Live + EMI 2I6 + ?which pc laptop?

Discuss music production with Ableton Live.
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macclellan
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Live + EMI 2I6 + ?which pc laptop?

Post by macclellan » Thu Aug 08, 2002 6:54 pm

Hello - I am seeking advice for *known good* a known good combo matching the above criteria. I have about $1,500 to spend. I have read up a bit, but want real user feedback on a few models.

I am thinking of going with a Tualitin Pentium III 1+ghz, 256MB ram, 15" screen, and Windows 2000. Decent Internal Audio a big plus (Low noise and good drivers) because my current laptop is noisy as all get out.

Can anyone recommend the:
IBM A22M?
Dell Inspiron 8100? (plus any info on experiences with the fan-audio drop-out bug)
Toshiba Satellite 3000-514?

Please don't tell me to get a MAC. Thanks ind advance for any help that you can offer.

vandeloo
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Post by vandeloo » Sat Aug 10, 2002 12:58 am

hi, i'm using live with a dell inspirion 8000/1ghz/512ram i works great...but i'm running live also with my new powerbook/800mhz...with an emi2/6 or the digigram vx pocket.

yuval
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Post by yuval » Sun Aug 11, 2002 7:31 am

Use a mac.
I use an ibook 500 with my emi 2|6.
Works like a charm, 11 ms latency. It doesn't get that good in a PC laptop.

vandeloow

Post by vandeloow » Sun Aug 11, 2002 6:47 pm

yes, thats right, the latency with the powerbook and the emi is between 2-11 ms...on my dell 18-45ms...

ak

Post by ak » Thu Aug 15, 2002 3:43 pm

puh am i happy that i didn´t bought the EMI26 for my Windows Laptop.
Owned a RME Multiface running perfect with 5ms latency on a IBM Thinkpad 21 850Mhz.

ak

fux_

Post by fux_ » Mon Aug 19, 2002 3:31 pm

I just bought a dell inspiron 4150, which seems like it should work out. with the options I got, it was $1493... I'll be using an m-audio quattro with it I believe..

specs relating to audio:

p4 1.6ghz
400 mhz bus
384megs of DDR ram
40gb "high performance" 5400 rpm drive (important for using Live)

beware of the fact that the 4150 does not include a firewire port. I dont mind this, but some of you might. there are pcmcia firewire solutions.

-Joe

Rx
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Post by Rx » Tue Aug 20, 2002 1:08 am

With regards to the latency on the EMI, for those who have used it on Mac and PC, how noticeable is 11ms vs 45ms? My current pc clocks in at 20ms with the EMI, though I will be acquiring a laptop sometime before the end of the year.
Arp Laszlo
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memetic
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Post by memetic » Tue Aug 20, 2002 5:16 am

wellll . . . i am, in fact, getting 10ms latency with the emi on a pc/xp laptop (toshiba satellite / p4).

you guys do know that there's a line of code you need to add to the liveOptions.txt file, right? if not, here it is:

(and enter this exactly as follows)

-AsioSupportProcessNow=1


works for me.



:: | m e m e t i c | ::

anon

Post by anon » Thu Aug 22, 2002 1:50 pm

hi I'm hoping I can touch on a touchy subject w/o starting some silly flame war.

I've read here that "Live runs better on PC than on a Mac" but I'm wondering if this means that

a) PC's have more powerful processors and can get higher track/efx counts

or

b) Live is LESS STABLE on the Mac than on the PC. or just under OSX?

I'm sorry to rehash this tired comparison/debate but I'm about to part with either a lot of money, or a whole whole whole lot of money and I need ask this. Thanks.

FORMAT
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Post by FORMAT » Thu Aug 29, 2002 11:44 am

anon,

from what I know, I can confirm this statement. Tried it on both PBs and Sony laptop, and the Sony smoked away like nothing I've ever seen before. However, those were just short tests of a few minutes and internal sound hardware was used, so I reckon reliability is not accounted for here :)

The PB 667 choked very early on, at similar load when my PIII 600 Mhz starts to hiccup.

PC processors are so powerful now that the only thing Apple can do is change processor suppliers.... though they still have the arguments of reliability and better user interface AND better-designed/integrated machines going for them.

My too cents..

Format

Donaldo
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Post by Donaldo » Thu Aug 29, 2002 3:31 pm

Fujitsu Lifebook C works for me:
P4 1.6 Ghz, 30 GB, 512 MB, 4 USB, 1 4 pin Firewire --- costs around $1400. Added an 80 GB external Firewire drive (7200 rpm) for $140.

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