M-Audio Firewire interface (was Looping with a PC laptop... which one?)

[Joe Balestreri <metaman23@yahoo.com>]

I just saw that interface the other day and I've been wondering about it... are you getting lower latency than with USB?  I'm using Ableton Live with M-Audio's Audiophile USB interface, and I have to have the latency at around 400 samples to run 8-9 tracks.  (This is on a G3 powerbook with OSX, though).  This is manageable but lower would be better...  Also, do you see any other advantages to using firewire?
Thanks,

Joe B.

Gene Ehrbar <gene@anomalyinc.com> wrote:

I'll put in a plug for my HP laptop -- a ZE4115 (1.5GHZ, bought a year ago
for $1200, and I'm now seeing comparably-equipped models for under $1000) --
I've used this live quite a bit, and have never had any issues (other than
Ableton crashing, which is their problem ;-) -- FYI, I just picked up the
new M-audio Firewire 410 audio interface, which has been a *big* improvement
over USB (if your laptop doesn't have firewire, you can pick up a firewire
PCMCIA card for around twenty bucks).

HTH,
gene

----- Original Message -----
From: "Mark Sottilaro"
To:
Sent: Monday, September 29, 2003 7:39 AM
Subject: Re: Looping with a PC laptop... which one?


> This is all great stuff guys, I appreciate it. You don't get this
> information on consumer report. I have heard horror stories about
> Toshibas though.
>
> Mark
>
> On Monday, September 29, 2003, at 06:38 AM, Jonah, Jim wrote:
>
> > My past laptop experiences:
> >
> > Dell: two previous employers (dot coms) used dells. Every Dell I had
> > required service. The last one eventually was completely replaced one
> > part
> > at a time (2 screens, 1 motherboard, 1 harddrive, and one battery).
> > All five
> > of the programmers in my group needed service on their dell lattitudes
> > right
> > around the one year mark. Within the office we were running about a 30%
> > repair rate for the Dell laptops.
> >
> > Some random issues were never solved (cpu spikes).
> >
> > Toshiba: rock solid, never needed service, consistent performance,
> > ergonomic
> > case (at least better than the Dell and the Thinkpad).
> >
> > IBM Thinkpad: brick (in weight and ergonomics), overpriced, available
> > features seemed to always trail other manufacturers, never needed
> > service.
> >
> > Not had the pleasure of owning a Mac laptop, just lots of Mac
> > desktops. It
> > seems that by the time you beef up a windows laptop (Ram, Harddrive
> > space,
> > CD burner or DVD burner) they are much closer in price difference than
> > you'd
> > find in the desktop world.
> >
> > If you get a Dell, research the extended warranties and get one.
> >
> > If I were to buy one today I'd look at Toshiba, Sony, and Apple.
> >
> > Jim
> >
> >
> >
> > The contents of this e-mail are intended for the named addressee only.
> > It
> > contains information that may be confidential. Unless you are the named
> > addressee or an authorized designee, you may not copy or use it, or
> > disclose
> > it to anyone else. If you received it in error please notify us
> > immediately
> > and then destroy it.
> >
>
>
>

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