Computer questions

Billy's Little Trip · Post by **Billy's Little Trip** » Sun Dec 23, 2007 4:18 pm

The poll isn't the computer question. Polls are free and crumbs are interesting.

The Computer Question
I have limited desk and office/studio/guest room space. I have a 20" flat monitor that I like and I'd like to share it with another computer via "A" "B" type switch, or whatever.

What I have:
I've been using the same computer for biz, recording, movie editing, etc. Mainly for convenience because it's on my desk and my instruments and gear is just feet away. It freezes and is out of hard drive space. My external HD is almost out of space too. I'll get another one.
I bought my son some high end gaming computer for his Birthday last November (he picked it out). So his old pen 4 with all kinds of vid card and audio card upgrades is just sitting here. He has the ram maxed out and it's a 2. something giggle hurtz processor, where my computer is only a pen 3 with 933 maggy hurtz. So I want to set up his old computer just for recording and video making.
Can I have two towers hooked up to one monitor so that I can easily switch back and forth between them?

Part Two:
Yesterday my Pre Sonus Firebox (analog to computer interface) is not recognized by my computer all of a sudden. It's hooked up via firewire, but doesn't link when I re-boot my computer. I even tried going back to an older system restore dat, but no go. Could my firewire card have taken a crap? Should I reload my Pre Sonus software CD?
Any help would be appreciated.

obscurity · Post by **obscurity** » Sun Dec 23, 2007 4:36 pm

Do you have the 2 computers networked? If so, why not just remote desktop from one to t'other? Otherwise, yeah, you can get a KVM (keyboard, video, mouse) switch, I guess.

Billy's Little Trip · Post by **Billy's Little Trip** » Sun Dec 23, 2007 4:43 pm

I do have a router that all the computers are plugged into, including the wireless laptops. But I've tried using the laptop before and it is really slow. I think the Cubase program has to be on the computer I'm recording to.

edit: Oh wait a minute, you may be right. I just remembered that I had a sound saple DVD in my laptop and added it to Cubase from my desktop before.
So you're saying:
1. Put Cubase on my new computer
2. Plug in my FireBox to the new computer
3. Access the new computer with the above now on it, via my network using my old computer.

Is that right?

Märk · Post by **Märk** » Sun Dec 23, 2007 4:43 pm

Monitor question: Most new-ish flatscreens have multiple inputs. (at least a DVI and analog 15 pin d-sub) Just hook both up and use the button on the monitor to switch. Unless yours just has one input. Then get a KVM switch.

Firebox question: First and foremost, try it on another computer. If it's recognized correctly, you have a software and/or hardware problem on your main PC. If not, it's the Firebox. (*see below) Try re-installing the Presonus software, if that doesn't help, go into device manager, uninstall the firewire device, reboot, and let it re-detect it (with the Firebox unplugged) and try again.
* You have a borked firmware, and you need to return the unit to Presonus.

Billy's Little Trip · Post by **Billy's Little Trip** » Sun Dec 23, 2007 4:57 pm

Actually, I just looked up as to what the KVM switch is, and it sounds good.

And I'll try those things Mark. It's strange that it just stopped working, it's only a year old. But then again, that's how things go bad, they just stop working.

I bet it's a software or driver issue.

Billy's Little Trip · Post by **Billy's Little Trip** » Sun Dec 23, 2007 7:10 pm

One more thing that seems strange all of a sudden. When my computer freezes, I have to turn it off by pushing the power button and hold it until it powers down. Then when it starts back up, it runs a scan disk and magically fixes everything.....I'm pretty sure it's magic. Anyway, now I can't get it to do a scan disk for the life of me. If I hit the power button on the tower, it just shuts right off with no delay, and just starts up normal. What the hell is up with that?

The only thing that has changed at the same time all this started:
My younger son plays "call of duty4 live" on Xbox 360. He has been complaining about getting kicked of line a lot because of our router. So he unplugged the router and plugged his Ethernet cable directly to the cable modem, which worked for him, but no one else in the house. Anyway, ever since he did that, my problems started. It doesn't seem likely for that to cause my firebox/firewire to stop working.

Damn kids and their vid'jah games. Why can't they grow their hair long and go have a sit in at some anti-war protest, like normal kids.
All with their respectable hair cuts and responsible attitudes....Bahhh, kids these days!

Billy's Little Trip · Mon Dec 24, 2007 12:12 am

OK, I'm pretty sure that my 1 year old FireBox is bad. I tried it on another computer and it doesn't see it, as far as I can tell.
I load the FireBox installation disc, and when it gets to the part where I plug in the unit, the instruction on the screen never advance to the next step.

This sucks, because I have a near complete GOM and Purple Reign song. I have time on the Purple Reign song, but I wanted to give my GOM on Christmas day. Now I'm pissed off and frustrated.

Märk · Post by **Märk** » Mon Dec 24, 2007 1:50 am

Yup, borked. You're SOL, dude. Send it back to Presonus.

[edit] Oh wait- maybe you have a bad firewire cable? Have you tried a different one? Maybe the AC adapter is bad? If you just turn the 'box on without plugging it in to the PC, what does it do?

Rabid Garfunkel · Post by **Rabid Garfunkel** » Mon Dec 24, 2007 8:58 am

Addtl. thoughts... wireless networks, is it open or passworded? If it's open, well, you've got like millions of people living within 5 miles of you, dude. That plus the Christmas break = potential for a heavier load on your connection which may make for your son's lack of connectionness with the 360.

signboy · Post by **signboy** » Mon Dec 24, 2007 9:38 am

I had a similar issue with my MOTU 8pre, where I had it unplugged and took my laptop to work. Somehow that wiped the drivers, or at least disassociated them from the hardware. It fixed the problem to plug the hardware back in, and reinstall the drivers. If, however, your driver kakks out instead of installing, I would recommend you take the firebox apart and then put it back together again. That always fixes electronic stuff.

Billy's Little Trip · Mon Dec 24, 2007 10:53 am

Märk wrote:Yup, borked. You're SOL, dude. Send it back to Presonus.

[edit] Oh wait- maybe you have a bad firewire cable? Have you tried a different one? Maybe the AC adapter is bad? If you just turn the 'box on without plugging it in to the PC, what does it do?

All of the lights light up when I plug in the AC adapter without the firewire plugged in, so it's getting power.

I haven't tried a new firewire cable yet, but the one I have does seem a bit loose, but that could be just how the socket is. I'll try that too.

Rabid Garfunkel wrote:Addtl. thoughts... wireless networks, is it open or passworded? If it's open, well, you've got like millions of people living within 5 miles of you, dude. That plus the Christmas break = potential for a heavier load on your connection which may make for your son's lack of connectionness with the 360.

Well, I have a netgear router with 4 direct ports and 2 wireless. He is plugged direct to the router via cable, so I don't think the wireless part has anything to do with it, right?
Is there such a thing as an Ethernet splitter? So he can come right off the cable modem, and I can still go to the router? That seems like it would solve that problem.

signboy wrote:I had a similar issue with my MOTU 8pre, where I had it unplugged and took my laptop to work. Somehow that wiped the drivers, or at least disassociated them from the hardware. It fixed the problem to plug the hardware back in, and reinstall the drivers. If, however, your driver kakks out instead of installing, I would recommend you take the firebox apart and then put it back together again. That always fixes electronic stuff.

Yeah, I was hoping it was a driver issue, but it doesn't seem like that is the case this time.
I think I'll just buy another FireBox and send this one in to get repaired, then daisy chain them if that is possible. If not, I'll sell it as used. I'm pretty sure the FireBox's can link together to add more inputs.

Me$$iah · Post by **Me$$iah** » Tue Dec 25, 2007 6:16 am

Side issue:

Once youve got the firebox working and cubase on the p4 running with a KVM switch along with the p3. Consider a program like this to connect the 2 computers, thus giving you the most out of the combined power.

Billy's Little Trip · Post by **Billy's Little Trip** » Tue Dec 25, 2007 7:51 pm

Yeah, I was checking out FX Teleport a while back. Someone here linked it in a post. I do have an issue with VSTs using up my CPUismz and freezing up my computer.

obscurity · Post by **obscurity** » Wed Dec 26, 2007 6:23 am

The key thing you want to bear in mind when doing the remote desktop thing is to set it to leave audio at the other PC (the one that cubase would be running on, that has all of your audio gear attached to). I use that setup myself, and I've no need for a KVM switch at all.

Me$$iah · Post by **Me$$iah** » Wed Dec 26, 2007 6:29 am

Hehe. It couldve been me that linked it in the past

I dont post often, and when I do the content is usually the same.

Im such a fanboy of my equipment tho.

have ya checked the link in my sig, aww man, these badboys hunt fireboxes.

Hehe

seriuosly tho, the FxTeleport thing is a real sweet prog, it does introduce some latency to the whole system, but in the way I work that doesnt really matter. I use my second pc mostly for running BFD and/or maybe GuitarRig from, and then for maybe a very CPU heavy effect or 2 during mixing. This combined with what my master PC and my DSP babies give me, I have more power than I could ever hope to use.

BTW
Hope you had a good B'day

Cheers

Billy's Little Trip · Wed Dec 26, 2007 11:51 am

Sonic Core? I have seen that site before, so probably from you posting links. Are you a programmer, or rep for Sonic Core?

Obz, I know exactly what you're saying. As long as I have my song that I'm working on, located on the same computer as Cubase and my gear, there shouldn't be a need for a switching device, as you said.
Thats pretty much how Ive been doing it already. Then once I'm done with a song, I move it and all of the parts to a file on my external HD to free up space on my main computer.
To be honest, I really never have trouble on my older slower computer recording one track at a time. Its just the heavy VSTs that suck out my juice. So Ive started exporting tracks using heavy VSTs by them selves, then bringing it back to my working project so I don't need that particular VST anymore. It takes a bit more time, but not bad.

Me$$iah · Post by **Me$$iah** » Wed Dec 26, 2007 2:32 pm

Nope, not a rep or nothing like that. Im just an extremly happy customer. I get nothing from anyone with regards to Sonic-Core beside the pure joy of the sound, and pleasure of the platform.
I am passionate about the cards. I love them and truly think most studios would benefit from their use. Tho the company has recently suffered hard times. But now it appears thing have turned a corner there.

I think the cards they sell, old as they are, are still unbeaten in quality by anything else on the market. I just want to spread the joy and wisdom.

I think like an old Minimoog is still a superior synth, the same is true with my DSPs. Superior in sound and capability (just ask me about the finer points of routing, never mind sidechaining)
Interestingly they are built using SHARC chips, as found in PODs. Whereas TC and UAD use Motorolla chips, and I really think the difference can be heard. Motorollas have a higher voice count but the SHARCs just sound better.

anyway,
fanboy away!!!

obscurity · Post by **obscurity** » Wed Dec 26, 2007 7:28 pm

Me$$iah wrote: Interestingly they are built using SHARC chips, as found in PODs. Whereas TC and UAD use Motorolla chips, and I really think the difference can be heard. Motorollas have a higher voice count but the SHARCs just sound better.

You know, one of the fundamental things about programming is that the same algorithm will yield the same results regardless of the cpu it's implemented on (unless, of course, the cpu is buggy, like the old pentium FDIV error). You might as well say your guitar sounds better if you play it wearing a blue t-shirt than if you play it wearing a red one.

obscurity · Post by **obscurity** » Wed Dec 26, 2007 7:32 pm

Billy's Little Trip wrote:Obz, I know exactly what you're saying. As long as I have my song that I'm working on, located on the same computer as Cubase and my gear, there shouldn't be a need for a switching device, as you said.

OK, so I think I'm missing the point somewhere along the line here. Why are you considering getting a KVM switch, if remote desktopping works? I can't see the advantage.

Billy's Little Trip · Wed Dec 26, 2007 10:35 pm

obscurity wrote:
Billy's Little Trip wrote:Obz, I know exactly what you're saying. As long as I have my song that I'm working on, located on the same computer as Cubase and my gear, there shouldn't be a need for a switching device, as you said.
OK, so I think I'm missing the point somewhere along the line here. Why are you considering getting a KVM switch, if remote desktopping works? I can't see the advantage.

Because I'm crappy with computer stuff, and until this thread advanced, I didn't know I could "remote desktop" without it being a problem, nor what "remote desktopping" actually was. And to be honest, until I actually do it and find that it meets my simple minded expectations, the verdict is still out. Does that answer work?

Me$$iah · Post by **Me$$iah** » Thu Dec 27, 2007 12:43 am

Have you seen how sexy my blue shirt is tho.

hehehe

you are right about programming, however it may be in the way the code is implemented or just some quantum effect that I will never understand, but there is definatley differences.
I recon most pcs develop a 'psuedo personality' not in any intelligent way, just that some do things like this and others like that, even tho the programs may be the same the mobo or gfx or something makes a difference.

Billy's Little Trip · Post by **Billy's Little Trip** » Thu Dec 27, 2007 2:20 pm

I've started tech help from Presonus. Very nice people. I've updated to the latest drivers, followed his instruction using regseeker to clean out all old and re-install the new, but still not working. This totally sucks!!!@#$%^!
He emailed his direct line and is going to walk me through some stuff. He feels he can help me get this working and feels that my FireBox is ok.
I'll do that when I get back.

Computer questions

If a crumb breaks in half, do you have?....

Computer questions