From sgtpepper@rcsis.com Wed Sep 04 14:34:55 2002
Subject:Re: A Better Clone? - In praise of the B4

Do you know anything about the SoundBlaster Extigy?

---Steve

>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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