Current setup update

So now my current setup is the follwing:
Hardware:

• Dell Vostro 3300 (Core i5 M480 @ 2,67GHz, 4 GB RAM, 285 GB HD) - laptop
• ESI ESU18008 USB 2 - audio interface
• Behringer Eurorack MX-1602 - Mixer (analog)
• Korg nanoKontrol - Midi controller
• Novation LaunchPad - Midi controller
• Waldorf Blofeld (with Sample option) - Synth
• Ensoniq TS-10 Keyboard
• Roland SH-201 Synth

Software:

• Ableton Live 8.2.2
• Alchemy softsynth from Camel Audio
• Gladiator softsynth from Tone2
• CamelCrusher Fx from Camel Audio
• CamelSpace Fx from Camel Audio
• SSL LMC-1 compressor from Solid State Logic
• SSL X-ISM fx from Solid State Logic
• SSS X-Orcism fx - from Solid State Logic
• GSnap-GJ - pitch correction
• dblue-Glitch - rhythmic glitcher

USB Audio interface ESI ESU1808

Recently bought a new audio interface for my setup as I no longer could live with the small 1-in 1-out behringer lowbudget interface :-).
After some research I decided on the ESI ESU1808 an 18-in 8-out USB 2.0 interface, I ordered it from Thomann.de and received it quickly.
After following the recommended installation procedure (downloading the newest ASIO driver from ESIs homepage www.esi-audio.com) I started playing around with Ableton Live and the interface - after about one minute artifacts started showing up in the audio (crackling and popping - the usual indication that the ability of the setup was not high enough) - however changing parameters on the interface (for instance chosing a new sampling rate or clock) sort of reset the problem and it worked for about a minute and then problem reappeared. Not nice :-(
Did some surfing on the problem and found out that the ESI ASIO driver does not have the best reputation - I previously have had great experience with the alternative and free driver ASIO4All and this was mentioned in one of the posts I found - so I installed this driver instead (from www.asio4all.com) and voila the problem was resolved - so my recommendation is: use ASIO4all for a ESI ESU1808.
It seems the problem has resurfaced however now the problem has been identified as being CPU temperature related.

No it seems not to be temperature related after all, but while struggling with new hardware I upgraded the ESI ESU1808 driver to the newest version 2.9.28 which seems to have been a mistake, I now downgraded to 2.9.15 and now clicking noises are gone again

Current setup and installation

The last week has gone on-and-off with search for, installation and purchase of VST plugins for my DAW Ableton Live 8.
I've purchased and installed Gladiator 2 from tone2 http://www.tone2.com/ a great allround synth module with a revolutionary type of synthesis called HCM, I find it has a very distinctive sound and a great inspiration
Also a couple of VST from Camel Audio http://www.camelaudio.com/ another favourite company. I've installed Alchemy another great allround synth, and two fx VSTs: CamelSpace and CamelCrusher.
Also surfed for a pitch correction module. My budget does not allow for the professional tools like AutoTune or Melodyne, but finally found a freeware called GSnap which seems to be able to fille my current need :-)
Finally I surfed around for a breakbeat "rhythm rearranger" and found the nice VST called Glitch from dBlue, it can rearrange your beats - hack them into bits and apply 9 different effects to the different bits: reverse, slowdown, tapestop, gate and others