Anyone yet using the
Universal Audio UAD XPander Xpress with a laptop? Up until now I couldn't use their fab 1176 and Fairchld plugs without a desktop and a PCI card. Since I move around so much with a MBP, this has definitely caught my eye.
My one concern has to do with latency, not on playback, but on live input. On most (if not all) of these external box processing systems, my understanding is you have to deal with the time it takes to send info out to and back from the external device. I am worried that if I track accoustic piano with 1176s and Pultecs (for vibe and inspiration, of course ) with Altiverb thrown in for good measure, I might get mush from the keys
Your thoughts, good people
Steve

I believe that the latest versions of the major DAWs are now dealing with latency of external devices just like they are dealing with latency from VSTs.

I know Sonar 7 now allows it.

I know latency compensation works when you are mixing or playing back audio sequences, but I'm still not sure it compensates for "live input". That is the question.
Steve

It's hard to tell.

"With SONAR's new Real-time Bounce, Export and Freeze options, you can use External Inserts in your projects through all phases of production."

Kinda sounds like that is what they are claiming, but maybe not:

http://www.cakewalk.com/Products/SONAR/English/Upgrade/hardware.asp