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Good recording laptop for $500?

#22
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#23
logdrum said:
Buy an older Macbook. The upgradeable ones ended 2012. I got one for 350 and then put in an SSD and maxed the RAM for 170. and then further down the road, bough a 50 battery. I run Logic on it as well as reaper. No issues. I also have a newer laptop but really do not see the old one as having a hard time.
Click to expand...

I'm kind of over Mac but I'm open to seeing what's around used
 
#25
hbarcat said:
According to my interpretation of the Zoom B3 owners manual the unit is compatible with Windows Vista and Windows 7. I'm assuming this applies to the USB out.

I may be mistaken so you should verify for yourself.

https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.zoom-na.com/sites/default/files/products/downloads/pdfs/B3_Operation%20Manual.pdf&sa=U&ved=2ahUKEwi_nq_wpeHoAhWeIDQIHSpWCUsQFjAAegQIARAB&usg=AOvVaw10UfYErXN_bkgUDHdnFch1
Click to expand...

Got it, maybe I should just save a little longer.
 
#26
hbarcat said:
According to my interpretation of the Zoom B3 owners manual the unit is compatible with Windows Vista and Windows 7. I'm assuming this applies to the USB out.

I may be mistaken so you should verify for yourself.


Page 32.

https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.zoom-na.com/sites/default/files/products/downloads/pdfs/B3_Operation%20Manual.pdf&sa=U&ved=2ahUKEwi_nq_wpeHoAhWeIDQIHSpWCUsQFjAAegQIARAB&usg=AOvVaw10UfYErXN_bkgUDHdnFch1
Click to expand...

Great warning, and it's really important to check this stuff. :)

However, the explanation could just be as simple as, Windows 10 didn't exist yet when they wrote that manual.

The B3 downloads page implies their driver supports Windows 10 (but don't take my word for it; I haven't personally verified!)

Zoom B3 Bass Effects & Amp Simulator Pedal
 
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#27
PrimitiveMan said:
Sounds pretty good, any recommendations on who to buy it from?
Click to expand...
I got mine from Amazon for 500 but stock is limited now...prob cause of the virus. it's worth the wait. The Ryzens are phenomenal. You can game with them competently also.

Btw compared to that old laptop you posted, 8gb of ddr4 should run faster than 12 of ddr3. Also the Ryzens multi task much better than intels.

Read up on them. I saw @mikewalker recd them also.

Acer Aspire 5 Slim Laptop, 15.6" Full HD IPS Display, AMD Ryzen 5 3500U, Vega 8 Graphics, 8GB DDR4, 256GB SSD, Backlit Keyboard, Windows 10 Home, A515-43-R5RE, Silver https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07Z1165XY/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_zyJKEbMCAFSF6
 
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#28
SgtHulka said:
I got mine from Amazon for 500 but stock is limited now...prob cause of the virus. it's worth the wait. The Ryzens are phenomenal. You can game with them competently also.

Btw compared to that old laptop you posted, 8gb of ddr4 should run faster than 12 of ddr3. Also the Ryzens multi task much better than intels.

Read up on them. I saw @mikewalker recd them also.

Acer Aspire 5 Slim Laptop, 15.6" Full HD IPS Display, AMD Ryzen 5 3500U, Vega 8 Graphics, 8GB DDR4, 256GB SSD, Backlit Keyboard, Windows 10 Home, A515-43-R5RE, Silver https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07Z1165XY/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_zyJKEbMCAFSF6
Click to expand...

Awesome, really appreciate everyone's help
 
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#29
logdrum said:
Buy an older Macbook. The upgradeable ones ended 2012. I got one for 350 and then put in an SSD and maxed the RAM for 170. and then further down the road, bough a 50 battery. I run Logic on it as well as reaper. No issues. I also have a newer laptop but really do not see the old one as having a hard time.
Click to expand...

I have done the same with two 2012 MacBook pros that we use for our business. They run like a champ for most things other than the most demanding video applications.
 
#33
At 500 bucks, you are looking PC (digging the Linux/Reaper recommendation above too)

i come from the school of "Digital is Digital" so it really depends on what your processor speed is and which software you want to use -- If you are using older version DAWs and older 32 bit VST/VSTi, then theres a lot of choices.......if newer software and 64 bit VST/VSTi, you may have limited choices

If you go PC and cant afford Slate drums, etc....MT Powerkit 2 is one of the best free VSTi drum packages out there

MT Power Drum Kit AU VST Drums Sampler Plugin Instrument FREE
 
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#37
Well, to avoid latency issues I experienced with two different laptops (one a 2016 MacBook Air), I went to a desktop. Need a decent processor, ram, and preferably a solid state hard drive to keep things moving smoothly, atleast that was my experience. I was able to upgrade a 10 year old Pro PC desktop with the highest possible processor, 16GB of ram, and a new 500GB ssd for only $125. While that does not answer your question directly, not sure what is offered in a laptop at $500 or less that has ample power to record without noticeable latency (drove me nuts).

This was just my journey, there might be lots of options out there fore you. Best of luck.
 
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#40
outoftune said:
Used Macbook. I use a 2009 that works like a charm. Clean it out and reinstall then just use it for music. Keeps the HD clean and low memory use. It's a mac and just works well for music recording.
Click to expand...

Stop saying people to buy deprecated hardware. He won't get any updates at all and it's not tricks that are gonna keep that computer running. Mac OS isn't the only operating system capable of running DAW softwares

@picnic01 this is the Acer you can get for 500$ :

https://www.amazon.com/Acer-Narrow-...ords=acer+ryzen+laptop&qid=1586647616&sr=8-13

If you can push to 600 :

https://www.amazon.com/Acer-Narrow-...ords=acer+ryzen+laptop&qid=1586647709&sr=8-11
 
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