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Posted by: Fran Jan 1 2008, 05:31 PM

I'm thinking of getting Toneport GX, to use it with a laptop that has only 512 MB ram, it's a PIV 3 Ghz.

I read in the specs of the product that it has a min. requirement of 512 MB of ram, and I wonder if it will be choppy working with only that amount of memory (Using the software that it provides, called GearBox).

The problem is that windows XP alone eats half that ram...

Does anyone use toneportGX and gearbox with just 512 MB of ram? Does it work ok?

Posted by: Bondy Jan 1 2008, 05:43 PM

I'am getting a tone port waiting for it to arrive in the post will let u know how it goe's.There are some other guys here i know who do already have one maybe they could help.

Posted by: MickeM Jan 1 2008, 05:54 PM

It should be alright just to run toneport and gearbox, I say that since I use Guitarport which has the similar software and the "gearbox" when active use about 30kB RAM.

And my laptop is loaded with RAM either, 1GB, so the limit is rahter when you want to use it together with a sequencer program since they seem to suck a PC dry for memory. But there you've got Reaper as a choise which I have noticed isn't that hard on the system resources.

Posted by: Bogdan Jan 1 2008, 06:52 PM

Well I think it will be a close call
I think that you will be able to use toneports gearbox and jam..but I don't know if it will work with some recording software because it will suck too much ram..Never tried to run toneport with less than 1gb...

Posted by: Fran Jan 1 2008, 10:40 PM

I thought GearBox was recording software as well. Isn't it?

If it isn't, I guess I would have to use audacity to record.

Could I record using toneport + audacity (or other recording program), without using Gearbox at the same time?

What is gearbox good for then?

Lots of questions!

Posted by: Nick325 Jan 1 2008, 10:43 PM

well i have a toneport but i dont use it on a laptop

Posted by: Bogdan Jan 2 2008, 02:22 AM

You have to use other recording software.Gearbox software lets you choose amp and cabinet simulation , and hear the actual tone when you plug in your guitar..You can't play without it being on..Also it features metronome,loopstation (that loops mp3 backings) and some other useful stuff..You basically set up all the parameters you need there and find the sound that you are looking for..(You setup also mic preamps there etc)... So you have it on and then you open some other recording software like audacity or cubase..Also I think that you get riffworks or something like that bundled with tone port when you buy it so you can try that also...
Gearbox has a lot of hardware setup parameters regarding buffer etc so I think it may be even possible with 512mb to use it normally if you have a fast cpu..But I can't guarantee..

Posted by: Fran Jan 2 2008, 03:44 AM

Ok, thanks for the info Bogdan.

I was afraid that I couldn't run GearBox, and after this I realiuze that the computer will actually have to manage audacity + Gearbox at the same time!!

This is going to be fun XD, it will have to be next week though, that's when I'll hopefully get the toneport.

I'll post again when I try, I'll keep my fingers crossed in the meantime

Oh, I forgot, another question: Is audacity a good program to use with Toneport? I have that one because it's free, but I believe it doesn't support ASIO so maybe it's not good... Is there any other free recording software that works well with toneport?

Posted by: Bogdan Jan 2 2008, 10:20 AM

Well I think it will work ok..In recording software you just choose toneport as your sound card and than you can record..I see people here mention the Reaper software so you may look in that one also...

Posted by: Milenkovic Ivan Jan 2 2008, 06:10 PM

You can work with 512 RAM easily, I have worked that way for some time and had no bigger problems.

But you must be weary of the troubles, ASIO driver will crash from time to time, if you have a 5400rpm harddrive it would be difficult to record anything serious in your multitracker, and with 512mb of RAM, you can't really load any serious VST or do a decent inserts in a project.

But you can work, and record with all the effects, just see if you laptop is compatible with Toneport.

Posted by: Fran Jan 2 2008, 09:42 PM

My laptop is a toshiba satellite A40.

I tried to search for compatibility but I didn't find any page/forum to ask...

I hope it works.

Thanks for all the feedback!


Lasts questions though, just in case:

Does the Toneport software include the ASIO driver?

Will the toneport Gx + Reaper software allow me to record a backing track while listening to it at the same time?

And will I be able to record something over that backing track I reccorded, hearing both the solo and the previosuly recorded backing track at the same time?

I hope so, because that's the only reason I want to get it!

Posted by: Milenkovic Ivan Jan 2 2008, 11:44 PM

Yes, the Toneport GX includes ASIO driver. You will get one on the CD in the box, but I suggest you download the newest version from the Line6 site. You can find there Gearbox 3.0 with Line6 Monkey (support\upgrade software - needs internet), and latest ASIO drivers all in one pack. Just search for it in the download or support section.

Yes, you can record the backing track with your guitar while listening to it will all the effects that you want, and with minimum latency. This is achieved because Toneport sends the signal straight through the output, and after that into the Reaper. This is called Tone Direct Monitoring. So, extremly low latency - so low you don't even notice it.

Off course, that's the whole point of overdubbing - right? Yes you can listen to the track that you have already recorded and record another one. But be carefull, you laptop isn't too strong and my bet it has a 5400rpm HDD. So save your projects often

Get it, it is worth the money trust me You can even run all other guitar modelling software with it - Guitar Rig, Amplitube, ReValver...etc with small latency, but you don't even need all that when you have the GearBox that comes with Toneport for free...

Posted by: Bogdan Jan 3 2008, 12:13 AM

Its such a great device for practicing and recording home stuff like backings , solos , writing ides and even good demo recordings

Posted by: Fran Jan 3 2008, 12:18 AM

Ok great.

They told me in my local music shop that they should arrive by the end of the week, that will hopefully be before saturday

Can't wait

Posted by: Fran Jan 3 2008, 12:38 AM

I just did some research, and I'm afraid my laptop's hard drive might be just 4200 rpm!

That's even lower than the min. specs for using Toneport...

Damn!, I certainly wouldn't like to buy a new Pc or laptop... GRRRR


There are external USB harddrives that spin at 7200 rpm... maybe I could get an external hard drive and run everything from there?
(I was thinking of getting a larger USB 2.0 hard drive one of these days anyway, so that wouldn't be a problem).

Posted by: Milenkovic Ivan Jan 3 2008, 01:25 AM

Hmmm, I really don't know how will the USB HD work in terms of stability - but I don't want to sound pesimistic or anything. Be adventure spirited and buy a Toneport, try it and see if your HD can withstand the "torture" with Reaper. If not, buy an external drive and try with that.

Also remember - ext HD uses a lot of yours laptop USB bandwith for data streaming. Also Toneport uses a lot of USB bandwidth too. See the problem? Make sure (somehow) that these devices can work together with a decent degree in stability.

Posted by: Fran Jan 3 2008, 01:40 AM

I'll get the toneport and see what happens, at least it's the cheaper model so I won't go bankrupt

I hope it can at least record a simple backing and then a solo over the backing, all pretty simple. That's all I ask for!. SoI think I might get lucky

I have another computer that meets the requirements, but it's not a laptop and I'm not always at the same house, that's the reason I wanted to make sure that the laptop could do it.

I'll post next week and tell you guys how it all went

Wish me luck

Posted by: Milenkovic Ivan Jan 3 2008, 01:53 AM

You can install the drivers easily on both machines. Toneport is a true PnP device.

Keep us updated

Posted by: Fran Jan 6 2008, 07:55 PM

Ok, I promised to post again when I tried the Toneport in my laptop, so here I go

I had checked how Gearbox and Reaper work in another (better) computer the past two days, but today I finally got the chance to try it all in my laptop.

Crossing my fingers, thinking about my low RAM, my 4200 rpm HD, and who-knows-what-else that could go wrong and...

All works GREAT so far!
I'm not pushing it too much, because all I did was record a couple tracks: a backing and a solo, and I rendered a few of them to mp3 using Reaper.

So far, so good!

Now, my next move will be getting on of those free programs to add an extra track with some drums, and see what I can do.

I checked how much RAM was being used in the whole proccess, and it was about 330MB, so I guess 512 should be plenty for small scale recording projects like mine.

Thumbs up for Toneport + Reaper!

And thanks all again for your help

Posted by: Milenkovic Ivan Jan 7 2008, 01:42 AM

No problem man. Recommend Groove Agent for your drums, it doesn't eats RAM. CHeers.

Posted by: Fran Jan 7 2008, 02:42 AM

I'll make sure to try it then