Returning to PARIS after a break - need some tips on hardware, etc [message #108054] |
Mon, 27 January 2014 04:56 |
db
Messages: 13 Registered: July 2005
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Junior Member |
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Hi,
I'm currently using Reaper on a laptop (with an RME UCX interface). I've had (and still have) a 2 card PARIS rig since 1999 (last running 3.0 on WinMe I think, or was it XP?) and would like to find a way to access old projects PPJ access essential (not just PAF).
I'm a bit out of the loop on where things are with Paris (and hardware generally) these days. I think my old desktop PC hardware which used to run PARIS - is largely past it, and very slow (Athlon 1.4Ghz, from memory, Matrox dual head graphics). I'm guessing my options are:
(1) Find a way of using the Paris hardware with a laptop. This seems to require a Magma-type chasis. It seems you need a laptop which has a PCI express card slot to use this
http://www.virtuavia.eu/shop/pcie-4-x-pci-expansion-atx-kit. html or (preferably, if it works...?) this http://www.virtuavia.eu/shop/expresscard-34-to-pci-expansion -box-p29858.html as it's smaller and ready to go. Both are 230 euros. I have an old laptop with an ExpressCard expansion slot, but that doesn't seem suitable.
A Thunderbolt port, however, seems much more future proof (I'm in the market for a new laptop and happy to buy one with a Thunderbolt port). But the Magma Expressbox 3T is £831.55 (!). https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=ExpressBox+3T&safe=off &espvd=210&es_sm=122&source=univ&tbm=shop&am p;tbo=u&sa=X&ei=8UjmUrGrK9OBhAem44C4Aw&ved=0CJkB ELMY&biw=1280&bih=652
Are there other options that I might be missing? USB 3? Thunderbold to something to ...?
(2) Buy a desktop PC (which might be cheaper than the above). If this is required, I'd rather not have to spend any (well, too much) time messing with it, but I'm guessing no off the shelf machines these days will accept the Paris cards. I might be interested in a working PARIS PC system if there are any going at a reasonable cost to the UK.
(3) I assume there's still no way of opening Paris projects without the hardware (e.g. in Reaper or using an ASIO driver)?
(4) Try to resuscitate my old PC hardware. I suspect this means a clean install OS drive install. What's the current thinking on the best Windows OS, bearing in mind this is going to be a pretty creaky machine?
On a slightly related tip:
(5) If there's any way of using my Paris hardware (MEC with 8 ins, 8 outs and an Adat card) to expand the front end of my Reaper/RME system (e.g. extra ins), that'd be great.
(6) Can the Control 16 be repurposed, e.g. to control Reaper. Even if only for the transport and scrub wheels. I think Mike Audet had some success with this?
Any advice greatly appreciated! Many thanks in advance.
Best,
Dan
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