Audio Interface / Sound card question

Posted on

Member Since: Dec 17, 2007

I'm kind of confused about what would work for my computer. It's a 900MH laptop with 128M ram and USB 1.0.
I'm running through the mic jack on the side of the computer for right now.
It seems to sound ok, but how much better would a real audio interface be?
Would a USB interface slow my computer down at all? Would a cheap $20 - $30 one let say from behringer work?
I guess I don't know my options or where to start.

[ Back to Top ]


Member
Since: Jan 24, 2006


Jan 14, 2008 01:07 pm

You are way underpowered. I can't imagine how it's working now. 128mb of RAM is simply too low for the task. I can't see a USB interface working for you.

What are you recording ? Music or spoken word ? You surely can't be doing multitrack since you would be getting terrible lag

Member
Since: Dec 17, 2007


Jan 14, 2008 01:17 pm

There is no lag at all except when I use 2 or more VST synths...even then it's only once in a while.
I was actually surprised on how well it performs.
I record guitar, keyboards, vocals and usually around 20 tracks per song.
I'm using acid pro 4.

Member
Since: Jan 24, 2006


Jan 14, 2008 02:05 pm

I'm stunned.

Member
Since: Dec 17, 2007


Jan 14, 2008 03:21 pm

Well I only use this computer for acid pro and version 4 isn't that resource intensive I don't think.
I'm just wondering does a real audio interface make a real big difference?
If so, what is most noticable?

Member
Since: Jan 24, 2006


Jan 14, 2008 03:43 pm

I'm still a little unclear how you're recording.

You are running a mic into the mic jack ??? Laying down one tracks, then playing it back and recording the next ? If this is so I simply can't imagine how you are not getting lag. I get lag in that scenario with a 1gb mem, 1.8ghz PC.

An interface will make a huge difference to your sound. Something like a Toneport will give you access to better mic preamps, better mics and the added modeling. Whether your PC can run it is another question altogether.

Member
Since: Dec 17, 2007


Jan 14, 2008 04:03 pm

I'm coming out of a mixer into the 1/8 mono mic jack on the laptop. Yes. Recording 1 track at a time and playing it back and recording the next track.
No lag at all.
What software are you using?
I won't be upgrading up from version 4 of acid pro because my computer is kind of old. lol It's running xp home.
I'd put more memory in it, but it has a bad memory slot and the computer only has 2.

I guess that's my concern. If a usb interface would slow me down. From what you're saying I kind of think it would.
What about a PCMCIA?


I am not a crook's head
Member
Since: Mar 14, 2003


Jan 14, 2008 04:18 pm

Running USB 1.0 is going to be a pretty big bottleneck. It wasn't until USB 2.0 that USB interfaces became much more usable without latency, pops or clicks. USB 2.0 is a requirement for a lot of USB sound interfaces. Not sure about the TonePort series but I can only imagine headaches using a USB 1.0 port for recording/playback.

Member
Since: Dec 17, 2007


Jan 14, 2008 04:40 pm

It looks like that rules out a usb interface. Probably using the onboard sound card is giving me no lag, but not as good sound quality.
It does sound pretty good, but I have nothing to compare it to.
Any other options for an older computer?
Besides another computer....lol

Member
Since: Dec 17, 2007


Jan 14, 2008 05:10 pm

Another question...

What would be the best interface to record and playback with a computer?

USB, Firewire, PCI or something else

I would think PCI. Am I wrong?

Maybe I need a new direction if I'm looking for quality.

Thanks




Mans reach exceeds his grasp
Member
Since: Oct 23, 2007


Jan 14, 2008 05:11 pm

The only thing I can say is keep doing what you're doing and cross your fingers really hard. With those system resources, there isn't anything other than a new computer you can really upgrade to that I know of off hand.

I gotta agree with Tony, I'm amazed your computer doesn't freeze up entirely, let alone lag.

EDIT: Yeah, PCI would be the over all least lossy of the three (it's for desktops only though), then it's a toss between firewire and USB. Some people take sides, but I think USB or firewire just comes down to a matter of opinion unless you're dealing with 10 plus tracks, and if you're doing that you probably have a PCI card anyway.


Member
Since: Dec 17, 2007


Jan 14, 2008 05:23 pm

I don't know why everyone is so amazed. I think my resources are more than what acid pro 4 requires. It really does a nice job...Very smooth.
I've been recording this way for about a year now.

Maybe I should be crossing my fingers.
It sounds like I would need a pretty stout computer if I were to run any kind of interface.

I'm just trying to learn. I'm new to this recording interface thing.
Thanks for all the input.

www.TheLondonProject.ca
Member
Since: Feb 07, 2005


Jan 14, 2008 05:47 pm

[quote]System Requirements
Windows 98SE, Me, 2000, or XP, 300 MHz processor, 64 MB RAM (128 MB recommended), Windows-compatible sound card[/quote]

There ya go, right from their site.

Now it should also be mentioned that the current version is 6.

Member
Since: Dec 17, 2007


Jan 14, 2008 06:08 pm

Thanks. I knew I had to be in the requirements. I know about version 6. I don't want to chance it with this computer. lol It does what I want so there's no need to upgrade.

Ok back to the same question then. Would a usb interface work with this computer or is the usb 1.0 bottleneck still a problem?

Mans reach exceeds his grasp
Member
Since: Oct 23, 2007


Jan 14, 2008 06:16 pm

I guess it's because we're all used to our newer machines. Most newer software requires at least a 1.8GHZ processor and 512MB of ram just to open the darn things, let alone use them track by track, as you're doing.

And on the USB 1.1 question, it seems to me like it can't hurt any if you're only doing one track at a time, but I could be wrong about that. Probably better answered by one of the others.

www.TheLondonProject.ca
Member
Since: Feb 07, 2005


Jan 14, 2008 06:20 pm

Quote:
I know about version 6. I don't want to chance it with this computer. lol It does what I want so there's no need to upgrade.


Don't get me wrong, I wasn't suggesting upgrading to 6. I only pointed it out because most "current" sound apps require a lot more resourses and this may be why some are confused with your favorable results using a lower end machine.

Member
Since: Jan 24, 2006


Jan 14, 2008 06:58 pm

Not sure where tad gets the USB1.1 info. Toneport and most recent USB devices are USB 1.1 (though they will of course run on USB 2.0) The amount of data to be sent for a couple of tracks (which is all these things can handle) is minimal.

For Toneport you won't be able to run the Gearbox software though so you should give up on that. InSpire is a nice low intensity product.

I'm not suprised you can run Acid, i've been using it since version 2. I am suprised you can get a recording without the lag.

The sound quality of an interface will be better than the ugly old mic in but there's a lot to be said for sticking with what you've got.

I'm surprised you can even run XP home since your PC barely meets the specs for that.

It might relate to the type of music you are recording. A single mono track of about 3 minutes is around 20mb. Acid runs in memory so you could only realistically have 4 or so tracks in memory the rest coming from the hard drive which should guarantee that you get lag when recording. This would be avoided of course if you have a good soundcard.

Performance wise on a modern system I don't think PCMCIA is always the way to go, I think the USB and Firewire devices offer a lot more flexibility.

Related Forum Topics:



If you would like to participate in the forum discussions, feel free to register for your free membership.