laptop frustration!!!

Posted: Tue Jul 03, 2007 12:43 am

I have been reading up on laptops for a while now... and have started to become a little frustrated. I am trying to find the perfect laptop to use in a live performance situation (ie, software looping/effects/virtual instruments) and some recording. I currently have a Firepod and usually use Cubase LE and Reason 3.0 for my recording setup (windows XP based). I have looked at Ableton as a possible solution for a live software looping setup but have not decided for sure and will probably continue to use the Firepod on stage to get everything in and out of the laptop.

I had planned on building up a "barebones" Asus Z84Jp...

http://www.notebookreview.com/default.asp?newsID=3507&review=Asus+Z84Jp

It was going to be great! I was super pumped! I was going to be able to build superstacked laptop that could out-compete (specwise at least) most "name brand" laptops that sell for >$2000 for around $1300 - $1400. But then I found out that the Firewire chipset used in Asus is apparently crap...
i.e. not Texas Instruments. Sad

So here is the question. Does anyone know if a Texas Instruments Firewire ExpressCard would solve my problems on the Asus (I was planning on getting one anyway as I didn't like the location of the onboard Firewire)? Does anyone know where to find out if the chipset used for firewire/cardbus on a laptop (preferably barebones)... or ExpressCard... is Texas Instruments? I can't seem to track down this info!

Any input would be greatly appreciated.

Posted: Tue Jul 03, 2007 8:21 am

HI,
adding a TI Xpress card will not solve the issue.
it only helps slightly.

the issue resides with the fact the Asus uses a ricoh chipset for an all in 1 chipset.

this is true with most name brand and white box laptops you can buy.

Laptops known to work

MAC
HP (higher end Biz class)
Some Clevo (17 only)
ADK
Samsung (if you are in Europe)
a few higher end Toshibas.

the rest use a Ricoh or ENE chipset combo. and fall on thier faces.
low latency is not an option.
especially for live play back.

most laptops wil grab 8-10 tracks live @ a 1024 buffer but past that dont expect much.

Scott
ADK

Posted: Tue Jul 03, 2007 10:45 am

Is there any way to find out what chipset a Laptop uses (without having it hands-on for testing)?

I was thinking about just getting a Mac.... but that would cost me a fortune in updated software....

I was hoping to build a barebones.... but obviously, I don't have the resources to buy a bunch and test them out.

Posted: Tue Jul 03, 2007 3:10 pm

HI,
there are NO barebones (white book) you can buy that work for audio.
we have tested ever stinking one!

MSI, Asus, Compal, Uniwill/ECS.

i actually signed up with Apple to be a dealer because of this.
(and i have been a die hard PC guy from day one)

right before we became Apple dealers i found a decent laptop.

SCott
ADK

Posted: Wed Jul 04, 2007 1:38 am

Are there any known issues with Macs that you know of?

Posted: Thu Jul 05, 2007 7:43 pm

moisiss wrote:

Are there any known issues with Macs that you know of?

Apple surprised some developers with their rapid adoption of Intel CPUs, so some plugs haves not been ported yet, or will never be ported. (ie. the plugsound series, no port but all of the soundsets have been moved to Plugsound Pro. You can get it for a price, plus the penelty of GBs worth of content you may or may not want.)

As far as I know the Macbooks are the only laptops that implement the full firewire spec, as oposed to most PC laptops that license Sony's iLink that is a subset of the 1394 spec.

Cool

Posted: Fri Jul 06, 2007 1:11 am

Cool,

Yeah... I guess it looks like I'm going to get the Macbook Pro then (gotta save some more cash though). I kinda wanted out of the Windows stuff anyway... Vista isn't that impressive yet and Apple is going to release OSX leopard this fall (for a very reasonable $129...) which looks pretty cool. Not that I dislike Windows... just looking forward to a bit of a change of set-up.

BTW, Anyone know anything about USB port hubs? Mainly for use with midi controllers? Good? Bad? No difference? With only two usb ports on the MBP, I'm going to need to figure something out.

Posted: Fri Jul 06, 2007 12:47 pm

Belkin does the trick for hubs, I've never had any issues with them having a variety of peripherals attached, including dongles. FWIW, Toshiba satellites, IBM/Lenovo A and T series and Dell Inspiron 9xxx are available with TI IEEE 1394 controllers.

Posted: Fri Jul 06, 2007 3:48 pm

better recheck your facts
no dell ships with TI anymore
Tosh higher end one may still
IBM/Lenovo no more. (not 100% but none i have seen for core duo had TI )

SCott
ADK

Posted: Sat Jul 07, 2007 3:45 am

What about Sony? I saw this video...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8bF6Cv5wKXw

on youtube. This is basically the kind of setup that I am thinking about (not beatboxing.... but you get the idea). Around 4:57 it clearly shows that the guys laptop is a Sony (looks kinda old though). Is that a version that has all of the "important" specs (like TI 1394/carbus, decent IRQ settings, etc.)?... Or am I making a bigger deal out of this than I need to. I mean, I just read in another forum about a guy who bought an IBM/Lenovo that has a Ricoh 1394 chipset and says that it works perfectly....

I'm not questioning anyone's authority... just trying to make the most informed decision that I can.

Posted: Sat Jul 07, 2007 9:33 am

HI,
yeah several people have said "it works great"
untill you ask what buffer they can go to or you find out they only have 10 tracks and no sampling..

as far as Sony they used to have TI chipset i dont think any of them do now.

this issue is really only 2 gen of laptop old (since core duo and PCIe introduction)

there are many people who were fine with single core pentium m.

Scott

Posted: Sat Jun 14, 2008 11:03 am

Ok...
I have an asus a8jp (ricoh combo) and a presonus fp10. I just started using it and I'm noticing audible artifacts at the output (like playing pink noise will have glitches every now and then).
It is said that a ti expresscard won't help. Are there any other options (mini-pci, sending audio through midi cables, anything)?
I'm referring to something other than the obvious, "buy a different laptop".
JJ

Posted: Sat Jun 14, 2008 11:17 am

What output you talking about?
I have the A8JS and the headphone port is horrendous. But when I connect through the Edirol UA-25 I get no noise.

Posted: Sat Jun 14, 2008 11:29 am

HI,
you can try it (TI firewire express card) at best it will get rid of the pops clicks but not allow for low latency

for low latency you need a Ti native laptop
Scott

Posted: Sat Jun 14, 2008 12:23 pm

Greener wrote:

What output you talking about?
I have the A8JS and the headphone port is horrendous. But when I connect through the Edirol UA-25 I get no noise.

I'm referring to the analog outputs (1-8/phone) of the presonus fp10.
JJ

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