Hello...
I recently bought a new Toshiba Tecra laptop that came with win7 pro 64bit.
At first, I was planning to use it with my old M-Audio Audio-Quattro, but after a lot of searching in the internet I found out it's totally impossible to use it with win 7 64bit because de Quattro drivers are 32bit only and where never updated since 2002(!).
So, I thought maybe I could use my RME HDSP9632 (a PCI card I have installed inside my old Pentium D desktop computer) if only there was some kind of effective external box with PCI where I could install the HDSP9632 and then connect this box to the laptop via USB or Express Card connector.
Of course, this would have to be cheaper than buying the modern equivalent of the HDSP9632, like an RME high end extrernal Audio/MIDI interface (the cost of my HDSP9632 + 8 analog inputs was above €750, back in 2006, if I remember well).
After searching the internet for ways to connect external PCI cards to laptops, I found Magma boxes, that are outrageosly expensive, and not worth the price when compared to buying a new RME for the laptop. BUT... After some more searching I found this: http://www.virtuavia.eu/shop/expresscar ... 29858.html -- it costs €200 (even cheaper than the Quattro) and the HDSP9632 plus analog 8channel card (and more!) can be installed inside this box. My doubt is if this will noticiable increasse latency or not... I was used to 3ms latency with the HDSP9632 inside my desktop PC. This 4 slot PCI box connects to the laptop via Express Card connector.
So, what do you guys think about this?... Or do you know of other similar/cheaper or better solutions?
Thanks in advance for your advice.
is there a way to externally connect a PCI audio card to a laptop?
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- KVRian
- 838 posts since 7 Jul, 2008 from Lost in the wilderness
Last edited by Axis1~SL61 on Mon Feb 13, 2012 9:55 am, edited 1 time in total.
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- KVRAF
- 20927 posts since 22 Nov, 2000 from Southern California
It should work well with the same latency you get when installing the RME into a PCI slot. I think it's an older style express card, though, so make sure it fits your new laptop. If not, there's the Netstor box but it's more expensive and only works with PCIe cards.
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- KVRAF
- 6323 posts since 30 Dec, 2004 from London uk
I would email the company with your query before buying or make it clear that you need it for a particular card and be able to return it if it dosnt work. It should work but the manufacturer would have a better idea. The unit can supply 38 watts, does your audio card take more? Will you get earth loop or similar noise? Tricky Its not something Ive seen done recently so unless some one here has, its a gamble.
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- KVRAF
- 6323 posts since 30 Dec, 2004 from London uk
Heres a Forum with peoples input on the system. Most recent posts at the bottom :
http://duc.avid.com/archive/index.php/t-218596.html
Looks like good news, mostly.
http://duc.avid.com/archive/index.php/t-218596.html
Looks like good news, mostly.
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- KVRian
- Topic Starter
- 838 posts since 7 Jul, 2008 from Lost in the wilderness
Thanks for all the answers so far -- you're right, this is proving very tricky, I'm even not sure if Express card fits in my Toshiba Tecra. -- the connector in the pictures seems to be larger, and in my laptop documentation it's not clear what tipe of card fits there -- it only says it's "for ExpressCard or PC card according to the model you bought" --but to my eyes it seems smaller than 34mm, I would say it's only like 20mm... 
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- KVRAF
- 20927 posts since 22 Nov, 2000 from Southern California
Honestly, a Focusrite Saffire Pro 24 will cost you around the same amount of money, be less of a hassle, and probably sound much better.
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- KVRian
- Topic Starter
- 838 posts since 7 Jul, 2008 from Lost in the wilderness
EEEExactlyUncle E wrote:Honestly, a Focusrite Saffire Pro 24 will cost you around the same amount of money, be less of a hassle, and probably sound much better.
what I had in the back of my mind and was about to phone a friend that lives in a town 100km from here that I know owned one and I couldn't remember the brand and model name. That's the one, thanks for reminding me! However, I'm still open to the external PCI box -- it must be PCI (not PCIe) and the slot in my laptop left side seems to be smaller then ExpressCard 34, probably a slot intended for SD cards like the ones used for photography and such, so if there's no adapter for ExpressCard 34, I'm not gonna be able to use it for the eventual PCI box... Any other suggestions?...
Thanks again for all the replies, so far.
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- KVRian
- Topic Starter
- 838 posts since 7 Jul, 2008 from Lost in the wilderness
However, it seems that the Focusrite Saffire Pro 24 is FireWire only, and my laptop only has USB 3.0 and USB 2.... 
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- KVRAF
- 20927 posts since 22 Nov, 2000 from Southern California
http://www.jrrshop.com/catalog/focusrit ... 11225.htmlAxis1~SL61 wrote:However, it seems that the Focusrite Saffire Pro 24 is FireWire only, and my laptop only has USB 3.0 and USB 2....