Recording Labtop

J4KO · #1 11-04-2006, 01:26 PM

Hey Everyone...
I am planning on getting a laptop used for recording purposes.
My budget would be in the 800-1100 dollar area. What laptop computer would be perfect for doing recording and such?

thanks,
J4KO

Peter Ferretti · #2 11-05-2006, 02:33 PM

I'm not sure you will be able to get a perfect laptop for recording with an 800-1100 dollar budget, but you will be able to get a decdent macbook for that price. You will want to have probably a 1.8 ghz processer, and around 1.5 gb of ram. Your budget should probably cover that. You will also want to get some recording hardwear and software. I'd try to stick to one of the M-audio or Pre-Sonus Boxes, maybe something by MOTU. There are many different ways you could go with recording softwear, and it all depends on how much you want to spend. You could spend nothing and sound decent with garageband if you got a mac, or you could spend around 300 for Logic Express, or you could go the protools route, or you could go the DP route from MOTU, the options are limitless.

Hope this helps

RWP · #3 11-05-2006, 02:58 PM

I too am trying to decide on a effective way to record MP3's. This is what I am leaning toward at this point. http://www.zzounds.com/item--FOSMR8MKII
If I understand how it works, it will allow recording to CF card. I can down load those files to my computer to burn CDs or send files. BOSS makes nice units also however they are in the $800 range with a CD burner.

It sounds like Peter from the previous post has real experience with recording equipment. Hope he will comment on my Fostex MR8 MKII idea.

vindy500 · #4 11-05-2006, 03:00 PM

+

=
???

J4KO · #5 11-05-2006, 03:24 PM

I'll be recieving a Dell 700m soon from my brother.

Here are the general specs:
Intel Pentium M Processor
1.60 GHz 598 MHz
240 MB of RAM

I plan to buy 2x 1 Gig ram sticks for a total price of 300 dollars.

Do you guys think that this labtop will be enough?

vindy500 · #6 11-05-2006, 03:27 PM

yeah thatll be plenty

J4KO · #7 11-05-2006, 03:32 PM

Im still debating whether its worth the 300 dollars to improve the ram.. because as of now.. the computer is way to slow in my opinion.. do you think the 2 gb of ram would really boost up the speed?

vindy500 · #8 11-05-2006, 03:33 PM

heck yes. my desktop had 196mb of ram, was a cheap buy... i popped just 1 gig in, what a difference!

Sean S · #9 11-05-2006, 05:37 PM

If you're going to be doing a lot of recording, I would invest in an external hard-drive as well...raw audio files can get pretty large...

sean

Peter Ferretti · #10 11-05-2006, 05:42 PM

Okay, if you decide to go the PC route, then I would HIGHLY recommend the 2GB upgrade. Because your going PC, you limit your options a bit.

You have the computer part of the Equation down. A dell is a good computer, assuming you get the ram upgrade.

Two Options I would Consider would be the M-Audio Box's, the 410 or the 1814. The 410 would probably a better idea as a beginner to recording because it is cheaper, but still offers a a good quality box with decent pre's in a good firewire recording package. Actually, does this computer have a firewire input? If it doesn't you'll need a USB option instead of this. The Big difference between the 410 and 1814 is that the 410 has a lot less I/O options than the 1814. So that brings me to the question of what do you plan to do with this setup. Do you want to record your own practice sessions? Or do you want to do multi-track productions with your band?

From there we can decide your mic setup, what kind of interface you need, etc etc.

J4KO · #11 11-05-2006, 07:26 PM

I already have a decent sized external hard drive i can use.

As for the labtop.. i will be using it to record demos of my band..

I was thinking about purchasing the presonus firepod... would that work fine?

thehurlatron · #12 11-05-2006, 07:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by J4KO

I already have a decent sized external hard drive i can use.

As for the labtop.. i will be using it to record demos of my band..

I was thinking about purchasing the presonus firepod... would that work fine?

The firepod is a pretty sweet interface. Here's the Min. reqs. for PC with the firepod:

Windows
• OS: Microsoft Windows XP
• Computer: Windows compatible computer with FireWire port.
• CPU/Clock: Pentium, Athlon with 900Mhz or higher (1.5GHz)
• Memory(RAM): 256 MB (512MB recommended)

These are BARE MINIMUM specs that will allow the hardware and software to run on your system. Running smoothly is a different story unfortunatly.

BR Audio · #13 11-05-2006, 10:19 PM

Hi J4KO

This is by far the best deal I've found lately. This machine should take care of any business out there.
http://slickdeals.net/index.php?tag=System
top of the list.
I'm seriously thinking about getting one myself.

Daytona955i · #14 11-06-2006, 07:27 AM

You're going to be much happier with any intensive process on a computer, especially media creation (audio and video) if you have as much memory as you can fit into the computer (within reason). I would definitley suggest the max amount unless it's like 8gbs or something, but 2gig would be ideal if you can get it, and you wouldn't hurt your budget too much.

bishopthomas · #15 11-07-2006, 08:10 AM

It's LAPTOP, with a P. It is small enough to sit on your LAP, thus the name. It is not named after a laboratory.

You're on the right track. Buy the best computer you can afford, put as much RAM in it as it will take/you can afford and have fun. The Firepod is an excellent way to get into computer-based recording for cheap.

vindy500 · #16 11-07-2006, 08:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bishopthomas

It's LAPTOP, with a P. It is small enough to sit on your LAP, thus the name. It is not named after a laboratory.

You're on the right track. Buy the best computer you can afford, put as much RAM in it as it will take/you can afford and have fun. The Firepod is an excellent way to get into computer-based recording for cheap.

this is what i tried to point out with my pictorial illustration, didnt seem to click tho

J4KO · #17 11-07-2006, 05:53 PM

hahah my bad for the spelling erros

Anyways... ive been at the apple store and checked out the garage band... it made me want to get a macboook...

800-900 dollars can get me a:

Key Features
Processor Intel Core Duo 1.83 GHz
Installed Memory 1 GB (DDR2 SDRAM)
Display 13.3 in. WXGA+ TFT Active Matrix
Operating System Apple MacOS X 10.4
Processor
Processor Type Core Duo
Processor Manufacturer Intel
Processor Speed 1.83 GHz
Motherboard
Bus Speed 667 MHz
Display
Display Tech WXGA+ TFT Active Matrix
Display Size 13.3 in.
Display Color Support 24-bit (16.7 million colors)
Display Max. Resolution 1280 x 800
Technical Features
Security Features Kensigton Lock Slot
Expansion Ports 2 x USB 2.0 • 1 x IEEE 1394a (FireWire) • RJ-45 (NIC) • Mini-DVI
Special Features Integrated Video Camera • Remote Control • MagSafe Power Adapter Port
Hard Drive
Hard Drive Capacity 60 GB
Hard Drive Rotation Speed 5,400 RPM
Storage Controller Type Serial ATA
Memory
Installed RAM 1 GB
RAM Technology DDR2 SDRAM
RAM Speed 667 MHz
Installed Cache Memory 2048 KB
CD / DVD
CD / DVD Type CD-RW/DVD-ROM
Optical Drive Read Speed 24x (CD) • 8x (DVD)
Optical Drive Write Speed 24x (CD)
Optical Drive ReWrite Speed 16x (CD-RW)
Video
Graphic Processor Intel Graphics Media Accelerator (GMA) 950
Installed Video Memory 128 MB
Max. Video Resolution 1920 x 1200
Audio
Audio Input Type Line In (3.5mm) • Microphone
Audio Output Type Headphones • Sound card • Speaker(s

worth it? or should i just stick with the pc?

thanks..

thehurlatron · #18 11-07-2006, 07:25 PM

I run a new Macbook and I love it. I've got the 2ghz 2 gb ram. It's a sweet machine. I hook up my MOTU interface, and do "sketch" in garageband, then transfer it to Logic.