multitracking usb?

Posted on Feb 02, 2008 08:02 am
Novanium
Member Since: Feb 02, 2008

I'm thinking of buying an Alesis Multimix USB 8 Channel Mixer (www.alesis.com/product.php?id=37).

My laptop hard drive only has 4200rpm. If i where to use cubase to record 8 tracks at a time, what would happen? I mean, i know i have less than the required standard.

If it's just latency, that's not a problem. I can always move the tracks; but if it causes a problem with the recording...

So, will it work ok?

If not, i also have an External Hard Drive with 7200rpm. Can it be used somehow? How would i use it?

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

Feb 02, 2008 09:01 pm

Yeah, it can be done, given that your Laptop has USB2.0 ports and not the old 1.1, I'm not sure about 8 tracks all at the same time though.. Only thing to consider then is the hard drive speed, which is slower than dirt, gotta admit. Most I've ever done is 4 and didn't have a problem at all, so it may be possible.

You should try hooking up the 7200RPM drive and recording to it instead of the built in one, but there's still a question of weather or not USB can handle 8 Tracks all at once. You're also going to need a little ram to do this as well, 1GB minimum.

What kind of laptop are you working with? Processor speed, brand, ram, etc. And what program are you going to be using for this?

Novanium
Member
Since: Feb 02, 2008

Feb 03, 2008 01:02 am

Compaq Presario something something

1.86 Ghz Processor

512 RAM

Toshiba 4200rpm 40GB HD

Ok, so i'm assuming i can't do it; but you sort of didn't answer my question.

Think about it this way:

If i were to hook up 8 tracks and try and record it now with my sub-par laptop, what would happen? By "not working", do you mean that the tracks wouldnt record, or they would have latency, or something would be wrong with the tracks, or what?

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

Feb 03, 2008 01:20 am

Sorry, I thought I covered all the bases... guess I had a lapse of thought or something.

The most simultaneous tracks I've ever seen recorded at the same time through a USB port is 4. However a quick little search shows that the Multimix USB8 has a USB 1.1 on it, which means for that unit, you're limited to only 2 tracks at a time.
You'd have to get the MultiMix 8USB2 for a USB2.0 port, but even in that case, you're limited to 4 analog inputs at any given time. BUT, there is hope if you have the money;

This might be out of your price range, but here's something that will work for sure: www.zzounds.com.../item--LINTPUX8