From sgtpepper@rcsis.com Wed Sep 04 13:45:39 2002
Subject:Re: A Better Clone? - In praise of the B4
My laptop is a Sony Vaio 900 mhz Celeron, 256MB memory, using (for now) the internal
sound card, which is OK, but has no effects. Runs Win 2000 Pro, and the latency
is about 45 msec, a little more that I would like. The computer has been VERY
reliable. I've been using this combination at the church since January. Took
it to an outdoor concert 2 weeks ago (didn't take the Leslie to that!)
I also use this machine at work--it has Office 97, MS Project 98, Visio 2002,
and various other stuff installed--none of which seems to interfere with B4.
I previously used a mini-tower machine with an AMD 400 mhz cpu, 128MB memory,
and an SB Live! card, running Win98. But the combination of the case, keyboard,
and 15" monitor just takes up too much room. Got 25 msec latency with that
machine, tho. Used to get occasional hung notes with this system--had to shut
down B4 and restart it to to fix that.
Never tries the ASIO drivers--are they available for the Sony VAIO laptops?
---Steve
I disagree. The B4 runs lickity split on my year and a
half old laptop. It's a Pentium III running at 600
mhz.
There are some on Ebay running around $500 - $600.
Most cities have some sort of computer "good will"
store that has used computers. Bet you can find some
poor orphan that got cast off by its owner for
something newer and faster.
Figure in $250 for a Midiman Quatro USB driver.
Figure in $150 for the B4.
Total = $1,000.
I'm not figuring in a keyboard controller her because,
chances are, most folks on this list have at least one
MIDI capible controller.
Even if you rounded up the computer to $800, you are
still talking way less than a CX-3. And (to my ears)
it sounds better.
I'm no computer expert. I just know what is working so
far for me.
It all comes down to what is more important to you:
sound, keyboard style, portability, ease of set up,
etc.
To me, the sound is paramount. If it feels great but
doesn't move me - no thanks.
Portability is always part of the equation for me,
other wise I'd haul my B-3 around. I have decided that
a few extra set-up steps are worth it when I get so
much better sound from the B4 than I do my VK-7.
Mitch
--- Mark Zyla
wrote:
>
> > Factor in the $$ for the laptop and the external
> USB
> > and you are still less than a new Korg CX-3.
>
> A laptop with all the horsepower to run a program
> like B4 is not cheap.
> Running a laptop full of virtual instruments is
> still not an economical or
> practical idea. Certainly in the future, yes, but a
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