
Two internal 2TB SSDs laptop stuffed with Larry's deals and awesome tools. Studio One is the cat's meow as a DAW now that I've migrated off of Sonar. Using BandLab Cakewalk just to grab old files when migrating songs.
|
lawp
Max Output Level: -67 dBFS
- Total Posts : 1154
- Joined: 2012/06/28 13:27:41
- Status: offline
Re: How do you people work around this with your laptops?
2013/09/14 17:47:54
(permalink)
if it has a pcmcia slot you could add extra usb ports via that
|
Sidroe
Max Output Level: -55.5 dBFS
- Total Posts : 1954
- Joined: 2010/11/10 18:59:43
- Location: Macon,Georgia
- Status: offline
Re: How do you people work around this with your laptops?
2013/09/14 18:21:18
(permalink)
I just bought 2 Roland Studio Capture 1610s this summer. They won't sync on my laptop without the use of a hub. My desktop has plenty of usb ports and they work fine without the hub but the hub is a necessity on the laptop.
Sonar Platinum, Sonar X3e, Sonar X2a , Sonar X1 Expanded and 8.5.3 (32 and 64 bit), Windows 10 on a Toshiba P75-A7200 Laptop with i7 @ 2.4 quad and 8 gigs of RAM and secondary WD 1 Tb drive, Windows 10 desktop, Asus i5 @ 3.2 quad, 12 gigs RAM, 1 Tb drive, 1 500 gig drive, MOTU 24io, 2 Roland Studio Captures, Saffire 6 USB for laptop, Soundtracs Topaz Project 8 mixer, Alesis Monitor 2s, Event BAS 20/20s, Roland Micro-Monitor BA-8s, and 45 years worth of collecting FX, Mics, Amps, Guitars, and Keyboards!
|
Thatsastrat
Max Output Level: -65 dBFS
- Total Posts : 1267
- Joined: 2004/05/09 02:20:19
- Status: offline
Re: How do you people work around this with your laptops?
2013/09/15 03:58:18
(permalink)
Thanks everyone for your input. I just wanted to hear from those that have done this on laptops and have the experience of what works. I think the trimmed down setup I have planned to use with the laptop should work fine. I am just going to have to leave some things out with the mobile setup, and just keep those on the desktop which has ample usb ports.
Sonar Platimum, Win10 32bit, Quad Q6600,4G DDR2 Ram, BCF2000, Lexicon Lambda interface,Tascam US 1800, WD 500 GB HD, M-Audio AV40 Monitors, Line 6 DI Gold, Guitar Rig 5 Pro, hand full of guitars, Kawia PH50 Keyboard,Digitech GNX3 http://www.soundclick.com/thatsastrat/%3C/a%3E http://www.myspace.com/thatsastrat/music
|
Anderton
Max Output Level: 0 dBFS
- Total Posts : 14070
- Joined: 2003/11/06 14:02:03
- Status: offline
Re: How do you people work around this with your laptops?
2013/09/15 04:17:33
(permalink)
Don't be too quick to write off that 3.0 port with an audio interface. I have an interface that was a little squirrely with USB 2.0. I plugged into into the USB 3.0 port to see what would happen, and the performance improved dramatically.
|
soens
Max Output Level: -23.5 dBFS
- Total Posts : 5154
- Joined: 2005/09/16 03:19:55
- Location: Location: Location
- Status: offline
Re: How do you people work around this with your laptops?
2013/09/15 04:55:32
(permalink)
To add to all the hubbub, I say, get a hub, bub!
I have 4 ports on my laptop, 3 USB-3 & 1 USB-2. I use a 10 port powered hub with 5 items plugged into it and a 2-way switch so 2 computers can use the perifs, though only one at a time. Works great for me.
Steve
|
BlixYZ
Max Output Level: -74 dBFS
- Total Posts : 805
- Joined: 2010/12/31 16:45:54
- Location: Barrington, NJ
- Status: offline
Re: How do you people work around this with your laptops?
2013/09/15 08:40:33
(permalink)
as stated, get a powered hub- you won't regret it. next, experiment with different configurations until you find a winner. my hunch is that as long as you keep the interface by itself ( on it's own port), everything will work smoothly either way.
|
Jim Roseberry
Max Output Level: 0 dBFS
- Total Posts : 9871
- Joined: 2004/03/23 11:34:51
- Location: Ohio
- Status: offline
Re: How do you people work around this with your laptops?
2013/09/16 15:00:45
(permalink)
Anderton
Don't be too quick to write off that 3.0 port with an audio interface. I have an interface that was a little squirrely with USB 2.0. I plugged into into the USB 3.0 port to see what would happen, and the performance improved dramatically.
USB-3 ports that are problematic are typically 3rd-party add-on controllers (not Intel USB-3 that's integrated into Z77/Z87 motherboards). Similar to using a non-TI chipset Firewire controller...
|
robert_e_bone
Moderator
- Total Posts : 8968
- Joined: 2007/12/26 22:09:28
- Location: Palatine, IL
- Status: offline
Re: How do you people work around this with your laptops?
2013/09/16 20:54:34
(permalink)
I too am a big fan of powered hubs.
Just to clarify something, USB 3 ports will NOT transfer data from a USB 2.0 device any faster than USB 2.0 speeds. (not to mention that there is no guarantee that an audio interface will even function properly in a USB 3.0 port, although I am happy that the above poster did have success with that).
Bob Bone
Wisdom is a giant accumulation of "DOH!" Sonar: Platinum (x64), X3 (x64) Audio Interfaces: AudioBox 1818VSL, Steinberg UR-22 Computers: 1) i7-2600 k, 32 GB RAM, Windows 8.1 Pro x64 & 2) AMD A-10 7850 32 GB RAM Windows 10 Pro x64 Soft Synths: NI Komplete 8 Ultimate, Arturia V Collection, many others MIDI Controllers: M-Audio Axiom Pro 61, Keystation 88es Settings: 24-Bit, Sample Rate 48k, ASIO Buffer Size 128, Total Round Trip Latency 9.7 ms
|
Thatsastrat
Max Output Level: -65 dBFS
- Total Posts : 1267
- Joined: 2004/05/09 02:20:19
- Status: offline
Re: How do you people work around this with your laptops?
2013/09/16 21:07:58
(permalink)
Thanks again everyone for sharing your experience and thoughts on what has worked well for you. I have zero experience with a usb 3 port and the Tascam US 1800 that I bought seems rather finicky as well. Hard to tell though because I went rather quickly with the Windows 8 upgrade, upgrade to X2, then the US 1800. To be quite honest the dust is still settling. Now I want to get this Laptop (a core I3 Toshiba) working so when I want to go to friends places the desk can stay home. So thanks for all the replies on what's working in the real world.
I also want to thank the forum heavyweights (you know who you are) for the sage advice.
Sonar Platimum, Win10 32bit, Quad Q6600,4G DDR2 Ram, BCF2000, Lexicon Lambda interface,Tascam US 1800, WD 500 GB HD, M-Audio AV40 Monitors, Line 6 DI Gold, Guitar Rig 5 Pro, hand full of guitars, Kawia PH50 Keyboard,Digitech GNX3 http://www.soundclick.com/thatsastrat/%3C/a%3E http://www.myspace.com/thatsastrat/music
|
vintagevibe
Max Output Level: -51 dBFS
- Total Posts : 2446
- Joined: 2003/12/15 21:45:06
- Location: Atlanta, Ga
- Status: offline
Re: How do you people work around this with your laptops?
2013/09/16 21:58:24
(permalink)
Get a hub. Plug your audio into it's own port. Everything else will work fine on a hub. Works like a charm for me. No laptop on the market has enough USB ports. It's likely you won't even need a powered hub but it won't hurt.
|
Guitarhacker
Max Output Level: 0 dBFS
- Total Posts : 24398
- Joined: 2007/12/07 12:51:18
- Location: NC
- Status: offline
Re: How do you people work around this with your laptops?
2013/09/17 08:22:39
(permalink)
Give the interface it's own port.
Let everything else share the hub. Mouse, printer, etc.
My website & music: www.herbhartley.com MC4/5/6/X1e.c, on a Custom DAW Focusrite Firewire Saffire Interface BMI/NSAI "Just as the blade chooses the warrior, so too, the song chooses the writer "
|
bobguitkillerleft
Max Output Level: -72 dBFS
- Total Posts : 944
- Joined: 2011/05/17 17:28:58
- Location: Adelaide Australia
- Status: offline
Re: How do you people work around this with your laptops?
2013/09/18 18:45:02
(permalink)
Anderton
Don't be too quick to write off that 3.0 port with an audio interface. I have an interface that was a little squirrely with USB 2.0. I plugged into into the USB 3.0 port to see what would happen, and the performance improved dramatically.
Same Here as the ONLY USB 2.0 port on my not particularly "audio optimised" laptop,was an e-SATA combo port,so was continuously losing the connection,would you believe,FROM it almost "Falling Out" it was so loose,only after updating the USB 3 ports[this lappy was an early "3" adopter],much better[though it was just the snug fit!],not actual performance LOL Bob
https://soundcloud.com/rks26https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Hitmen Lenovo W540 Factoryrefurb SONAR PLATINUM,Ozone 7 N.I. KA6 Komplete 9 SSD4 Platinum Epi L/H LP Custom Headstock broken twice and fixed.Gibson L/H Les Paul 2010 Wine Red Studio stupid Right Hand Vol.Tone for Left Hand?LH84Ibanez RS135 gen.FloydRose JB Marshall 100w 2203 4x25w Celestion Green backs "You are what you is"-Frank Zappa "But I'm gonna wave my freak flag high"-Jimi Hendrix
|