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Location: Orlando, FL | I'm going to buy a new laptop and I want to use it for recording. What are minimum specs to get a good result. I love my Mac desktop, but this needs to be a PC since I'll be using it for work too, and I've got several thousand bucks tied up in Adobe software for the PC.
Speaking of which, I'm not sure which DAW software to use, but I want to get the hardware figured out first.
Thanks! |
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| Forget about using a laptop upon which to base a DAW. If all you want is to edit and mix tracks, that's fine. But for a full-fledged DAW a laptop just won't cut it. Too noisy (fans, etc.), too many other things running in the background, etc. Ideally, you should have separate, quiet 7200 rpm HDDs (one for the OS, one for capturing/editing/storing tracks and mixes), and run a bare-minum OS, so that the processor isn't being taxed. Most non-Apple laptops also lack a firewire port, and you can't easily add a firewire card to a laptop. And firewire is really the only way to go for an interface, if you want to minimize latency. |
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Location: closely held secret | Depends on the DAW software, Serge. If you're running full-out ProTools or trying to record 7 tracks at a time, yeah. But if you use Audacity or one of the other smaller-footprint programs and record 2 or 3 tracks at a time, a notebook can handle it. I've got a Centrino Dell running XP that does just fine.
Oh, and it has a 1394 port, too.
Mind you, I wouldn't recommend a notebook as a DAW. If you're serious about recording, build a dedicated machine for the job. As Serge said, separate the OS and data drives for performance, and fan noise is your enemy. But a notebook can work if that's what you've got. Much handier for remote recording as well. |
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Location: Texas | Originally posted by G8r:
Forget about using a laptop upon which to base a DAW. If all you want is to edit and mix tracks, that's fine. But for a full-fledged DAW a laptop just won't cut it. Too noisy (fans, etc.), too many other things running in the background, etc.... G8r, why would a laptop be any more noisy than a desktop? My Mac Pro desktop has fans that are thermostatically-controlled, but they still run almost constantly, and it's much louder than any laptop I've ever heard… (hotter too…)
…or are you isolating or sound-insulating the computer from the keyboard/display/control-surface? In that case, isolating a laptop would be more difficult (but not impossible, if you run an external keyboard and monitor.) That kind of setup might work best with two separate rooms or a room with a closet for the computer, but it would be tough to set-up in a one-room mancave (or doghouse…) |
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| Chuck, fans in laptops are notoriously noisy. Shielding = weight, so things that add (probably) unnecessary weight to a laptop are usually excluded. And it's not just physical noise, but radio frequency "noise" that can be picked up by other wires and circuits.
You can easily spend a few extra dollars for upgraded fans (better bearings, better RF shielding on the coils and supply wires) on a desktop unit, especially the power supply fan. Not so easy on a laptop.
John, you raise valid and interesting points. It's been my (admittedly very limited) experience with laptops that I just get too much latency using a mid-strength software DAW (Reaper). A large part of that (most, probably) was the fact that I was running thru a USB interface, and not a 1394.
For what Steve wants to do, he can get a very good standalone multitrack digital recorder like a Boss or Zoom for about the same price as a good entry level firewire interface. That's much more portable than a laptop plus interface plus mic pre. He can always use the laptop for editing and final mixdown. |
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Location: Blue Ridge Mountains | The new Dell Studio 16 is completely silent...and very fast w/a huge hard drive...you might want to check that out. |
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Location: Latitude 39.56819, Longitude -105.080066 | Any computer, any laptop will work for recording.
If noise is an issue get a 50 foot mic cord, a 50ft instrument cable and a 50 foot headphone cable and I can assure you that computer noise will not be an problem.
Latency is not an issue with a DAW that supports direct monitoring or the fact that a lot of the better DAWS support internal latency correction so you really don't have any issue...even when using VSTi's.
Firewire is better than USB but DSubs are the only real way to go.
Just depends on how sophisticated you want to get and how much money you want to spend. |
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| 'Zilla - confused yet?
Listen to T. I've seen his setup (and drooled over it). Not that John doesn't know what he's on about, he's certainly much more knowledgeable than I. But I haven't seen his studio, yet ;) |
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Location: Latitude 39.56819, Longitude -105.080066 | Truth be told, John is where I go when I have PC/Computer related questions.
I always think when it comes to PC's I know it all but John knows more. |
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Location: Utah | I run Guitar Tracks Pro 3 software on an old Dell laptop which is probably at least 5 years old now. It works.
As has been touched on, ideally you want to have nothing else running when you record. Nothing. That means setting up an account on the computer that boots the minimum OS functions and nothing else. No wireless card, no antivirus, nothing. No little icons in the system tray at all.
As far as hardware, I would say get the most RAM you can, and a fast hard drive with plenty of extra space. USB is fine for interfacing your sound card onto a laptop. For a desktop you may want to consider other technologies including firewire or even a dedicated multi-input soundcard. I would prioritize the CPU speed below RAM and hard drive capacity.
The bottom line is that you want the computer to run as fast as possible during recording, and the more simultaneous channels you need, the faster the computer has to be. That means lots of fast RAM and a decent hard drive. More hard drive storage is better since the audio files can get big, but you can get rid of old files or just make an archive copy if necessary. Once you've mixed down a song you don't need to keep all of the out takes.
During playback for mixing and mastering, the computer will be much less taxed than during recording.
For two channels the old Dell running XP works, though not amazingly. It suffers "latency", which is where there is a delay between what is recording and what is playing. Say I record drums and put down a guitar track. Playing them back into headphones I then record a second guitar track. Playing back all of those tracks, the second guitar track is waaay delayed from the drumbeat. Typically about a 1/32 note, or about 1/4 of the beat! So I have to go in and drag the wave to the left to get it aligned properly.
This is a pain. All DAWs will have some latency, but a good system will be so minor that you don't have to tweak it. This is why you want a fast system. Any moderate performance new laptop is going to be orders of magnitude better than my Dell, so I would say don't sweat it too much. Getting it set up to boot with no background processes is going to be the most important part of getting any system to run well for you.
As far as software, I really do like Guitar Tracks Pro 3. The current version is GTP 4 with some improvements. Approx. $99. The upscale DAW from the same company is Sonar, from $199 to $399 depending on version. GTP3 does all that I need for recording, editing, and mastering. If you get involved with Midi you will want a more capable software package.
GTP3 utilizes VST plugins for effects. Many very good plugins are available free on the internet, everything from compressors to reverb to distortion to whatever. Generally it is better to record without any effects and then add them in later. Especially things like reverb and echo. For natural tube distortion it can be fine to record it that way. Compression is a 50/50 thing, sometimes I record with it, sometimes I use a VST plugin after recording.
Audacity is free software and people seem to really like it. Instead of buying Sonar or GTP4 it may be something to consider.
You will need an interface device to plug your guitar and your mic into. The standard audio card in any computer is not adequate. There are a lot of brands out there with 2 channel USB devices that are very good, and cost about $100. You can get more channels, but definitely don't go less than 2 channels. It is a whole long discussion on the pros/cons of which kind of interface to get. For basic stuff, one of the name brand 2 channel USB should be fine. If you have a whole band to mic up it becomes a complex problem.
You will want some good speakers. Good studio monitor speakers, not basic PC speakers. You will need them to mix and master your songs. I am too cheap to buy speakers so I mix using good headphones, then check the mix on the home stereo, on the computer, and in the car. |
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Location: Latitude 39.56819, Longitude -105.080066 | Steve, check you preferences and see if GP gives you the option for "direct" monitoring. If it does, click it and that should solve your latency issues when laying down a 2nd track. |
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Location: Latitude 39.56819, Longitude -105.080066 | Also like to remind readers of this thread that we have a dedicated RECORDING SECTION on the Ning "Social Site". |
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Location: Utah | Originally posted by stephent28:
Steve, check you preferences and see if GP gives you the option for "direct" monitoring. If it does, click it and that should solve your latency issues when laying down a 2nd track. I'm going upstairs right now to see if I can find something like that. What an improvement that would be! |
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Location: Tennessee | After reading all of this, it makes me realize how happy I am that I spent the $800 and bought the fully self-contained 32 track Korg machine. |
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Location: Latitude 39.56819, Longitude -105.080066 | Originally posted by stonebobbo:
After reading all of this, it makes me realize how happy I am that I spent the $800 and bought the fully self-contained 32 track Korg machine. Well, you have to realize the different levels of talent here.
You can do yours in one take.
I can make mine sound right in less than 10! |
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Location: Connersville, Indiana | I have and use a mac mini. it is 6"x6"x2", has no fans air cooled, has big time memory. Heres the kicker. You can buy a apple interface on bay, or Apple sells reconditioned one as they do computers. This brand new is $500. But you want to be mobile, you can hook up a monitor and wireless key board and mouse. When you want to record you hook up the interface. I bought a Lexicon Lambda software and comes with a great interface. I did not like the software so I use the Garage band and The more complicated Logic express. As long as it's a fairly new interface the apple automatically recognizes it. You don't have to down load junk to get it to work. I love this system. Go to an Apple store, see what they have, my brother in law used his Mac laptop with a Mac interface he bought off e bay. He has no problems.
Just a thought. |
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Location: Tennessee | Originally posted by stephent28:
You can do yours in one take.
Yeah, right. :rolleyes:
But you make a point. I have to play what ends up coming out of the speakers. All the way through. I can't manipulate the recording. I can't play four bars and copy/paste/turn it into a 4 minute backing track. If I want a tambourine, I have to play a real one. If I want harmonies, I have to sing them. If I want traffic noise, I have to stick a microphone out the window. If I make a goof, I can't fix it with a mouse click ... I have to play the whole thing all over again or take it as it is. Which I often do ... warts and all.
But my method is easy to set up and record, and I spend my time playing instruments ... not staring onto a monitor and developing carpal tunnel. And it's a lot better than bouncing tracks like we did a few years ago. In the end, it's all about the music and making it ... not programming it. Old school, yes. But then again, so is Rock'n'Roll. |
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Location: Orlando, FL | Wow! That's a lot of information to digest. Thanks for all the input.
Right now I have a Boss BR 600. It's a stand alone 8 track recorder. Currently I'm recording one track at a time. Starting with a canned drum track, add guitar, add bass, add vocal, etc. I am playing each track all the way through in one take.
I like the Boss but I'd really like to have the flexibility I could get from a software solution. I use audacity frequently at work to edit audio, so that type of thing makes sense to me. The Boss is a little dated too, it actually comes with a 128mb CF memory card and the largest it will take is 1gb. The manual tells you how to connect the unit to your cassette deck tor mastering. I should be able to get the files onto the computer, so I may take the individual tracks recorded from the Boss into audacity for editing as a first step.
This is all really just the first baby steps for me, so I can get stuff out of my head and into the real world.
Like Bobbo, I'd like to do more playing than engineering.
Maybe something like the Zoom R16 that's a multitrack recorder and a computer interface would be best.
Yes, I'm confused. There are too many options! |
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Location: Blue Ridge Mountains | I got started seriously in 2008...a little at a time. Matt got me headed in a good direction at and after A.I...With additional help from Stephen and Dave, I have gotten to where I am now: While putting the iMac DAW based studio together I bought a Boss BR1600-CD: its portable, fun, and quick to use: most important is that it sounds and works/records great and it has some great additional effects and abilities which let you take a project from idea to mastered final product...most of my newer songs were recorded with it...
my main studio is all digital: an iMac 24 w/Apple Logic 8 Studio w/ an Apogee Duet Firewire interface; I have a beginning Mic locker (thanks to Stephen) w/ an M-Audio Sputnik Tube Condenser Mic, a Blue Baby Bottle condenser, a Rode NT-2, and a Peluso Ribbon Mic...I have a pair of Event Electronics Tuned Reference 8XL monitors...and a pair of Audio Technica ATHM50 Studio Monitor Headphones. I use an Alesis Fusion 6HD synthesizer workstation keyboard loaded with all of the Hollow Sun presets (amazing stuff)...I added a Digidesign Eleven Rack Guitar Effects and Amp Modeling Interface and it is awesome: highly recommended...
Additionally I have the outboard decks to transfer/convert vinal LP's, and cassette tapes to digital mp3's. I want to add a few additional items but later...after my voice heals...additionally I plan to use the new Dell Studio 16 as a portable take anywhere and perhaps try some additional PC based DAW software. |
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Location: Connersville, Indiana | Music Mike, I'm coming to your house to record damn! :) |
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Location: Orlando, FL | Mike, that's quite a setup you've put together in 2 years!
If I had dedicated studio/recording space I would put together a desktop system. I am going to have to wait for one of the kids to move out to get my own space back. That's one of the reasons I'm looking at a laptop or more portable solution. |
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Location: Winnipeg, Manitoba CANADA | If you are planning on using this system for serious use at some point... save yourself a lot of grief and cut right to the chase.
MAC G5 running LOGIC 9
I'm sure the Pro-Tools crowd will chime in, but I've never come across ANY non-TDM Pro-Tools user that hasn't run into problems eventually once they start getting into lots and lots of tracks of keyboards, lots and lots of effects or simply lots and lots of tracks, end of.
PC's (anything short of absolutely the top of the line, state of the art, custom-assembled systems... say $5-7000CAD) just don't have the horse power to do large sessions and once you look at it from that angle, the MAC Pro series is actually cost effective. |
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Location: Phoenix AZ | Originally posted by Designzilla:
I'm going to buy a new laptop and I want to use it for recording. What are minimum specs to get a good result. I love my Mac desktop, but this needs to be a PC since I'll be using it for work too, and I've got several thousand bucks tied up in Adobe software for the PC. Speaking of which, I'm not sure which DAW software to use, but I want to get the hardware figured out first.
OK, silly question but ... you have a mac desktop and now you need a windows laptop to do work. OK, fair enough. But why do you need audio and DAW capability on the laptop when you've already got the nest possible solution sitting right on your desk? Unless of course you need portability, in which case I'm not sure a laptop is really the best solution. Just curious, I'm probably missing some key point somewhere.
I guess a good way to look at it is that you really can't lose. Any windows PC you buy today will be better than one you could have bought a year ago. Just pick one and have fun. |
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Location: Winnipeg, Manitoba CANADA | I'm sure there will be varying opinions about this as well...
Although the PC's that are available now are faster, more cores etc., the operating systems that run them aren't any better, from a strictly recording perspective.
If offered ANY machine with Vista or Windows 7 on it, the first thing I would do is blow up the OS and put in XP. Both of the later OS's have so much needless baggage that can't easily be disabled or removed making either a non-starter in my opinion. The processes for stripping XP down to the basics to make a 'lean, mean recording machine' are tried and true, very well documented and I'm sure most of us here have done this before many times.
XP can easily be tweaked to run no more than 16-18 critical processes for recording (you'll never miss most of the others anyway as Microsoft packs their OS's with tons of uncessary crap...). Try trimming away the fat on MS's newer offerings and you're likely to run into problems.
To operate 'seamlessly' (has MS EVER made ANYTHING that ran 'seamlessly'...?) both Vista and Windows 7 pretty well have to be given carte blanche to do anything they want, whenever they want which doesn't really lend itself to a dependable, dedicated recording computer... |
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Location: Latitude 39.56819, Longitude -105.080066 | Avatar, you are stating your opinion but it is obvious you don't know what you are talking about.
I'll put my PC rig up against yours any day of the week (and I don't even know what you have). |
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Location: Orlando, FL | Originally posted by Gallerinski:
OK, silly question but ... you have a mac desktop and now you need a windows laptop to do work. OK, fair enough. But why do you need audio and DAW capability on the laptop when you've already got the nest possible solution sitting right on your desk? I thought someone might ask that...
Unfortunately, I had to give up my office a couple of years ago, so one of our kids could move into it. Right now my Mac is stuck in the corner of our home theater, which just isn't a good spot to record.
I was wondering if there were some minimum specs because I want to avoid latency issues. |
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Location: closely held secret | Steve, latency is usually a symptom of the external audio interface you choose. IEEE1394 (Firewire) generally has the lowest latency, though USB3 is starting to show some promise.
Lack of processing speed and disk access will produce a whole slew of other issues. But again, if you're doing light recording (1-4 tracks) a routinely optimized notebook will handle it. And I completely understand your space issues - we just moved into a new home. "Open floor plan" = no rooms suitable for me to record in. I'm going to build one in the garage.
You're doing the right thing - research before you buy. Just make sure you have fun! |
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Location: Blue Ridge Mountains | PC's (anything short of absolutely the top of the line, state of the art, custom-assembled systems... say $5-7000CAD) just don't have the horse power to do large sessions and once you look at it from that angle, the MAC Pro series is actually cost effective. John, I have to disagree: because I own two top of the line new computers: A new HP Pavilion Elite HPE w/Core i7 and 9 gigs of ram - 1 TB Hard drive etc. and my new laptop: a Dell Studio 16 also with Core i7 and 6 gigs ram w/500 GB hard drive, etc.
Both run the new Windows 7: I had used XP but the new 7 is fantastic...and it doesn't compare to the fiasco that was Vista...both computers are blazing fast and can handle what ever I ask of them...I have Pro Tools on both and have no problems like I experienced over the last several years w/XP based PC and laptop (Stephen can attest to that)...
Again, I use the Mac primarily for my main studio w/Logic DAW...
My PC's are used for all my business and church work...the laptop is primarily for mobile use (I travel quite a bit). The changes to the new computers (my first since 2004/6) are incredible...
But the cost for each was under $1500...what a bargain from years ago when a top of the line computer cost between 2 and 3 large... |
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Location: USA | get a digital work station...they are as aforadable as ever. |
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Location: Orlando, FL | Originally posted by Waskel:
Just make sure you have fun! That's a key piece for me. I don't mind some work or a learning curve, but in the long run if it ain't fun, or at least satisfying, I ain't gonna do it!
Mike, the Studio 16s are very nice. I run a creative services department and just bought a studio 16 XPS for our video editor. If he can edit HD footage on it, It should be a good solution for audio recording.
I was hoping to be under $1,000, but maybe I'll look at the Studio 16.
Thanks! |
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Location: Orlando, FL | Originally posted by Styll:
get a digital work station...they are as aforadable as ever. Is that what you use for your recordings? What setup do you have? You get some great results! |
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Location: Utah | Latency should not be a problem with any mid-performance laptop as long as you are only doing a reasonable number of tracks, say up to ten or so.
The cheapest POS discount laptop you buy today will outperform my old laptop. If all I have are a couple of tracks with no effects, latency is close enough to zero. Adding tracks and especially adding complexity with VST plugins and ACID loops will hammer the processor and hard disk resources, making latency a problem.
The specs that are probably the most important will be the amount of RAM, the speed of the RAM, hard disk read/write speed, and plenty of spare room on the disk (nearly full disks will kill your computer's speed).
USB vs Firewire? I think that is starting to get into the fine tuning aspects. As long as you are using a direct USB connection and not an external hub it should be adequate for two channels.
When it comes time to buy the interface device you may want one with more than two inputs. There are lots of ways to make that happen. The big question is if you want to simultaneously record more than two channels or if you are content to mix multiple inputs down to two channels and then record those. Note that two channels means two mono channels or one stereo channel. Also, will you want to someday migrate to the Mac? That may suggest some different priorities. |
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Location: Winnipeg, Manitoba CANADA | Originally posted by stephent28:
Avatar, you are stating your opinion but it is obvious you don't know what you are talking about.
I'll put my PC rig up against yours any day of the week (and I don't even know what you have). Stephen, obviously I am stating 'an opinion'. There are as many variations in recording setups as there are musicians.
I am sure your system works just fine for you. As dones mine.
My comments were directed to creating an affordable system that will work consistently, do what you need it to do, when you need it to do it and not rely on expensive (read exotic) hardware.
I've had people who own professional studios come down and have their jaws drop when they see what I can run on my poor, old budget PC. However, when I take sessions created here to some trendy, up-market studios... running seriously expensive gear (usually PT-based...), only to have them choke. This has happened more than once. They figure running 20-30 audio tracks is a big deal (mostly because audio is all they do...). They invariably have to bounce the non-audio tracks in order to get them to run. As far as I'm concerned, if you have to bounce VSTi's to audio (loosing your editability...) in order to get a session to run, the system probably isn't as good as you think it is.
Also, on multiple core systems try installing a third party load analyzer and see what your multiple cores are actually doing while running a serious session. Several of the better known PC DAW's can't even take advantage of the extra resources.
Obviously there are exceptions and a 'serious' PC can do amazing things as well, but the amount of extra, over and above you have to do to get a PC to compete with a straight-out-of-the-box MAC G5 isn't worth the effort... either in time or money (a fact... not an opinion ;) ). |
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Location: Orlando, FL | I just finished my first track using the BR600 output to audacity. I played it live into audacity, all the tracks at once, but I did do a bit of mixing on the fly. The electric guitar up to the 2nd break was one track and from the 2nd break on was a different track. I couldn't get one guitar part all the way through that I liked.
This works ok, but I am definitely interested in using the computer for more active mixing and editing. Also the vocals are dry, I'm trying to figure out how to add some reverb to the vocal track on the BR600.
The song is posted on my poor neglected ning page warts and all. I know both the performance and the recording need work, so I am open to suggestions. Give it a listen.
Designzilla ning page
Again thanks for all the input. |
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Location: Latitude 39.56819, Longitude -105.080066 | Originally posted by Avatar4550:
If offered ANY machine with Vista or Windows 7 on it, the first thing I would do is blow up the OS and put in XP. Both of the later OS's have so much needless baggage that can't easily be disabled or removed making either a non-starter in my opinion.
XP can easily be tweaked to run no more than 16-18 critical processes for recording (you'll never miss most of the others anyway as Microsoft packs their OS's with tons of uncessary crap...). Try trimming away the fat on MS's newer offerings and you're likely to run into problems.
To operate 'seamlessly' (has MS EVER made ANYTHING that ran 'seamlessly'...?) both Vista and Windows 7 pretty well have to be given carte blanche to do anything they want, whenever they want which doesn't really lend itself to a dependable, dedicated recording computer... This is the part that shows you know nothing about the current Windows 7 64bit platform.
I can easily run 25+ tracks with 10+ VSTi's and 30+ plugs without the slightest hiccup.
I could probably run much more than that but haven't seen the need.
I am not arguing the merits of PC vs Mac.
Use whatever fits you and your personality best. |
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Location: Latitude 39.56819, Longitude -105.080066 | and seriously none of this relates to the original laptop question.
Designzilla.....sounds like you got it figured out!
Have fun.....make music! |
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Location: closely held secret | Originally posted by stephent28:
Have fun.....make music! That is the point, yes? |
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Location: Latitude 39.56819, Longitude -105.080066 | Originally posted by Waskel:
Originally posted by stephent28:
Have fun.....make music! That is the point, yes? |
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Location: Blue Ridge Mountains | Have fun...make music!
Makes sense!!! |
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Location: Boise, Idaho | When I get to "record music" on my bucket list, I hope I can find this thread, but it will probably be all new technology by then. I did manage to get rid of some malware on the home PC within a week, though, so I'm getting more techno savvy. I hate it. I'd rather use my old Sony reel to reel. |
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Location: Texas | Originally posted by Avatar4550:
Obviously there are exceptions and a 'serious' PC can do amazing things as well, but the amount of extra, over and above you have to do to get a PC to compete with a straight-out-of-the-box MAC G5 isn't worth the effort... either in time or money (a fact... not an opinion ;) ). I assume you meant to say "Mac Pro" instead of "Mac G5"? The G5 was discontinued in 2006 when Apple switched from PowerPC-based processors (G3, G4, G5, etc.) to Intel-based systems.
AFAIK, current comparably-equipped Macs and PCs are actually pretty similar in terms of raw processing power. They both use the same CPUs and similar hardware. So, comparisons really boil down to cost, ease-of-use, and speed/efficiency of the OS. There are abundant in-depth comparisons of MacOS vs. Windows all over the Internet, we really don't need to rehash those here.
Also, we're not talking about building a professional studio are we? I think it is fair to say that you can put together a good home-based system with either OS.
Besides… This is the OFC… we don't care which OS you use… just which guitars you play… ;)
Designzilla: Your original question said you have a Mac desktop, but that you need to get a Windows laptop because of your current Adobe software investment. If you'd really prefer a Mac laptop, and your Adobe software is your only conflict, I'd suggest that you contact customer-service at Adobe and ask if you can do a "cross-grade" to Mac versions of your Adobe software. I believe that they used to have a cross-grade program, I don't know if they still do, but it might be worth a try? |
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Location: Utah | There is always the option of running Windoze on a Mac. There are a couple of ways to do that. |
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Location: Orlando, FL | OK, we have a winner! I just picked up a Toshiba Satellite - Intel® Core™ i7 Processor / 16" Display / 4GB Memory / 640GB Hard Drive / NVIDIA GEforce 310 graphics card. I like it!
This should work, right?
Thanks for all the help!
Now about that software... |
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Location: Latitude 39.56819, Longitude -105.080066 | For software, you can try Reaper. It is a free unlimited use trial (unless you keep it and continue to use it then they ask for a very reasonable $60).
Then there is Audacity, Cubase (that I use), the Sony series of products (Acid that Waskel uses), Presonus Studio 1 and a lot more out there.
They all have strengths and weakness's so read a few reviews and see which one meets your needs.
Your laptop should not have ANY PROBLEMS running a DAW for what you are looking to do. |
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Location: Orlando, FL | Thanks Stephen! I'm going to try out Reaper. |
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| Steve, you'll still need an interface to get the music signals into digital form and then into your computer, either by USB or firewire.
I use Reaper and have been happy with it. Be aware that if you're on a 64-bit platform and decide to use the 64-bit version of Reaper (or any software DAW) that a lot of useful VST plugins haven't yet been ported to 64-bit, and so won't work. I use the 32-bit version of Reaper for that reason, so I can keep using all the effect and instrument plugins I've accumulated. |
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Location: Orlando, FL | Serge, I have a line 6 Tone port for an interface.
Thanks for the heads up on the 32 bit versus 64 bit version of Reason. That's really good to know. |
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Location: Latitude 39.56819, Longitude -105.080066 | Steve, I am running an Intel i7 920 @ 2.67 Ghz with Windows 7 64bit and 6 gig of ram and I go both ways with the 64/32 versions of Cubase and just the 64bit version of Reaper.
True that the overall selection of 64 bit plugs is lacking as developers tend to drag their feet but the performance gain is pretty good with a 64bit DAW.
I bought a copy of jBridge (I think about $20) and it works outstanding. Allows you to use a 64bit DAW with 64 or 32bit plugs or do the reverse and use a 32bit DAW with 32 or 64bit plugs. Also allows a 30 day trial run before you buy it.
Doesn't work 100% with everything but the general consensus is that it works with about 95% or more which is good enough for me.
Maybe by this time next year most of the plug manufacturers will have 64bit versions available and alleviate some of the issues but the bottom line is that there will still be some wonderful gotta have plugs that will never be updated to 64bit cause the company is no longer in existence........and in these cases, jBridge is just a no-brainer to own. |
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Location: Orlando, FL | Thanks Stephen. I downloaded the trial of jBridge. I'm going to try it with the 64 bit version of Reaper. |
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Location: Latitude 39.56819, Longitude -105.080066 | Steve, just read the directions carefully cause they can be a bit confusing but once things are set up properly it runs really well.
I am sure there is a lot of talk about using jBridge on the Reaper forum. |
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Location: Tennessee | Originally posted by Designzilla:
The song is posted on my poor neglected ning page warts and all. (snip) Give it a listen.
Designzilla ning page
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| Dang, I missed that earlier. Just Like A Fish reminds me of why I like gettin' together and just jamming with you. Blues Street was great as well.
Honest critique, if I may be so bold (see one, do one, teach one, right?): mix-wise, you're about where I was a couple-three recordings ago. You need to play around with compression and EQ to really bring out the different tracks and put them where you want 'em in the sonic field.
Damn, I wish I could play that well. Lemme know if you want some recommendations on VST plugins that worked well for me on Two Teardrops. Keep going, buddy, great start! |
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Location: Blue Ridge Mountains | Outstanding Zilla...cool stuff...nice production...let us know how the new laptop works for you... |
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Location: Texas | Originally posted by Designzilla:
I just finished my first track using the BR600 output to audacity…
…Give it a listen.
Designzilla ning page
Again thanks for all the input.
Coincidentally, I just got a BR-800 . I've barely scratched the surface of what it can do. Your results are highly motivating, but my limited time (and talent) haven't allowed me to get very far yet… :(
The Boss is a little dated too, it actually comes with a 128mb CF memory card and the largest it will take is 1gb. That limitation was one of the biggest reasons I waited for the BR-800 to finally ship (it was announced about 9 months ago.) The BR-800 can take up to a 32 gig SDHC card. |
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Location: Orlando, FL | Thanks for the kind words and encouragement!
These two songs were recorded and mixed entirely on the BR-600 and imported into audacity to create the audio file. I think my next step is to bring all the individual tracks into reason and do the mix there.
Standing, The BR-800 looks very nice, it overcomes the limitations of the BR-600 and can be used as a control surface for a DAW. I like this feature a lot.
Serge, thanks for the advice! I am at the very beginning of this learning process need feedback, tips and suggestions. So, what VST plugins are you using? |
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Location: Orlando, FL | Originally posted by G8r:
Damn, I wish I could play that well. That's really funny, I think the same thing when I listen to you play! |
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Location: Brighty in Blighty | I've successfully recorded my 1st album on a low budget laptop with a Intel 2g Celeron CPU running Cubase 4.
I've had very positive feedback with regard to the sound quality.
You can listen to the some samples (albeit MP3 versions) here:
www.boiledsweets.com/music
Select Quadruped. Oh and Track 6 - Natsuhiboshi is my Elite 1537! |
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Location: Blue Ridge Mountains | Dweez...you have a gift my friend...and I finally got around to getting the album...very nice work! |
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Location: Brighty in Blighty | Hey thanks, the next one is well under way ;-) |
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Location: Latitude 39.56819, Longitude -105.080066 | Hah!
Finally got everything wired up!
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Location: closely held secret | You're short one plug in your arse. |
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Location: Latitude 39.56819, Longitude -105.080066 | heh heh heh
thank you
I think I found it but not sure where to plug the other end |
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Location: Boise, Idaho | I know where you live and I've notified the fire department. |
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Location: closely held secret | Originally posted by stephent28:
I think I found it but not sure where to plug the other end Really? I thought it was obvious... |
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| Having vision problems there, T? |
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Location: Tennessee | I think you have more money invested in cables than I have in guitars.
For all that work, I sure hope that contraption also lights up ChezTman with a couple of hundred thousand christmas lights synchronized to mannheim steamroller. |
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Location: Orlando, FL | WOW! If you had posted that picture at the beginning of this thread, I would have given up before I bought the laptop! |
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Location: Latitude 39.56819, Longitude -105.080066 | Comeon guys.....
that's not my patchbay....mine has maybe 6-8 cables at a time AT THE VERY MOST!
That pic is a patchbay from a 128 channel studio somewhere out in California. |
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Location: closely held secret | Now I'm sure you need to plug your arse. |
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Location: Latitude 39.56819, Longitude -105.080066 | love you too ya damn long haired hippy freak. |
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Location: closely held secret |  |
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Location: Tennessee | Beach Baby - First Class |
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Location: Boise, Idaho | Your cupholders are empty. |
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Location: closely held secret | Why do you think I'm not smiling? |
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Location: Latitude 39.56819, Longitude -105.080066 | Cause the sand crabs are makin you uncomfortable? |
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Laptop recommedations for recording