USB Ports (lack there of!)

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Bad Lieutenant
Posts: 44
Joined: Sun Jun 05, 2011 3:35 pm

USB Ports (lack there of!)

Post by Bad Lieutenant » Sat Dec 31, 2011 2:25 pm

Hi there,

Just received my new MBP 15" and realise that it has 2 USB ports (as opposed to 3 which I had on my Dell)

What options do I have? Can I just buy a USB extension (2 into 1) and use that.

At the moment, I need to plug in:

Mouse
MPK Mini
NI Audio2DJ.

Many thanks
___________________________________________


Live 10.1.15 suite
Focusrite Scarlett 8i6

MBP:

3.3GHz Intel-core i5
16 GB 2133 MHz LPDDR3
1TB Mac SSD
High Sierra
Intel Iris Plus Graphics 650 1536 MB

tiar
Posts: 9
Joined: Fri Dec 30, 2011 10:17 am

Re: USB Ports (lack there of!)

Post by tiar » Sat Dec 31, 2011 2:34 pm

USB hub is the way to go and buy powered one if you don`t mind.
Image

Sarrova-Q
Posts: 353
Joined: Mon Mar 23, 2009 1:18 pm

Re: USB Ports (lack there of!)

Post by Sarrova-Q » Sat Dec 31, 2011 3:36 pm

Yup, USB hubs!

Belkin is a good brand to work with your MBP.
I'm using 2 of these with my mbp:
http://www.belkin.com/IWCatProductPage. ... _Id=382943

taoyoyo
Posts: 283
Joined: Fri Jan 23, 2009 7:17 pm
Location: Atlanta, GA
Contact:

Re: USB Ports (lack there of!)

Post by taoyoyo » Sat Dec 31, 2011 5:19 pm

Sarrova-Q wrote:Yup, USB hubs!

Belkin is a good brand to work with your MBP.
I'm using 2 of these with my mbp:
http://www.belkin.com/IWCatProductPage. ... _Id=382943
Are you using all 14 connections and is everything running okay?

I bought 2 x Belkin 4 ports thinking that the 7's would be too much of a drain.

(I'm running Maschine, Kore, MPK Mini, Faderport, an 88-key keyboard, external hard drive, iLok key and a port for my Cinema Display connector).

Cheers,

Alan
http://taoyoyo.com

Late 2011 15" Macbook Pro | 10.8.4 | RME Babyface

Sarrova-Q
Posts: 353
Joined: Mon Mar 23, 2009 1:18 pm

Re: USB Ports (lack there of!)

Post by Sarrova-Q » Sat Dec 31, 2011 5:35 pm

taoyoyo wrote: Are you using all 14 connections and is everything running okay?

I bought 2 x Belkin 4 ports thinking that the 7's would be too much of a drain.

(I'm running Maschine, Kore, MPK Mini, Faderport, an 88-key keyboard, external hard drive, iLok key and a port for my Cinema Display connector).

Cheers,

Alan
Yes, using all of them without any problems. Just make sure you use the external power supply and you should be okay!
I'm also paying attention to the amount of information they need to transfer (keyboard and mice send much less information than Virus TI or external hard drives with Komplete 8 for example.
So make sure you spread you devices according to the amount of data transfer.
I have loads of controllers and synths with usb so I really need that many ports :)

taoyoyo
Posts: 283
Joined: Fri Jan 23, 2009 7:17 pm
Location: Atlanta, GA
Contact:

Re: USB Ports (lack there of!)

Post by taoyoyo » Sat Dec 31, 2011 6:11 pm

Sarrova-Q wrote:
taoyoyo wrote: Are you using all 14 connections and is everything running okay?

I bought 2 x Belkin 4 ports thinking that the 7's would be too much of a drain.

(I'm running Maschine, Kore, MPK Mini, Faderport, an 88-key keyboard, external hard drive, iLok key and a port for my Cinema Display connector).

Cheers,

Alan
Yes, using all of them without any problems. Just make sure you use the external power supply and you should be okay!
I'm also paying attention to the amount of information they need to transfer (keyboard and mice send much less information than Virus TI or external hard drives with Komplete 8 for example.
So make sure you spread you devices according to the amount of data transfer.
I have loads of controllers and synths with usb so I really need that many ports :)
That's good to know, think I'll be looking into switching at least one hub to a 7-porter. Thanks! :)
http://taoyoyo.com

Late 2011 15" Macbook Pro | 10.8.4 | RME Babyface

Bad Lieutenant
Posts: 44
Joined: Sun Jun 05, 2011 3:35 pm

Re: USB Ports (lack there of!)

Post by Bad Lieutenant » Sat Dec 31, 2011 8:23 pm

Many many thanks. You are all so helpful.

I'm not keen on powered hubs so might get a 2 to1 hub.

Happy new year!
___________________________________________


Live 10.1.15 suite
Focusrite Scarlett 8i6

MBP:

3.3GHz Intel-core i5
16 GB 2133 MHz LPDDR3
1TB Mac SSD
High Sierra
Intel Iris Plus Graphics 650 1536 MB

Bad Lieutenant
Posts: 44
Joined: Sun Jun 05, 2011 3:35 pm

Re: USB Ports (lack there of!)

Post by Bad Lieutenant » Sat Dec 31, 2011 8:27 pm

Sorry, meant to ask if was no no to use an unpowered 2 to 1?

If i plug mouse and soundcard (I'd these are the low powered USB apps).
___________________________________________


Live 10.1.15 suite
Focusrite Scarlett 8i6

MBP:

3.3GHz Intel-core i5
16 GB 2133 MHz LPDDR3
1TB Mac SSD
High Sierra
Intel Iris Plus Graphics 650 1536 MB

willdahbe
Posts: 499
Joined: Tue Jan 16, 2007 8:35 am

Re: USB Ports (lack there of!)

Post by willdahbe » Mon Jan 02, 2012 6:22 am

I use a cheap unpowered hub on my 2009 macbook pro and everything works fine. Apc40, edirol midi keyboard, mouse, and korg nanokontrol. Although I do have to hook up the edirol keyboard directly to my laptop.

Bad Lieutenant
Posts: 44
Joined: Sun Jun 05, 2011 3:35 pm

Re: USB Ports (lack there of!)

Post by Bad Lieutenant » Mon Jan 02, 2012 3:55 pm

willdahbe wrote:I use a cheap unpowered hub on my 2009 macbook pro and everything works fine. Apc40, edirol midi keyboard, mouse, and korg nanokontrol. Although I do have to hook up the edirol keyboard directly to my laptop.
Many thanks - my cunning plan is to get this:http://www.amazon.co.uk/Hama-USB-2-0-Hu ... 654&sr=8-1

And then start panicking when the USB plugs don't all fit next to each other :)
___________________________________________


Live 10.1.15 suite
Focusrite Scarlett 8i6

MBP:

3.3GHz Intel-core i5
16 GB 2133 MHz LPDDR3
1TB Mac SSD
High Sierra
Intel Iris Plus Graphics 650 1536 MB

xBx
Posts: 3
Joined: Thu Nov 03, 2011 2:02 am

Re: USB Ports (lack there of!)

Post by xBx » Sun Jan 08, 2012 9:28 pm

Belkin is a great brand. I would stay away from the 4-port swivel hub. It constantly disconnects!

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