Ableton Forum

But the word from RME earlier this year was that they don't plan to support the expresscard 3/4 format soon, even implying that they never will. It seems like most of the industry was starting to give up on cardbus soundcards before the macbooks dropped, and the expresscard switch (which isn't just an Apple thing) is clinching it.
Anybody heard anything more from RME about it?
Seems like a PCI-X cardbus rig would outperform FW800, but what do I know? I bought my Multiface because of the 0% CPU usage as well as the low latency, and I'd like to keep that no matter how fast the CPU in my next laptop is.

John Sweet wrote:But the word from RME earlier this year was that they don't plan to support the expresscard 3/4 format soon, even implying that they never will. It seems like most of the industry was starting to give up on cardbus soundcards before the macbooks dropped, and the expresscard switch (which isn't just an Apple thing) is clinching it.
Anybody heard anything more from RME about it?
Seems like a PCI-X cardbus rig would outperform FW800, but what do I know? I bought my Multiface because of the 0% CPU usage as well as the low latency, and I'd like to keep that no matter how fast the CPU in my next laptop is.

yeah, this is a bit of a bummer for RME multiface owners. I guess I'll have to keep my eye out and make sure I buy my next pc before no more are sold with a slot compatible with RME's card...I love my multiface and don't plan on buying another soundcard anytime soon.

forgive my ignorance, but wouldn't one of the advantages of going mac would be not having to worry about the cardbus for audio? That is the issue with pc's.........but macs HAVE the 6 pin fw (bus power)

Or am I wrong?

eyeknow wrote:forgive my ignorance, but wouldn't one of the advantages of going mac would be not having to worry about the cardbus for audio? That is the issue with pc's.........but macs HAVE the 6 pin fw (bus power)

Or am I wrong?

Many peoply (like me) own the RME multiface, which is still being sold. It uses "old school" (or whatever) pcmcia cardbus technology. Apparently only the mac book pros even have a pcmcia slot, which is a new "airport" or something and doesn't work with the RME card. And it seems some new pcs are coming out with pcmcia card slots like the macs, but some mentioned a pcmcia slot that can handle either on a pc. Anyhow, for RME multiface owners, all these new slots are bad news.

knowing RME they will make a compatible cardbus where you will be able to upgrade too. The multiface mk2 is only out for a year or so?
they will surely come with a new cardbus that just as well works on firewire as a connection cable

I see

thanks!

bad news for me
i was in a sony shop today
the new vaios don't have a cardbus slot either
i'm going to look for an asus...maybe toshiba..

My band is running _two_ Multifaces on an aging Tibook 500 and an aging Tibook 800 that both desperately need to be replaced (they are falling apart from 4 years of touring).

But rather stymied here, Me and my partner can probably stretch to a new MBP each, but add to that the purchase of 2 new (not cheapo) audio interfaces...

Our gigging rig is SOOOOO stable and reliable at the present time its not funny. I really really don't want to get into any teething problems (or god forbid horrendous crashes) with a total re-build with expensive new gear.

Sorry for the whinge, just doubly in the poo here...


A request though, to any native-German speakers who may be reading: Any chance of phoning up RME and asking:
A, Will they be doing an ExpressCard/34 card for existing Multiface and Multiface II owners?
B, Is any kind of adapter solution possible for pcmcia card -> ExpressCard/34?
C, Or do we just have to get on with it and move to FW400 or FW800

It would be awesome if someone could ask these questions "at the source". I have tried to find these answers out myself (The WWW / The New Zealand RME agents are not really interested) and judging from this thread it seems people may have been hearing conflicting things.

You never know, last weeks answer may not be this weeks answer...

... but God I would be SO stoked if I just had to buy a new ExpressCard/34 card and keep my Multiface.

thanks for listening,
paddy

hi, i've sent an e-mail to rme support in germany
i'll let you know the answer

4am wrote:bad news for me
i was in a sony shop today
the new vaios don't have a cardbus slot either
i'm going to look for an asus...maybe toshiba..

I hope you are wrong, checked the Sony site and all new models have PCMCIA, . Mine is up to date and i wont need to upgrade for at least a year, but you are scarying me, specially that I just bought RME, it is still on its way to me.

the models i have seen in the sony shop were 13"
and without pcmcia... it could also be because of the small size...
i really hope i'm wrong but i did a search
and didn't find models (also 15") with pcmcia...

As i mentioned somewhere else I was thinking of getting the 13`` but they are almost same weight , the wide 15 is flatter then the 13`` and cost less. Battery live is probably less, I think the 13 are standard with more expensive battery+ less energy for smaller display.
Anyway you can trust these FS serie that I have or the new dual FE are damn good, mine fallen from 1,5 on the street ( from a van) unfortunately I was promoting Ableton with their bag instead of my Vaio bag, so the exposed corner hit directly the asphalt, just a scratch it all work perfect.
http://vaio.sony-europe.com/view/ShowPr ... +FE+Series

ok I asked the rme benelux:

Beste Mark,

Dat zijn wat antwoorden van RME zelf:

>translation: here are some answers from Rme

A, Will they be doing an ExpressCard/34 card for existing Multiface and
Multiface II owners?


No plan at the moment...



> B, Is any kind of adapter solution possible for pcmcia card ->
> ExpressCard/34?


Yes, there will be such adapters, but not from RME.


Voor vraag C ligt voor de hand: dat kan altijd natuurlijk.

>translation: answer to question c; offcourse this is always possible

Met vriendelijke groet,
Cris Badea

markaugust wrote:> B, Is any kind of adapter solution possible for pcmcia card ->
> ExpressCard/34?

Yes, there will be such adapters, but not from RME.

This looks promising. A few manufacturers seem to have these in development, according to a quick Google search. Just have to wait and see if they work.

Many thanks Mark and 4am!

It really bums me out that the Macbook Pro 15" is lacking PCMCIA and FW800. But then I get cheered up remembering that my Powerbook and G5 already have what I want!

I may be moving to Brooklyn soon so I'll have to get an interface to replace the Digi 002 that belongs to my current roommate. I'm thinking RME if I can afford it. I love PCMCIA and PCI. All other connections to the computer are a step down. It's too bad the computer manufacturers seem to be moving away from this. Makes you realize how small a part of the computing population us DAW freaks are.

But when I really stop and think about it I realize I really can't afford RME right now. I'll be stuck with the Ozonic for a while. Yikes.

Apple blazed the way for firewire, hopefully this new cardslot thing will be a nice feature to have in a couple years.