the road to a Firebox setup

[salt]

hi all,
after chancing upon this forum, and reading the really great support that Rick has been giving everyone, i've more or less decided to get myself a Firebox, for my recording needs.

from bad experiences with 'emu' last time, i've learnt that homework is really important as troubleshooting really saps your inspiration for music. so this time i intend to get it straight.

so far most of the reviews for the firebox have been for a Mac platform, so i was just thinking of posting my computer specs to maybe get an idea of what problems i might expect to face on a Windows XP (Home & Pro) machine, and maybe which components i should try to upgrade to have a smooth recording experience.

i'm going to be using cubase sx with a whole lot of vsts (lots from Native Instruments like Guitar Rig), basically, with some real-time with my midi keyboard (absynth, etc). Some audio inputs from mics and guitars too.

Will the Firebox be right for me in terms of handing the low ASIO latency that i require? I would really like to play some of my VSTs real-time.

The reason for asking this is because on the SOUNDonSOUND magazine review (linked by PreSonus), the reviewer mentioned that he had to play with the setting 'while recording MIDI-driven virtual instrument perfomances', while as i've yet to find another firebox review for a windowsXP machine, latency performance sorta stands at that for now.

Is there any way that i can solve that problem before it even happens? Or has new software patched up those problems?


Thanks in advance for the advice!

cheers,
salt

Desktop
Running WindowsXP Professional
AMD64 S754 2800+ @2.43ghz (Prime95 "Large FFT"- 36hour stability)
Gigabyte K8N-PRO FSB @270mhz (Nforce3- 150 Chipset)
[Texas Instruments OHCI Compliant IEEE 1394 Host Controller]
Inno3d 6800LE 375/780 - Nvidia 91.31 Official Drivers
1GB GEIL value ram 404mhz @ 2-3-3-6
80gb Maxtor IDE Harddrive
160gb Matxtor DiamondMax 9 Harddrive in a Coolermaster esata/usb 2.0 enclosure


Laptop
Running WindowsXP Home Edition
Compaq Presario V2010 Series
Intel Centrino chipset
Dothan (stock) @1.6ghz
768mb Ram
Texas Instruments PCIxx21/x515 Cardbus controller

[ricknaqvi]

Hi Salt,

Your desktop computer specs look fine. The Firebox will rock on that computer.

The laptop spec from first look also seems to be ok, however, I would need to see an NFO file on that computer to really give you a better idea. Laptops (in general) are a little more of a crapshoot due to integrated motherboards and potential conflicts with video cards, etc..

Also, I had a question for you: What type of midi controller will you be using? Is it USB or only midi comptible?

Kind Regards,
Rick

[salt]

hi rick,
thanks for the prompt reply...
knowing that it'll work is sweet music to my ears! :D

well for the midi controller i'll be using this synth that i inherited, the Casio VZ-1 which is only midi compatible...Will that work?

Also, how do i get an .nfo file out of my laptop.... erm... meaning how do i create one, or where is the file located?

thanks again!

salt

Desktop
Running WindowsXP Professional
AMD64 S754 2800+ @2.43ghz (Prime95 "Large FFT"- 36hour stability)
Gigabyte K8N-PRO FSB @270mhz (Nforce3- 150 Chipset)
[Texas Instruments OHCI Compliant IEEE 1394 Host Controller]
Inno3d 6800LE 375/780 - Nvidia 91.31 Official Drivers
1GB GEIL value ram 404mhz @ 2-3-3-6
80gb Maxtor IDE Harddrive
160gb Matxtor DiamondMax 9 Harddrive in a Coolermaster esata/usb 2.0 enclosure


Laptop
Running WindowsXP Home Edition
Compaq Presario V2010 Series
Intel Centrino chipset
Dothan (stock) @1.6ghz
768mb Ram
Texas Instruments PCIxx21/x515 Cardbus controller
Texas Instruments OHCI Compliant IEEE 1394 Host Controller <--------(i forgot to add this in, in the last post)

[ricknaqvi]

Hi Salt,

Here's how you generate an NFO file for your laptop:
Click the Start menu button, All Programs, Accessories, System Tools, System Information. In the System Information window, clik the File menu and Save. Name your file and Save as a .NFO file type to your desktop. Attatch to email.

After I get your email, I'll forward it to the gurus and let you know if we see any potential problems with your laptop.

Secondly, as long as you are using Cubase SX3, SL3 or SE3, you won't have any midi issues. There were problems on older versions of Cubase with MIDI for certain motherboards.

However, there is one little checkbox you will need to select when you are getting set up. Here's what to do:

Click the Devices menu and select Device Setup. Click Direct Music. There you will find a check box next to "Use System Timestamp". Check this box and click APPLY. Close and reopen Cubase and MIDI fucntionality should now be corrected.

Hope this helps.

Kind Regards,

[salt]

hi rick,
i've already emailed you my .nfo file. thanks for everything.
i'm using cubase sx3, so i think that i'll be able to avoid the midi problems... :)
cheers,
salt