Gearslutz.com - View Single Post - And Just as I thought I was beginning to understand the basics--laptop interfaces

dominicperry · 27th January 2006

I'm not an expert, but I have been trying to build a high quality laptop rig too, multipurpose - record and mix my 2 piece pop band and do some location recording for small classical concerts. So far I have a Mackie MDR which is out of date and not portable, but a good backup for location work, some rubbish desks, and a Broadhurst Gardens No1 which is a fantastic 2 channel pre-amp which will be suitable for classical but may be too neutral for pop. I have a pair of KM84s and a Pearlman TM1 (U47 clone). And some other mics. But I am a bit lost about how to get good A/D conversion into the laptop (which I haven't got yet either). So far, my best guess is some good external A/D like a Mytek or Lavry (I haven't heard either) and an RME Cardbus interface with a Multiface II or Digiface on the end. Both have digital i/o, the Multiface has less digital but adds analogue i/o at line level. Multiface has a headphone socket and I think the Digiface does too. I have made enquiries on forums and to Mytek and so far no one has suggested that the low jitter of the Mytek will be worsened by going through the RME, digital to digital. Hope this may be of some small help.
PS - I use SAWStudio which sounds fantastic.

Dominic

27th January 2006	#2
dominicperry Gear interested Joined: Sep 2005 Location: Hampshire, UK Posts: 14	I'm not an expert, but I have been trying to build a high quality laptop rig too, multipurpose - record and mix my 2 piece pop band and do some location recording for small classical concerts. So far I have a Mackie MDR which is out of date and not portable, but a good backup for location work, some rubbish desks, and a Broadhurst Gardens No1 which is a fantastic 2 channel pre-amp which will be suitable for classical but may be too neutral for pop. I have a pair of KM84s and a Pearlman TM1 (U47 clone). And some other mics. But I am a bit lost about how to get good A/D conversion into the laptop (which I haven't got yet either). So far, my best guess is some good external A/D like a Mytek or Lavry (I haven't heard either) and an RME Cardbus interface with a Multiface II or Digiface on the end. Both have digital i/o, the Multiface has less digital but adds analogue i/o at line level. Multiface has a headphone socket and I think the Digiface does too. I have made enquiries on forums and to Mytek and so far no one has suggested that the low jitter of the Mytek will be worsened by going through the RME, digital to digital. Hope this may be of some small help. PS - I use SAWStudio which sounds fantastic. Dominic