Hi all, I'd like to get a PrecisionSounds keyboard sample cd and be able to play it back realtime via my Macbook (Tiger, 2 gig Core 2duo). To tell you the truth, I don't even know if this can be done, at least not without some latency.

I'd like to know everything I'll need, the cheapest way to go all the way around. I'm leaning toward Halion or Kontakt but if there's something cheaper that will do this basic task I'd like to know what it is.

Also I need to know what hardware interfaces I'll need. I have a midi keyboard but no midi interface as of yet. I saw somthing mentioned about "Core audio hardware required" but I'm not sure what that refers to.

Also anyone know if Halion or Kontakt require usb keys or hardware dongles of any kind?

Thanks for any info,

Jeff

Hi,
with Kontact you shouldn't have latency issues in your system. it installs without a dongle, and will blow your mind. Kontact 3 ships with a huge library, and you may discover you don't need that specific sample CD you're looking at. Highly recommended.

since you're considering Kontact, in the same price range, "Reason" will give you a giant rack of gear and samples, as well as a pretty powerful sequencing environment.

even the most modest audio interface will help your sound. not a 'must', but again, recommended.
you'll need a midi interface, and there are so many. M-Audio makes a 1 to 1 called the 'Uno', i think, that's cheap and effective.

research how to optimize your current laptop system for audio playback. if you've got parts to perform that will take more than 24 voices at a time, consider using an external, 7200 rpm, firewire drive. most soft samplers stream from disc these days, and it can be intensive for your internal drive. add as much ram to your system as you can. max it out.

good luck.

This post has been edited by houstonmusic: Fri 11 Jul 2008, 16:27

Sounds good--THANKS for the info--answers all my questions. Have a great one.

Meh, that should fix it