I've got a WinXP box (running SP2) that's currently configured with a
E-MU 404 card. I'm considering returning the 404 card and replacing it
with the M-Audio Autophile 2496. I read that the 2496 comes with a
licensed copy of Tascam's Gigasampler LE and this is one of the primary
reasons I'm interested in this card (seeing as Gigasampler LE is a $80
product on its own and the package is around $100). I'll be running the
card on a PIII 2.4 Gz system with 768-MB RAM and fast hard drive. I
have two questions:

1. Will Gigasampler LE run on WindowsXP (I've read mixed comments)

2. Will Sonar 2 require a plug-in to be compatible with Gigasampler LE
(Sonar 2 only seems to support SoundFont native, not VST).

3. Do you think I'll have enough horsepower to run both Gigasampler LE
and Cakewalks Sonar 2 simultaneuosly or is that an unrealistic approach
(the alternative being to split out sequencing and synth using two
PCs)?

Thanks in advance for helping out a hobbist.

-Jeremy

I found anwers to all questions and thought I'd share, see in-line


wrote:
I've got a WinXP box (running SP2) that's currently configured with a
E-MU 404 card. I'm considering returning the 404 card and replacing
it
with the M-Audio Autophile 2496. I read that the 2496 comes with a
licensed copy of Tascam's Gigasampler LE and this is one of the
primary
reasons I'm interested in this card (seeing as Gigasampler LE is a
$80
product on its own and the package is around $100). I'll be running
the
card on a PIII 2.4 Gz system with 768-MB RAM and fast hard drive. I
have two questions:

1. Will Gigasampler LE run on WindowsXP (I've read mixed comments)

A: No, Gigasampler LE will not run on Windows 2000 or Windows XP


2. Will Sonar 2 require a plug-in to be compatible with Gigasampler
LE
(Sonar 2 only seems to support SoundFont native, not VST).


A: Yes, some form of wrapper is required. Newer versions of Sonar (4+)
support Gigasampler and Gigastudio natively.


3. Do you think I'll have enough horsepower to run both Gigasampler
LE
and Cakewalks Sonar 2 simultaneuosly or is that an unrealistic
approach
(the alternative being to split out sequencing and synth using two
PCs)?


A: A modern PC (2.0+ Ghz, with a gig of RAM and at least a 7200 hard
drive should have no problems.
Thanks in advance for helping out a hobbist.

-Jeremy