Question on current generation laptop's built in audio card

[eegee]

I'm shopping for a laptop - it will be a win 7 x64 laptop. I don't do hardly any recording - if anything, just the random sample here and there. I'd probably do all of my monitoring via headphones. It will likely be an i5 or i7 with 8G RAM and a fast hard drive. Are the current generation laptops's built in audio cards good enough to drive several vsts without a lot of latency (either with the native drivers or Asio4all)? Or should I still get a usb audio card for vst playback and headphone monitoring? I don't mind the cost, its more about lugging the thing around.

Thanks,
EG

[ollyb303]

I sometimes run my audio out through my dell's onboard sound to my cans... It works ok for a quick bit of editing on the sofa/aeroplane/whatever, but if I try to run my full live set through it, it invariably stutters and pops. I'm running w7 32 bit on a recent Dell vostro.

I'd seriously recommend a decent USB, or FireWire interface if you plan on actually performing at all.

[eegee]

I don't perform, but I do like to have low latency recording vsts as I play with my keyboard. Or playing back a song with several midi tracks hosting vsts.

[ollyb303]

If you're serious about making music, I'd still advise getting one... Doesn't need to be big.

[eegee]

I have a Focusrite Saffire USB 6 on my desktop. Seems big to cart around with a laptop. What's a good small footprint sound card when i/o isnt a priority?

[102455]

If you want cheap and small - Behringer UCA202.

[eegee]

Wow - that one really is cheap.

[hacktheplanet]

8 gigs of ram plus an i7 is a pretty monster combo. I'd be surprised if you get much latency at all through even a pig VST. I'd say skip the small/portable audio interface until you test your setup and find if you absolutely need it.

[lolalola]

If you want cheap and small - Behringer UCA202.

Don't go with the Behringer - it's a piece of junk (YES, I've tried it) and I can't believe it would even be suggested.

[Khazul]

If you want cheap and reliable - Ive found the native instruments audio interface to be very good for use with Windows XP/Windows 7 etc and seems to properly support multi-client ASIO - even able to share and mix to the same output channels (many others cant do this) if you need to run multiple applications zat the same time, for eg Live + Traktor DJ software.

Audio Kontrol 1 if you need mic input and balanced outs to studio monitors and MIDI I/O, or cheaper and smaller Audio 2 DJ if you want unbalanced outs for connecting to HiFi or DJ gear.

TBH - they are the most reliable audio interfaces I have ever used (I have the AK1 and A8DJ). Even RME stuff could be described as flakey and less functional by comparison and they are among the best as well - to their point where Im nervous about turning the monitor volume up high with either the RME UFX or FF400, but have no fears doing same with NI inerfaces.

[Khazul]

If you want cheap and small - Behringer UCA202.

Don't go with the Behringer - it's a piece of junk (YES, I've tried it) and I can't believe it would even be suggested.

+1 and whether the hardware is any good or not, their drivers have been historically unbeleivable flakey shit!