Any suggestions on a audio/midi interface for laptop

Whats up. I don't have a huge budget to work with but I do not want crap eithor.. I have a laptop and it loops like my only option is to go the usb rout.. I was looking for one but I know nothing about them or what features I need. I don't need a bunch of midi notes ns and out 2 would be fine for now... I would like to be able to hook my mpc to ableton and do it that way.

I'm biased when comes to interfaces n always recommend firewire over usb 2.0 cuz usb can tax your cpu while firewire bypasses it. laptops usually at least got mini firewire port, usb 3, or PCIE slot where you could put firewire card ?

so sounds like you have no other gear to track out to your pc, but do you plan on adding any in the future. you'd be better off buying something that will last you than something to get by on.

rme, motu, focusrite, digi 02/03 are solid brands

USB 2.0 interfaces compared
http://tweakheadz.com/audio_interface_usb2_comparison_chart.htm

http://tweakheadz.com/

Lampdog wrote:http://tweakheadz.com/soundcards_and_audio_interfaces.htm

https://www.google.com/search?q=Audio+I ... 25&bih=887

http://www.amazon.com/b?ie=UTF8&node=11973691

Haha thanks.....

konc3pt wrote:I'm biased when comes to interfaces n always recommend firewire over usb 2.0 cuz usb can tax your cpu while firewire bypasses it. laptops usually at least got mini firewire port, usb 3, or PCIE slot where you could put firewire card ?

so sounds like you have no other gear to track out to your pc, but do you plan on adding any in the future. you'd be better off buying something that will last you than something to get by on.

rme, motu, focusrite, digi 02/03 are solid brands

USB 2.0 interfaces compared
http://tweakheadz.com/audio_interface_usb2_comparison_chart.htm

http://tweakheadz.com/

Well I also got a yamaha an1x synth.. And ya my laptop has the firewire port.. That's the one that looks kinda like usb but with slanted corners rite?

webbb82 wrote:Well I also got a yamaha an1x synth.. And ya my laptop has the firewire port.. That's the one that looks kinda like usb but with slanted corners rite?

yea that could be it, or it's your external display port, they both kinda similar

It's a hdmi port I didn't realize it said it rite next to it

How about a PreSonus AudioBox 22VSL 2 they got one at my local music store

webbb82 wrote:How about a PreSonus AudioBox 22VSL 2 they got one at my local music store

Solid for the low price. Going up to $300 will get you more on some other models (Focusrite Saffire/Scarlett series is one. They have a $150 model too, I think that's the Presonus price).

I had the Audiobox USB that the 22VSL 2 replaced. Latency was decent, 128 buffer usually, but I recall maybe ASIO4All doing better with it. (Free alternate driver).

Limited inputs and outputs but if you just need the basics the Presonus is value for $150-$175.

Thanks for the reply. Ya im trying to grab one of those multi Card readers from mpc stuff. With this check also so the cheaper interface is best. I need to o get something other than these floppy disks. I had a zip drive but it broke. I I really like the idea of using flash disks or micro sd.. Do u got any suggestions on storage

Tascam US144mkII (or something similar to this).

Real cheap and real good for someone with not a lot of gear.

webbb82 wrote:Thanks for the reply. Ya im trying to grab one of those multi Card readers from mpc stuff. With this check also so the cheaper interface is best. I need to o get something other than these floppy disks. I had a zip drive but it broke. I I really like the idea of using flash disks or micro sd.. Do u got any suggestions on storage

I use Sandisk 2GB Ultra 15MB/s* is the label.



I just looked I think they've been discontinued. They were recently $14.99 but I'm seeing up to $59.99 now.

I just now formatted a Transcend 2GB at 1GB in the XL as well as a Lexar, Lexar was 4GB maybe you can find the 2GB version still.





With XL OS 1.20 you can only format the card at 1GB so you get 2GB so it's not as big a waste. (also the 1GB Sandisk are no longer made and dead stock costs more than the 2GB, and some are even counterfeit).

Yeah man no sense in putting a Zip that will eventually get the click of death, for the floppy. The MPCStuff reader is expensive though. Some people here who are real DIY have drilled their own mounting holes and adapted brackets and got the job done for as low as $5.

But MPCStuff's kit comes with all you need so maybe the premium is worth it just to get it done.