PlanetZ forums - scopeusers.com

Regarding this whole PCI Express thing. I've been thinking of buying a Scope-card because I hope that would solve some minor PCI issues and messages Scope wanting to optimize the workload.

Now, I'm getting the feeling that it might be quite stupid to do that now. After all Creamware _should_ be working on a PCI Express version. What's your opinion... should I wait?

Carl.

I simply cannot imagine CWA with such a product within any near future period of time - financial trouble, reducing resources to cut expenses, the NOAH experience - all not exactly suitable to make the corporate wallet grow.

I don't think that the slot interface is that important.
To be honest I'd rather expect sufficient onboard memory for verbs and delays in a new hardware release to prevent PCI bandwidth problems.

my 2 cent, Tom

Yeah, if you hold your breath waiting for this you will die...

Just go ahead and start making music with the existing really cool stuff.

These CW PCI cards will be around for a while. No moving parts, just chips. Once they've been running for a couple of years, most will run for many years after.

It will literally be like having classic gear, years from now. I say buy now and don't sweat it.

PCI overflow? What's that!?

Really, those problems are long gone with today's modern chipsets. There won't be any PCI Express cards this year, I'm sure of that. Go ahead and have fun!

Shayne

I was thinking in the same way, but it's good to hear others opinions. I'm not having too many problems, but it's impossible for me to combine the new STW reverbs, and I thought that might solve the situation.

Now, I'm getting the feeling that it might be quite stupid to do that now. After all Creamware _should_ be working on a PCI Express version. What's your opinion... should I wait?

My guess is we wouldn't see a new PCI card.
Creamware did Noah as USB interface, and their z-link is "related" to Firewire.
My 2c goes for a firewire "box" or maybe som kind of LAN solution.

where is my GLASSBALL?

Why didn't I think of that before...? Of course. The next generations of Scope cards will naturally be external.

I agree with arela, another pci would be a mistake now... Whatever are the pros and cons...

IF there is new hardware, fw is the way to go, period.

Yes,
i fully agree too : next Creamware board has to be FIREWIRE ! FW400, FW800 or even usb2.0 would be ok too , for my taste !

I think they already HAVE Z-Link technology(that is near to firewire), so they should use that one for new systems, able to communicate through standard 1394 protocol!

The only problem could be the communication through the firewire bus : they should put a microcontroller on the ext box that handles everything is related to communication over firewire in packets (but i guess it happens with PCI boards too with ulli)

And i would even add the following features for a killer product:

1) RAM slots so that we avoid all the DSP/BOARD-RAM problems adding a RAM inside the box, in the proper slot , that may be in direct communication with the microcontroller , near to DSPs , necessary to handle everything (including s-tdm bus calls).

2) COMPATIBILITY! They should develop their external system compatible with previous Scope Platform.

With Compatibility i mean also that i could "mix" external and internal DSPs (old scope hardware + external new firewire scope hardware) like a unique system (i guess it's not that simple .. but i guess it can be done within some limitations due to s-tdm busses).

Of course compatibility could not be a problem , if they could put inside the external box some sort of "monster" DSPs , like tiger sharcs, or other very powerful DSPs (altho i doubt that).

If they will use 21065L , compatibility is a must with old systems (it could be great even if we could work on our PC with our scope systems, then put the project on our laptop, and being able to lunch them from firewire box, changing only I/Os!)

IMHO they could have already done that , instead of NOAH . NOAH is a "standalone" system, great of course, but standalone! I think that everyone with a laptop and a scope firewire could have done the same things as NOAH surely, except for NOAH's display! ... but MUCH MORE! (lots of I/Os, etc).

.. my 2 cents ..

sYm

IMHO they, CWA, should work on market acceptance before they work on anything else. CWA is losing what market share that they had to new companies and new technologies.

All this speculation about what you would like to see is great, but it is all for naught if the company can't gain a new and broader user base.