Laptop for live sound?

[chubfarm2001]

I am thinking of trying to put together a PA using my laptop as the mixer/effects module. I will be running all powered/active PA and monitor systems. I know I will need some sort of interface. Has anyone ever done this? Is it a good idea? Or should I just stick with using actual mixers and rack gear?

[rnarrington1]

We just started using a 24 channel digital presonus board and we use and ipad to control the board.

[Big_Daws]

stick with a mixer...that part you won't want on a laptop due to a number of factors ie:reliability, accessibility, and functionality.

i would strongly suggest a digital console, or some kind of hybrid. for example...

Behringer X32 retails at about 3000ish ~$200 these are a super good price. super good deal...
Mackie DL1608 $1000 ~$100 ipad control only, and you have all FX and COMP that you need.

and a lot of people here will recommend the Presonus products. personally in my experience, i have seen failures in the 2 of the 2 i have utilised. with the firewire and the control knobs. plus if you are picky with your sound you will find that it is a harsh sounding console. im not saying that it sounds bad, just harsh. now let all the presonus defending begin...lol

[F-Clef-Jef]

The MOTU CueMix looks to be a good option at this point. We were sorta throwing around the idea a few months back, thought it would be cool.
We also, just this past weekend used Ableton Live just for our vocal effects, it works beautifully. Just a simple send/return from the mixer, and we used a little Akai Synthstation to control the effects parameters.

[MNAirHead]

My big rack runs around a motu hybird


Unlike other options - it remembers settings from prior use

Notes...

1 I had to cable for trs
2 I carry a spare analog mixer (never needed it)
3

[MNAirHead]

[quote="MNAirHead"]My big rack runs around a motu hybird

Unlike other options - it remembers settings from prior use

Notes...

1 I had to cable for trs
2 I carry a spare analog mixer (never needed it)
3 I use a touch screen laptop and touch Osc to control it

[rnarrington1]

Originally Posted by Big_Daws

stick with a mixer...that part you won't want on a laptop due to a number of factors ie:reliability, accessibility, and functionality.

i would strongly suggest a digital console, or some kind of hybrid. for example...

Behringer X32 retails at about 3000ish ~$200 these are a super good price. super good deal...
Mackie DL1608 $1000 ~$100 ipad control only, and you have all FX and COMP that you need.

and a lot of people here will recommend the Presonus products. personally in my experience, i have seen failures in the 2 of the 2 i have utilised. with the firewire and the control knobs. plus if you are picky with your sound you will find that it is a harsh sounding console. im not saying that it sounds bad, just harsh. now let all the presonus defending begin...lol

I wont defend our presonus board as its too new to us, but I will say that we have yet to have a problem controling it with an ipad......... (god i hope we dont have problems with the new board)

[MNAirHead]

Originally Posted by rnarrington1

I wont defend our presonus board as its too new to us, but I will say that we have yet to have a problem controling it with an ipad......... (god i hope we dont have problems with the new board)

Every challenge I've had we're operators learning on the job

[rnarrington1]

WORD!!

[Pilgrim]

I would advise that if a mixing board does the trick, don't make life more complicated. Computers are great, but they crash and have problems at the worst possible times.

Consider: they only fail when you're using them, and you're only using them when you're playing a gig, so the result is that the computer WILL crash during a gig.

Just because something is technically possible does NOT always mean it's a good idea.

[Got2SadowskyNYC]

Actually a lot of pros have started useing OS based consoles. These can be controls from a Laptop, iPad and in somecases even an iPhone. Sometimes they'll use a WIFI contected console because that's what the FOH engineer is used to and prefers.

The band I work for now uses the Mackie DL1608 with 2 iPads contected one for Mon the other for house.

[MNAirHead]

Originally Posted by Pilgrim

I would advise that if a mixing board does the trick, don't make life more complicated. Computers are great, but they crash and have problems at the worst possible times.

Consider: they only fail when you're using them, and you're only using them when you're playing a gig, so the result is that the computer WILL crash during a gig.

Just because something is technically possible does NOT always mean it's a good idea.

Some units do all the settnigs and recall directly from the unit.

Many road and touring acts use this as their primary monitor mixing solution.