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On 11 nov 2006, at 17.33, Rainer Thelonius Balthasar Straschill wrote: > Hey Per, > > first: I assume the peli cases are the ones you brought to > y2k6loopfest? Correct. > the rack vs. a quick setup: apart from the cables connected issue > (which, > dependant on which way I go with outboard gear and interfaces, > might end up > with a dozen connections within the rack (not counting in power > wiring), > which still sums up to like 10 minutes and less problems with cable > failures. > > However, the idea here started with the fact that I don't like > laptops that > much if I can work around it, for several reasons: > 1. mechanical stability (while the "computer" part of the laptop > might stay > ok if it drops from your table to the floor, you risk some jacks > getting > broken or damage to the display). > 2. less flexibility than a normal computer > 3. price > > Of course, lugging around a normal computer desktop or tower case > doesn't > make that much sense, so the solution: 19'' rack case. Now if I > have this > case, why not put the other rack-mountable gear in a rack? Yes, I see the logic in your view. But there are also those small Shuttle PC models to look into, might fit into a peli trunk as well as into a rack. You have to find a portable monitor screen as well if you go the Shuttle road. > The FireStudio looks like a cool idea as well, especially as this > big thing > with 8 micpres costs about the same as a Fireface400. Still, it > doesn't have > standalone mixer capabilities, does it? I've been reading around on the net and have not seen any note on such a standalone functionality of the FireStudio. The RME Fireface400 is the unit I have been targeting myself, for the future when computers do not any more provide PCI or PCMCIA (which my recent RME Multiface and backup Echo Indigo i/o interfaces rely on). I've had my Multiface for years and it's nothing but great! The TotalMix software is something I have found very useful too. And for the standalone mixer/merger functionality I must say that I really miss that with my Multiface. I have two 6 unit racks here that I, on rare occasions, fill up with analog stuff to do non computer looping with my EDP and the problem has always been the cable routing - the Fireface400 would do wonders here. And as you are saying, Rainer, when you are performing live and mangling audio with effects and filters you don't need the highest studio mic pre amps. I plan on keeping my top quality analog PreSonus mic preamp/expander/compressor/dynamic EQ for the best studio recording of a mono mic (a C414), so that's why I don't care much about audio fidelity in an audio interface box (routing options is more important for live use). My recent challenge is to set up an ultra compact looping rig of only laptop and controller pedal, but I'm just realizing that I don't have a strong enough computer for that. You need at least a 2 MHz Dual Core (mine is just a plain single CPU/core). So the working compromise is to use a hardware multi effect box (fireworx) as the mic preamp and effect processor. The fireworx feeds the Multiface by digital S/PDIF (or ADAT) optical cable, so there's really not many cables to connect when setting up. And still I need at least ten minutes for it. When I was playing in Italy with greek bass looper Costas Andreou, he came with two big and heavy cases that he set it all up in just two minutes. It was all analog, all guitar/bass stomp boxes, physically pre wired in their cases; just to lift off the lid and connect stereo output to stereo input. Sounded awesome as well, but the backside is hurting feet and arms stretched down to the level of knees ;-)) Greetings from Sweden Per Boysen www.boysen.se (Swedish) www.looproom.com (international) http://tinyurl.com/fauvm (podcast) http://www.myspace.com/looproom