From groovecake@yahoo.com Wed Sep 04 14:15:59 2002
Subject:Re: A Better Clone? - In praise of the B4

I got the Quattro at Mars Music. It was $250.

The Quattro will really, really help your latency
issues.

--- sgtpepper@rcsis.com wrote:
> It has two USB ports.
>
> Where did you get Quattro, and what was the price?
>
> ---Steve
>
> >Does your Vaio have USB ports?
> >
> >If so, the M-Audio Quattro will work. You'll get
> way
> >better latency with the ASIO driver as opposed to
> your
> >soundcard.
> >
> >M
> >
> >--- sgtpepper@rcsis.com wrote:
> >> 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

> >> > new CX-3 is the cheaper

> >> > way to go.  Or an Electro.

> >> >

> >> > Mark

> >> >

> >> > --

> >> > Mark Zyla

> >> > Northshore Marketing

> >> > 16 West Harrison Suite 205

> >> > Seattle, WA 98119

> >> > (206) 284-9699

> >> > (206) 285-9412 fax

> >> >

> >>

> >>
>
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> >>
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >>

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