soundcard advice needed

xeb · Post by **xeb** » Thu Oct 28, 2004 2:15 pm

i'm currently using an maudio audiofile 2496 card and have no problems with it. however i'd like to upgrade to an multi-output card so i can hook up 2 outputs to my mixer for DJing (my main use for live).

currently running desktop PC but may upgrade to a laptop so would like to get an external card.

what would you recommend? I've been offered an m-audio quattro second hand which looks good... only its not USB powered so that means an extra power adaptor... not a huge issue but possibly a small annoyance for portability. or are all good USB cards like this?

should i look at firewire? i have no idea at all what firewire even is... better than USB? i'd then need a card for my PC and laptop so would probably prefer USB unless there is significant advantages to firewire

any advice very gratefully received!

Padraig · Post by **Padraig** » Fri Oct 29, 2004 3:10 pm

Alright Nigel. Fancy seeing you here.

Read this thread (if you haven't already) to see why Firewire is the better option.

http://www.ableton.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=13684

If you end up getting a Firewire PCMCIA card for a laptop make sure you get one with the correct chipset. Most M-Audio FW products require the Texas Instruments chipset. This caused me untold fannying around until I got the right card (a Startech one in the end).

I'd like to upgrade to an multi-output card so i can hook up 2 outputs to my mixer for DJing (my main use for live).

Not sure why you'd want to run two outputs into a mixer. That sounds more like a Traktor kind of set-up. I do most of the actual "mixing" in Live.

Anyway I use the M-Audio Firewire Audiophile which works fine. 2 sets of stereo outs. One for the master, the other for cueing up the incoming track. One stereo input which I presume you can use for a turntable although I haven't done that myself yet. See "nudging/breaking" thread on here for issues with that kind of set-up.

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xeb · Post by **xeb** » Fri Oct 29, 2004 3:42 pm

yeah i get around mate

thanks for that

found that post last night after a bit of searching and certainly sounds like firewire is the way to go.

wanting 2 outputs to a mixer because i'm wanting to add on live to my current setup to use it as an addition to the 1210s and CDJ... i don't want to give up vinyl and DJ on live, but would like to be able to use it to play bits over the top of a vinyl set and play tracks when i'm touring and a CDJ isn't available to me. 2outputs probably not definitly needed for this but would prefer it for flexibility.

i may also use it for doing mix cds when i have 2 tracks in a row that i only have as an mp3/cd.... in that case i'd probably prefer to route 2 channels to my mixer and do all the level/eqing on the mixer rather than through pots on my MIDI keyboard because i'm more used to the feel of it. again, not absolutly necessary but would like it for flexibility. i managed ok the other night doing it all through live, but needed to go back and tweak the mix levels.

so its the coice of PCMCIA card rather than soundcard that causes the issues? (ie, if i got a soundcard now but don't get a laptop for a while i can tailor my laptop/PCMCIA card purchase to match the soundcard?)

Padraig · Post by **Padraig** » Fri Oct 29, 2004 8:44 pm

Yep that's right. Of course if you get a laptop already fitted with a FW port you won't need to bother with a PCMCIA card.

zeropoint · Post by **zeropoint** » Fri Oct 29, 2004 10:41 pm

Padraig wrote:Yep that's right. Of course if you get a laptop already fitted with a FW port you won't need to bother with a PCMCIA card.

well not entirely....because you will probably have to run your audio off an external firewire drive and it is most unwise to daisy chain your interface with that drive. Go for a laptop with a firewire port AND get a PCMCIA to hook your drive up to.