Advice needed on Laptop pro audio dilemmas

ashurek · 3rd April 2008, 07:20 PM

Hi all,

Ive been trying to plan out a sound system to both record and listen to music/recordings and watch movies centered around my laptop. My laptop has one pcmcia card slot, one express card slot, several usb and No firewire whatsoever. Its pc-based (not a mac), and aside from investing into a tablet pc I have no plans on buying another laptop or switching to macs :)

Dilemma 1:
My options are basically either to go
a) USB for the audio interface and esata Raid (via express card) for the external storage. Unfortunately that limits me as to my options for sound cards and makes me wonder as to how good the interface will be for recording. On the other hand I have also firewire ports to install an external blue ray burner in the future.
b)express/cardbus card for audio interface (been eyeing the RME for quite some time) and USB for storage. At the end here I still have no firewire ports, and have kind of slow access to HDs. I will do most of my work for school and work off those disks.

The ideal way would be to use a cardbus card for the RME and express card for esata, or vice versa but they are on top of each other which means I would need 2 flat cards. I havent found any except for the cardbus RME interface for the MultifaceII/Digiface, and from the pictures I think the cable will still interfere with the esata card below it. If someone has done this already and can gert both cards to fit please let me know!!

Dilemma 2:
The goal is to be able to record/monitor as well as watch movies / listen to music. Ill be doing a lot of my listening from a pair of balanced AKG K701s. The question here is if I am using a dedicated AD/DA (such as the lynx aurora 8 for example), is it possible to use that same DAC to do all the sound for the laptop, including games, movies and just plain music? Or are these DACs too specialised specifically for recording?

Sorry for the long post and thanks in advance for any help you may have to offer :D
Moe

ashurek · 4th April 2008, 08:57 PM

anyone?

meblumen · 4th April 2008, 10:38 PM

I'll bite...

First, I'm confused, you say, "My laptop has one pcmcia card slot, one firewire slot, several usb and No firewire whatsoever.". So does your computer have firewire or not?

Second, what are your audio recording needs? USB isn't ideal for audio but if you are only recording and playing back a few tracks, it wouldn't be an issue. If you do have firewire ports, I would use either those or the pcmcia to connect to your interface and the other to connect and HD. That decision I would make solely on what interface you want to go with, which once again hearkens back to your specific needs.

Lastly, you most certainly can use your audio interface as your computer's soundcard to playback audio from movies, games and anything else. As for it being too specialized, in it's most basic function (simply put it plays back sound on your computer) it is no different than the soundcard that came installed with your computer. Where something like an RME interface deviates from your average Soundblaster card is quality, inputs/outputs and the fact that it is tailored to a specific application.

ashurek · 4th April 2008, 11:29 PM

Thanks for pointing that out! That was supposed to be express card not firewire. And no I dont have a firewire slot which is whats causing me a problem. I will be recording 2 - 4 mics tops from the looks of it. I dont see myself needing more ever.

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3rd April 2008, 07:20 PM	#1
ashurek Gear interested Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 15	Advice needed on Laptop pro audio dilemmas Hi all, Ive been trying to plan out a sound system to both record and listen to music/recordings and watch movies centered around my laptop. My laptop has one pcmcia card slot, one express card slot, several usb and No firewire whatsoever. Its pc-based (not a mac), and aside from investing into a tablet pc I have no plans on buying another laptop or switching to macs :) Dilemma 1: My options are basically either to go a) USB for the audio interface and esata Raid (via express card) for the external storage. Unfortunately that limits me as to my options for sound cards and makes me wonder as to how good the interface will be for recording. On the other hand I have also firewire ports to install an external blue ray burner in the future. b)express/cardbus card for audio interface (been eyeing the RME for quite some time) and USB for storage. At the end here I still have no firewire ports, and have kind of slow access to HDs. I will do most of my work for school and work off those disks. The ideal way would be to use a cardbus card for the RME and express card for esata, or vice versa but they are on top of each other which means I would need 2 flat cards. I havent found any except for the cardbus RME interface for the MultifaceII/Digiface, and from the pictures I think the cable will still interfere with the esata card below it. If someone has done this already and can gert both cards to fit please let me know!! Dilemma 2: The goal is to be able to record/monitor as well as watch movies / listen to music. Ill be doing a lot of my listening from a pair of balanced AKG K701s. The question here is if I am using a dedicated AD/DA (such as the lynx aurora 8 for example), is it possible to use that same DAC to do all the sound for the laptop, including games, movies and just plain music? Or are these DACs too specialised specifically for recording? Sorry for the long post and thanks in advance for any help you may have to offer :D Moe

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4th April 2008, 08:57 PM	#2
ashurek Gear interested Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 15	anyone?

4th April 2008, 10:38 PM	#3
meblumen Gear interested Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Chicago Posts: 22	I'll bite... First, I'm confused, you say, "My laptop has one pcmcia card slot, one firewire slot, several usb and No firewire whatsoever.". So does your computer have firewire or not? Second, what are your audio recording needs? USB isn't ideal for audio but if you are only recording and playing back a few tracks, it wouldn't be an issue. If you do have firewire ports, I would use either those or the pcmcia to connect to your interface and the other to connect and HD. That decision I would make solely on what interface you want to go with, which once again hearkens back to your specific needs. Lastly, you most certainly can use your audio interface as your computer's soundcard to playback audio from movies, games and anything else. As for it being too specialized, in it's most basic function (simply put it plays back sound on your computer) it is no different than the soundcard that came installed with your computer. Where something like an RME interface deviates from your average Soundblaster card is quality, inputs/outputs and the fact that it is tailored to a specific application.

4th April 2008, 11:29 PM	#4
ashurek Gear interested Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 15	Thanks for pointing that out! That was supposed to be express card not firewire. And no I dont have a firewire slot which is whats causing me a problem. I will be recording 2 - 4 mics tops from the looks of it. I dont see myself needing more ever.