Multitrack interface for Laptop (Firewire and/or USB)?

Archived from groups: rec.audio.pro (More info?)

Dave Oaks, sound and tech guru for Pat Metheny's group, was using the
MOTU 828 a couple years ago with a laptop and loved it. Looks like MOTU
has a new box called "The Traveler" which doesn't even require hooking
up to an AC line. I don't know the prices, and they're probably out of
your price range, but they're worth checking out....

Cheers,
Trevor de Clercq

alabaster wrote:
> I'm looking to pick up an interface for multitracking into my laptop...
> I'd like to record at least 8 tracks simultaneously, with at least 4
> preamps... Ideally I'd like it to be light and portable, and have
> enough knobs that I don't need to lug around a mixer too. MIDI I/O
> would be nice but not necessary.
>
> I'd prefer the $300-600 range (or less if possible, but I haven't seen
> much that looks worthwhile much lower).
>
> Some that I'm considering are:
>
> Presonus Firepod
> M-Audio Firewire 1814
> Edirol FA-101
> Tascam FW-1804
> Lexicon Omega Studio
>
> Anybody have any personal experience with these? Any others you'd
> recommend?
>
> Thanks,
> chris.
>
> P.S. While browsing, I came across the Audiotrak Maya44 USB... It's
> not what I'm looking for but it looks like it might be worth snatching
> up as a cheapo backup for quick field recordings... 4 channels I/O for
> $149.. Anybody tried one of these?

Archived from groups: rec.audio.pro (More info?)

I'm taking my Traveler out tonight to catch a rehearsal.

I did get a price break off the $850 retail sticker (bought other
stuff too) but this exceeds Chris's budget. However it does have a
few more I/O's than what he asked for originally -- Room to grow...

I like that it's wide enough to set the laptop on nice and stable
though I'm still getting a handle on thermal management with heat
coming off the laptop.

The dip brazed chassis (?) probably could have used more time in the
brazing bath but the box is pretty light weight for better
luggability. I'd handle it with the same care as a laptop so I guess
that must be about the right amount of robustness. Dunno...

Going by ears alone, the rascal didn't seem to pick up any gross RF
noise with the laptop sitting on it with the wireless lan and
Bluetooth mouse chirping away. Subjective, yes...

Really would like to put a scope on it but I'm hearing "sparkling"
sound results for the first time ever albeit I've alot of different
stuff being put into use than from before.

Just trading notes ...

Andy



On Wed, 16 Mar 2005 11:49:52 -0500, Trevor de Clercq
<declerct@REMOVETHISnewschool.edu> wrote:

>Dave Oaks, sound and tech guru for Pat Metheny's group, was using the
>MOTU 828 a couple years ago with a laptop and loved it. Looks like MOTU
>has a new box called "The Traveler" which doesn't even require hooking
>up to an AC line. I don't know the prices, and they're probably out of
>your price range, but they're worth checking out....
>
>Cheers,
>Trevor de Clercq
>
>alabaster wrote:
>> I'm looking to pick up an interface for multitracking into my laptop...
>> I'd like to record at least 8 tracks simultaneously, with at least 4
>> preamps... Ideally I'd like it to be light and portable, and have
>> enough knobs that I don't need to lug around a mixer too. MIDI I/O
>> would be nice but not necessary.
>>
>> I'd prefer the $300-600 range (or less if possible, but I haven't seen
>> much that looks worthwhile much lower).
>>
>> Some that I'm considering are:
>>
>> Presonus Firepod
>> M-Audio Firewire 1814
>> Edirol FA-101
>> Tascam FW-1804
>> Lexicon Omega Studio
>>
>> Anybody have any personal experience with these? Any others you'd
>> recommend?
>>
>> Thanks,
>> chris.
>>
>> P.S. While browsing, I came across the Audiotrak Maya44 USB... It's
>> not what I'm looking for but it looks like it might be worth snatching
>> up as a cheapo backup for quick field recordings... 4 channels I/O for
>> $149.. Anybody tried one of these?

Archived from groups: rec.audio.pro (More info?)

Hey, thanks for the follow-up Andy; I've was curious about that box.

Cheers,
Trevor de Clercq

Andy wrote:
> I'm taking my Traveler out tonight to catch a rehearsal.
>
> I did get a price break off the $850 retail sticker (bought other
> stuff too) but this exceeds Chris's budget. However it does have a
> few more I/O's than what he asked for originally -- Room to grow...
>
> I like that it's wide enough to set the laptop on nice and stable
> though I'm still getting a handle on thermal management with heat
> coming off the laptop.
>
> The dip brazed chassis (?) probably could have used more time in the
> brazing bath but the box is pretty light weight for better
> luggability. I'd handle it with the same care as a laptop so I guess
> that must be about the right amount of robustness. Dunno...
>
> Going by ears alone, the rascal didn't seem to pick up any gross RF
> noise with the laptop sitting on it with the wireless lan and
> Bluetooth mouse chirping away. Subjective, yes...
>
> Really would like to put a scope on it but I'm hearing "sparkling"
> sound results for the first time ever albeit I've alot of different
> stuff being put into use than from before.
>
> Just trading notes ...
>
> Andy
>
>
>
> On Wed, 16 Mar 2005 11:49:52 -0500, Trevor de Clercq
> <declerct@REMOVETHISnewschool.edu> wrote:
>
>
>>Dave Oaks, sound and tech guru for Pat Metheny's group, was using the
>>MOTU 828 a couple years ago with a laptop and loved it. Looks like MOTU
>>has a new box called "The Traveler" which doesn't even require hooking
>>up to an AC line. I don't know the prices, and they're probably out of
>>your price range, but they're worth checking out....
>>
>>Cheers,
>>Trevor de Clercq
>>
>>alabaster wrote:
>>
>>>I'm looking to pick up an interface for multitracking into my laptop...
>>> I'd like to record at least 8 tracks simultaneously, with at least 4
>>>preamps... Ideally I'd like it to be light and portable, and have
>>>enough knobs that I don't need to lug around a mixer too. MIDI I/O
>>>would be nice but not necessary.
>>>
>>>I'd prefer the $300-600 range (or less if possible, but I haven't seen
>>>much that looks worthwhile much lower).
>>>
>>>Some that I'm considering are:
>>>
>>>Presonus Firepod
>>>M-Audio Firewire 1814
>>>Edirol FA-101
>>>Tascam FW-1804
>>>Lexicon Omega Studio
>>>
>>>Anybody have any personal experience with these? Any others you'd
>>>recommend?
>>>
>>>Thanks,
>>>chris.
>>>
>>>P.S. While browsing, I came across the Audiotrak Maya44 USB... It's
>>>not what I'm looking for but it looks like it might be worth snatching
>>>up as a cheapo backup for quick field recordings... 4 channels I/O for
>>>$149.. Anybody tried one of these?
>
>

Archived from groups: rec.audio.pro (More info?)

On Wed, 16 Mar 2005 23:14:27 GMT, weekendshooter@gmail.com (Andy)
wrote:

>I'm taking my Traveler out tonight to catch a rehearsal.

Interesting test drive last night, good material...

I think operator error (me) honked up the external hard drive (FAT32
formatted, regularly accessible with WinXP and OSX at the house). I
was impressed/surprised (?) that the Apple and Audio Desk was able to
save the work to the internal drive. Not sure how or why either...

Laptop -> Traveler -> External drive (all 1394a daisy chained)

The laptop's also got a 1394b so I may hub out of it next time...

Glad it was a rehearsal.

IIRC, I've got to have a FAT32 format for Win98, WinXP, and OSX to be
able to access the drive, right?

Otherwise, the rig worked pretty nicely :-)

Just trading notes for the next googler...

Andy

>I did get a price break off the $850 retail sticker (bought other
>stuff too) but this exceeds Chris's budget. However it does have a
>few more I/O's than what he asked for originally -- Room to grow...
>
>I like that it's wide enough to set the laptop on nice and stable
>though I'm still getting a handle on thermal management with heat
>coming off the laptop.
>
>The dip brazed chassis (?) probably could have used more time in the
>brazing bath but the box is pretty light weight for better
>luggability. I'd handle it with the same care as a laptop so I guess
>that must be about the right amount of robustness. Dunno...
>
>Going by ears alone, the rascal didn't seem to pick up any gross RF
>noise with the laptop sitting on it with the wireless lan and
>Bluetooth mouse chirping away. Subjective, yes...
>
>Really would like to put a scope on it but I'm hearing "sparkling"
>sound results for the first time ever albeit I've alot of different
>stuff being put into use than from before.
>
>Just trading notes ...
>
>Andy
>
>
>
>On Wed, 16 Mar 2005 11:49:52 -0500, Trevor de Clercq
><declerct@REMOVETHISnewschool.edu> wrote:
>
>>Dave Oaks, sound and tech guru for Pat Metheny's group, was using the
>>MOTU 828 a couple years ago with a laptop and loved it. Looks like MOTU
>>has a new box called "The Traveler" which doesn't even require hooking
>>up to an AC line. I don't know the prices, and they're probably out of
>>your price range, but they're worth checking out....
>>
>>Cheers,
>>Trevor de Clercq
>>
>>alabaster wrote:
>>> I'm looking to pick up an interface for multitracking into my laptop...
>>> I'd like to record at least 8 tracks simultaneously, with at least 4
>>> preamps... Ideally I'd like it to be light and portable, and have
>>> enough knobs that I don't need to lug around a mixer too. MIDI I/O
>>> would be nice but not necessary.
>>>
>>> I'd prefer the $300-600 range (or less if possible, but I haven't seen
>>> much that looks worthwhile much lower).
>>>
>>> Some that I'm considering are:
>>>
>>> Presonus Firepod
>>> M-Audio Firewire 1814
>>> Edirol FA-101
>>> Tascam FW-1804
>>> Lexicon Omega Studio
>>>
>>> Anybody have any personal experience with these? Any others you'd
>>> recommend?
>>>
>>> Thanks,
>>> chris.
>>>
>>> P.S. While browsing, I came across the Audiotrak Maya44 USB... It's
>>> not what I'm looking for but it looks like it might be worth snatching
>>> up as a cheapo backup for quick field recordings... 4 channels I/O for
>>> $149.. Anybody tried one of these?
>

Archived from groups: rec.audio.pro (More info?)

In article <42399dca.1102195583@News.Individual.NET>,
weekendshooter@gmail.com (Andy) wrote:

>
> IIRC, I've got to have a FAT32 format for Win98, WinXP, and OSX to be
> able to access the drive, right?

Just Win98.

Archived from groups: rec.audio.pro (More info?)

On Thu, 17 Mar 2005 20:54:45 -0600, jackfish <jackfish@north.org>
wrote:

>In article <42399dca.1102195583@News.Individual.NET>,
>weekendshooter@gmail.com (Andy) wrote:
>
>>
>> IIRC, I've got to have a FAT32 format for Win98, WinXP, and OSX to be
>> able to access the drive, right?
>
>Just Win98.

Thanks - BTW, was able to recover the data from the shuttle disk last
night and get it back into service. Going through the instructions
remembering FAT32, partioning, etc. made me feel old <vbg>

In the next-time-this-external-disk-fails future, I may be able to
move beyond FAT32 by going through the (sluggish) network to the Win98
machine. That and maybe give it to the kids and get myself a 2.5"
sneeker drive!

Best,
Andy