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.

If your mouse works on the USB 3 port, use that. Otherwise, yes, get a USB hub, preferably one that is powered.
 
Scott

--
Scott R. Garrigus - http://garrigus.com - SONAR X2 Power! - http://garrigus.com/?SonarX2Power
* Author of the Cakewalk Sonar and Sony Sound Forge Power book series: http://garrigus.com/?PowerBooks
* Author of the Cakewalk Sonar ProAudioTutor video tutorial series: http://garrigus.com/?ProAudioTutor
* Publisher of the DigiFreq free music technology newsletter: http://digifreq.com/?DigiFreq
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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

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.

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

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.

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

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. 

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!

if it has a pcmcia slot you could add extra usb ports via that