EEEPC for live work?

[trowaclown]

Hey there folks I'm an intruder from the bass section who's thinking of learning to play some minor keyboards to make myself more versatile.

I've tried searching for EEEPC's use for live (NOT recording) and couldn't get anything.

Anyway, I was wondering if an EEEPC is powerful enough for live work to drive midi controllers like the Korg Nano series. It's strictly for use as a soundbank/processor and will probably have just 1 midi controller and probably a MicroKorg XL (which I'm intending to buy).

Will there be issues with latency or jittering or stuff like that?

Any advice is appreciated, and thanks in advance!

 

[Cheez]

First, you need to read some definitions in the keyboard sticky section. I believe you may have misunderstood the function of midi controllers. Midi controllers produce no sound - they produce only midi signals (keys on, off, sustain, mod wheels, etc). To produce sound, midi signals need to drive a sound source. The sound source can come in the form of a keyboard, a sound module, or softsynths.

Hence, a notebook or PC will not drive a midi controller. It should be the other way around. So your question could be:

1. Whether a netbook can power a softsynth driven by a midi controller.

Short answer is unlikely. Softsynths nowadays are using more and more complex algorithms requirment quite a bit of CPU power. The only one that has proven successful is the softsampler by Garritan - under their ARIA engine (www.garritan.com).

2. Whether a netbook can drive a sound module via midi. This is definitely possible since the netbook will only be producing midi signals from it's DAW software. Midi signals will come out via USB-midi cables which is of low latency. Shouldn't get any dropouts.

But if you're serious into music production of live playing, don't get a netbook.

 

[trowaclown]

Thanks for the reply Cheez, I didn't expect such a lengthy and thorough answer. I think I didn't phrase my question properly, but I actually meant (1), so if it's unlikely then nevermind with it.

I'm actually getting a netbook to save myself the trouble of printing lecture notes and tutorials in school, so any use for it musically is extra.

 

[Cheez]

Well, consider getting a more powerful notebook. Can use for your school work as well...

 

[trowaclown]

Nah I got an overpowered desktop for regular work in my dorm room. The eeepc will just be a document reader in lecture theatres and all.

I suppose an EEEPC will be insufficient for use as a looping station if used with a Korg NanoKontrol?

 

[Cheez]

Depends on what software you are using for the loops. If you are thinking Ableton, then you are stretching it. However, do try googling around for open-source software that may do looping which may require low CPU resources. Looping is not rocket science and by itself shouldn't take too much resources.