Mac boys - need advice

[Nicky H]

Ok I'm a mac noob

I've got a 2008 macbook pro - this one here:
http://www.everymac.com/systems/appl...ryn-specs.html

It's the model with 1 USB slot at each side.
At the moment I have my S4 connected to the right-side port and my external firewire hard-drive connected.

But I've just bought a Kontrol X1 and a midifighter.

What's the best way to connect all this - I have a D-Link powered hub:

http://www.dabs.com/products/d-link-...-hub-24L6.html

I have a feeling running the S4 on the right and the X1 & midifighter on the left through the hub is best but just wanna see what others do.

[tyfurious]

Using your expansion slot to add usbs is another option. I recently upgraded, but i had an 07 mbp and used an expansion slot to hook up a MF and VCIse, no problems at all. When using a USB splitter I did have problems though, when switching to powered mode on the splitter my MF flipped out. When I get home I'll tell you the exact splitter, I think it was by ultra.

[JesC]

look into get a pcmcia that works with mac's

[fullenglishpint]

you'll want your whatever you're using as a soundcard (ie the S4) connected to its own USB, ie not through a hub.

I haven't had problems plugging multiple controllers into a usb hub, my X1 and VCI are in fact sitting there very happily right now hubbed up. The amount of information passed from controllers to your laptop is quite small, most of what they need from the usb is power, whereas a soundcard has a lot more data traffic.

[popoff44]

you'll want your whatever you're using as a soundcard (ie the S4) connected to its own USB, ie not through a hub.

100% agree with that! Never use a USB hub for the sound card or a device with a built-in sound card like S4. It's going to affect things in most cases. Controllers, on the other hand, should be just fine if you connect them to a USB hub.

[Nicky H]

Ahh never thought of an expansion card.

I think that would be better than a hub.

Is there any difference between using the pcmcia and the expresscard slots?