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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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Laptop recommedations for recording
