CPU is wimpy - Can an audio interface fix that?

[tiedyetrogdor]

I have a pretty wimpy CPU for live use - an Intel Pentium 4 (2.8 GHz) and it doesn't seem to do the job when I record and/or play a bunch of clips at once. I get a big CPU spike and the sound cuts out for half a second.

I think this is because my cheap soundcard and CPU are trying to handle Analog->digital conversion. Will a proper external audio interface fix this problem? If so, what should I look into? If not, just how good does the CPU need to be?

On a side note, I'm considering getting an M-Audio MobilePre.
http://www.m-audio.com/products/en_us/M ... -main.html

Does anyone have any experience with this interface? Is this a good, reliable sound card? Will it fix the CPU spikes and poor behavior?!?

Thanks.

[leisuremuffin]

well, a firewire interface will actually take up more cpu.

don't really know about other options....



best thing to do is suck it up and get more cpu to throw at it.

or live with the limitations and do a lot of bouncing.



.lm.