Recording interface for ASUS netbook?

[gavink]

I got one of those mini ASUS net books (got no CD-ROM). I've upgraded the memory and stripped down windows xp. Intel Processor: 900MHz and 1.99GB of RAM.Is there a USB interface I could use with what I have? Not expecting pro recordings but would like to start sketching out songs again. Thanks.

[mojobone]

Any USB interface that's USB 2.0 compatible should work, the bigger problem is installing DAW software without a CD drive. (I suppose you could connect an external drive, though) You may be in luck, though, cuz Reaper will run from a USB thumb drive (at least 4 Gig, I think, maybe two) You'd need a netbook with two USB ports, though, as it's unlikely to work from a hub. Then you've got a problem recording to an external drive unless you have a network adapter or a third USB port. You get Reaper to run on the internal drive and have one USB port for the external audio drive and one for the interface, THAT could work okay, though I doubt you'd get many simultaneous playback tracks.Fact of the matter, if I needed a super-portable scratchpad, with quality decent enough to port over to a larger system, I'd consider this: http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/H4N/It even has a couple of rather nice built-in microphones, though you can also use high-quality phantom-powered external mics as well. But of course, you can't also surf the 'net with that. And your netbook will have a larger screen, that's also a big advantage. Do keep us posted, please; I'm interested in learning what can be achieved with mere netbook muscle.

[gavink]

Sept 5, 2009, 6:59am, mojobone wrote:Any USB interface that's USB 2.0 compatible should work, the bigger problem is installing DAW software without a CD drive. (I suppose you could connect an external drive, though) You may be in luck, though, cuz Reaper will run from a USB thumb drive (at least 4 Gig, I think, maybe two) You'd need a netbook with two USB ports, though, as it's unlikely to work from a hub. Then you've got a problem recording to an external drive unless you have a network adapter or a third USB port. You get Reaper to run on the internal drive and have one USB port for the external audio drive and one for the interface, THAT could work okay, though I doubt you'd get many simultaneous playback tracks.Fact of the matter, if I needed a super-portable scratchpad, with quality decent enough to port over to a larger system, I'd consider this: http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/H4N/It even has a couple of rather nice built-in microphones, though you can also use high-quality phantom-powered external mics as well. But of course, you can't also surf the 'net with that. And your netbook will have a larger screen, that's also a big advantage. Do keep us posted, please; I'm interested in learning what can be achieved with mere netbook muscle.Thanks for the reply.I have 3 USB inputs.I had one of those digital recorders but they do my head in.I've been using Audacity and it's simple enough and more visual.I've been checking this one out: http://www.m-audio.com/products/en_us/F ... SB.htmlThe drivers can be downloaded and it might work with Audacity. Also only requires Windows XP (SP2), Pentium II 350 w/ 64MB RAM and one native USB port. I have Windows XP (SP2), 900 MHz Intel Celeron and 1.99 GB of RAM so should be ok.Also the FastTrackUSB is cheap. Only problem is it won't take a condenser mic and there is no preamp. However I'm thinking I could get by with a Shure SM57 for miking my acoustic. Only doing instrumentals. also I have an acoustic electric so I could also track through line in (signal from guitar is preamped). That might fatten things up.So with my little netbook, Fast Track USB, Shure SM57, Boom mic stand and a pair of headphones I could be in business.

[fullbirdmusic]

Problem is using the USB ports intensively at the same time. If you're accepting a signal on one USB port, running your DAW on another, and maybe recording on an external USB drive all at the same time, that most definitely will not work - not with a 900MHz processor, I'm sorry to say. Even if it is USB 2.0, the processor has to do the work to get the 1s and 0s to the ports first!

[mojobone]

Maybe a FireWire or networked drive, then. Does the netbook have FireWire or ethernet ports?

[gavink]

Sept 6, 2009, 11:13pm, fullbirdmusic wrote:Problem is using the USB ports intensively at the same time. If you're accepting a signal on one USB port, running your DAW on another, and maybe recording on an external USB drive all at the same time, that most definitely will not work - not with a 900MHz processor, I'm sorry to say. Even if it is USB 2.0, the processor has to do the work to get the 1s and 0s to the ports first!can I just plug into one USB?only got to plug an M-audio in. I can monitor with headphones. I only want to track a couple guitars, mix it down and save on my netbook.

[mojobone]

It's hard on your drive head if you ask it to read and write simultaneously. It can't physically be in two places at once; hence the need for a separate drive.

[gavink]

Sept 6, 2009, 11:34pm, mojobone wrote:Maybe a FireWire or networked drive, then. Does the netbook have FireWire or ethernet ports?yes it has ethernet. .....LAN Port.

[gavink]

Sept 6, 2009, 11:46pm, mojobone wrote:It's hard on your drive head if you ask it to read and write simultaneously. It can't physically be in two places at once; hence the need for a separate drive.looking at getting this: http://www.m-audio.com/products/en_us/F ... o.htmlwill this work with what I have?or what about this one?...http://www.m-audio.com/products/en_us/MobilePreUSB.html

[fullbirdmusic]

Yeah, the first one will probably work better - more monitoring options; which is important with your minimal setup. It's easy to describe what you want to do on a computer but sometimes proves a bit more difficult. Let's review:1. Audacity on your computer harddrive2. M-Audio USB interface3. Monitor through the interface - most efficientThere should be software and drivers for your interface that allow you to customize your monitoring options. That sounds like a winner to me!