A pro audio card for laptops? The PCXpocketAD is the only one we've heard of so far. If you make live field recordings, or just need to use a laptop to record audio for whatever reason, then this is one handy little card. It's about the size of a credit card, and snaps right into the PC slot on the side of a laptop. A breakout cable has 2 male XLR jacks, 2 1/8" RCA jacks, and a 1/8" mini stereo jack.
March 10, 1999
Hardware installation is about as easy as can be - just snap the card right in. Software installation turned out to be a hassle, however. No driver disk is provided with the card. You have to go to their Web site and download it. It's a big file too, 3.3 megs! When you've downloaded that, don't go for coffee just yet - this card needs TWO drivers to function, so you'll have to download the "Wave driver" and install that too. Both these files must be downloaded and run, THEN you can go through the Windows Add Hardware Wizard to install the driver.
Digigram is cagey about software compatibility. Their Web site warns that audio software packages may not be compatible with their drivers, but provide no list of what the card has or hasn't been tested with.
The PCXpocketAD has now been superseded by a newer model, the Vxpocket, which features 24-bit converters, and will sell for $729. It's supposed to be available around May 1999.
If you need to record audio on a laptop, Digigram seems to be the only game in town. The specs are good, and it seems like a solid little card. The installation hassles are reminiscent of an earlier time.
