This is a branch of the Jammer Live discussion. I am hoping elle will contribute her expertise, including repeating inputs made elsewhere.

The main issue with laptops would seem to be the availability of a GSIF (GigaSampler InterFace) for a laptop sound module. How do we know that no laptop has a GSIF compatabile sound module built in? Also, what will cure this: a PMCIA card compatible with the GSIF interface, or Gigasampler or somebody writing an GSIF driver for an existing card or internal module?

Other issues. Processor speed cannot be an issue. A Gigasample dream system calls for a 300 MHz processor. New laptops are achieving twice this rate. Even allowing for non-optimal laptop implementations, this requirement is met.

Hard disk. elle reported that laptop hard disks spin at 5400 rpm, where 7200 is preferred. Also, laptop hard disks are 2.5 inch drives instead of 3.5 inch drives. Both of these "compromises" impact transfer speeds. On the other hand, laptops can be fitted with two 20 GB Fast ATA hard disks. The second one can be partitioned and the sample data put on the fast (outer) partition. So I expect hard disk requirements can be met.

System bus speed. The system bus clock rate is often a bottleneck. It is probably low on many laptops.

Power conservation. Obviously, power conservation must be off. I think some laptops provide for this, expecially if connected to AC power.

So elle, or anyone, what is next?

I wanted to ask the same questions but with respect to the Conexant GM libraries. How are the processing requirements affected if the Conexant player is used instead of Gigasampler to play the sounds? I assume the requirements are the same or less severe.

I also want to mention that at least the GM150 library will fit into RAM on some high end laptops.

Of course, the GSIF interface is probably still required.

When pushing the technical limits, one always ends up chasing a very limited number of 'first to market' manufacturers. On the topic of gigasampler/laptop compatible maufacturers Korean Egosys is the one.
(more to follow)

The Wami Box GSIF driver is (finaly) expected this month. Be aware however of the obibious limitations of Wamibox. Nevertheless it should work great with GS.

)

The Wamibox faq: http://www.egosys.co.kr/eng/egosys.html

Some links:
[img]http://www.jam.se/wamibox.gif[img] http://www.sbfilmaudio.com/egosys.html
(also see for PCs: http://www.sbfilmaudio.com/nemesys.html

Some warning: http://www.hanme.co.kr/ego/FAQ-WB.htm

musician on the move: http://www.gigtek.com/

The warning elle is pointing us to is summarized as

"Wami Box works well with most of notebooks but we are sorry to inform that
we just recently found that it doesn't work well with the notebook which has
very old version of PCMCIA controllers due to compatibilty problem between
PCMCIA controller of notebook and PCMCIA card of Wami box."

I do not think there is much point in running Gigasampler on an old notebook, so this incompatibility should not be too big an obstacle.

On the other hand, this Wami is directed to full audio production. There has to be a more modest laptop solution for those who just want to play Gigasampler sounds.


[This message has been edited by Clif Anderson (edited 03-03-2000).]