Audio Interface

[morphlite]

Hello,

I'm just about to buy a Macbook Pro 2ghz for mobile composing. (I'll be linking it up to a core i7 Pc when at home with a Focusrite LS56 and Ve Pro)

My question is (might be a stupid one), would I need an external sound card with the Macbook Pro to get better Latency when using Logic/Vepro?

If so, anyone got any suggestions for a decent stereo USB/Firewire sound card?

Cheers

Paul

[Beat Kaufmann]

Hi Paul

I don't know whether the Audio-Interface of the Macbook Pro is fast enough or not. It is probaly better the tose built in Interfaces of Win-Notebooks.

But I know the RME-USB-Interfaces do have very good Latencies. It's also because RME uses different Software for USB-MAC or USB-WIN.

So you can select MAC or WIN...

Maybe the Babyface would be the correct RME-Interface for you. Not cheap but it's worth every cent.

http://www.rme-audio.de/en_products_babyface.php

(I'm not payed by RME for this advertising ;-) )

Or here

http://www.focusrite.com/products/audio_interfaces/saffire_6_usb/overview/

All the best

Beat

[C.B.]

Hi Paul,

I used my MacBook Pro (about 2 years old) alone with VIP (and Logic Pro as Daw). The audio interface didn't seems to be a problem (latency was not an issue even when I was playing "live" with a keyboard). CPU and Ram were the real bottleneck when I used more than 3 or 4 VIP instances/Instruments.

Now I work most of the time with my MacBook Pro for the Daw + and iMac (i7 4/8 cores and 16 Go of RAM) for VSL stuff. I like very much my Focuswrite PRO 24 DSP (which is similar to Beat's suggestion). But I often use too an iMic, which is a very decent USB audio interface considering its low price and its size (about 2 inches). I prefer not using my Mac Book Pro's audio output whith my headphone because the 1/4" plug +1/8" adaptor is making a stress on it (I had a bad experience few years ago).

I hope this will be useful to make your choice.

[sorry for my approximate english!]

CB

[morphlite]

Hi, Thanks Beat and CB,

Hadn't seen the Babyface. That's a crazy little piece of kit! It's a shame they don't do a version with just Midi and a few in/outs. The ADAT would be over kill for me. But can't believe what you get on that. Awesome Product.

I'd looked at both the Saffire 6 and Pro 24 (I really like my Saffire Liquid 56 so thought about other Saffire stuff). I like the idea of the Virtual Mixing Enviroment of the Pro 24 ( CB is that any good?)

I have a small 25 Key Keyboard which I've used in the past on the road. Got me thinking:--

http://www.behringer.com/EN/Products/UMA25S.aspx.

It's a shame it's Behringer and not a really decent manufacturer (and the connections look low quality) . I like the idea of one wire connector to the computer for audio/midi though. Not great for key switching on the move but neithers an 88 key keyboard!

Thanks for the options. I've oredered my Macbook Pro so maybe test it when I get it.

Cheers

Paul

[gabriel81]

I own the UMA25S and really like it (for the price)

Only thing which I really dislike is the key velocity, even if you change (hard / soft) it is almost unusable

[C.B.]

Hi Paul,

The Saffire 24 Pro's Virtual Reference Monitoring (VRM) works fine with my setup. It doesn't replace good audio monitors and room. But I found them very useful since it give a certain distance from audio source which help me to ear and mix more globally. But i'm still using my headphone without VRM when I need focus on details. And I use good real monitors when I'm near final mix or for the «mastering».

Good luck!

C.B.