Would a laptop be suitable for some recording ?

mindwalker · #1 02-03-2010, 06:55 AM

Hey guys,

Due to my current state of affairs, I don't really have a stable home so I don't feel like splashing out on an extreme desktop for recording. I was looking more into using a laptop for that matter...

I already have a laptop though, a 2006 Toshiba (A100 model I believe). I have successfully recorded with it and my Pod X3 (using Reaper + Windows XP) however if I want to run some more stuff in parallel or even some VSTs I'm afraid it might start lagging.

Do I need a really fast computer to do this ? Would a Dell Studio 1555 take on the job ?
Intel Duo 2.4 Ghz, 4 Gb memory, 320 gb hard drive 7200 rpm.. the usual USB interfaces..

Ideally you run also some other stuff in parallel with the DAW.. the usual browser for information, maybe some video recording tool as well if you're firing up a youtube video... etc...

Thanks for insights guys

_FR0D0 · #2 02-03-2010, 09:35 AM

a laptop like the one you describe (ntel Duo 2.4 Ghz, 4 Gb memory, 320 gb hard drive 7200 rpm) but with a firewire audio interface can handle nicely small to medium recording proyects quite good.

racerevlon · #3 02-03-2010, 12:54 PM

Unless you're going MAC, I'd stay away from laptops for recording. I did the same thing you are proposing, buying a beefy laptop for portable recording. I even bought an external USB hard disk to separate the music from the programs. Bottom line was that the hard drive couldn't keep up and I got serious latency. Perhaps the FireWire interface may help, but from performance measurements I've seen USB 2.0 is as fast as FireWire 800. YMMV.

Cheers,

Race

_FR0D0 · #4 02-03-2010, 01:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by racerevlon

Unless you're going MAC, I'd stay away from laptops for recording. I did the same thing you are proposing, buying a beefy laptop for portable recording. I even bought an external USB hard disk to separate the music from the programs. Bottom line was that the hard drive couldn't keep up and I got serious latency. Perhaps the FireWire interface may help, but from performance measurements I've seen USB 2.0 is as fast as FireWire 800. YMMV.

Cheers,

Race

I do use a laptop for portalbe recording, and my laptop is not that beefy ...

But USB 2.0 is just crap, I use firewire and BWT I use FW400 ... and if you want to use an external drive, it also needs to be FW and be in it's own FW interface.

As platform I use Windows Xp pro 32 with sonar
And also have been using Linux with Ardour successfully

Dont use USB (nor 1.x nor 2.0) for this task it cant handle the data bandwith. The new USB 3.0 specification is suposed to fix this, but we have to wat and see.

Regards

**jemsite** · #5 02-03-2010, 01:37 PM

you don't need a Mac just good planning.

If the OP has a toshiba a100 ~ 1.8Ghz CoreDuo with firewire then with enough RAM it's sufficient. Get it to 3GB of RAM for XP and use firewire as others said to eliminate USB driver issues which can create bottlenecks.

I'd consider a larger FASTER 7200 internal drive partitioned from windows myself (2-3 year old drive in that laptop now) and avoiding an external drive. Then using NAS/external storage to backup projects. but that requires reinstalling windows. That would offer a take it anywhere recording solution without clumsy external drives & power supplies... glen

rgr · #6 02-04-2010, 02:31 PM

Yep, as has been said, you don't want to record to an external USB drive, it will be too slow no matter what the hd speed is. Internal drive would definitely be best.

jb4674 · #7 02-04-2010, 07:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by racerevlon

Unless you're going MAC, I'd stay away from laptops for recording.

That's the most ignorant comment I've read all day.

Jimmy

jonnyboy mills · #8 02-14-2010, 04:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jb4674

That's the most ignorant comment I've read all day.

Jimmy

why????

jonnyboy mills · #9 02-14-2010, 04:41 AM

While I wait for the answer to my previous post, At college in the music department where I am currently studying towards my degree, They are using 24 inch imac's running logic pro 9. At home in my own studio I am running the same program on my macbook and have had no problems at all. at first I was very dismissive of my macbook being able to run such a big program, I did have to upgrade my memory to 2gb wich was about 40GBP and took about 5 mins to fit. I record loads of things on mine and also put audio over video tracks, So far I have had no problems. All is good. hope this helps.

wilch · #10 02-15-2010, 01:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jemsite

you don't need a Mac just good planning.

If the OP has a toshiba a100 ~ 1.8Ghz CoreDuo with firewire then with enough RAM it's sufficient. Get it to 3GB of RAM for XP and use firewire as others said to eliminate USB driver issues which can create bottlenecks.

I'd consider a larger FASTER 7200 internal drive partitioned from windows myself (2-3 year old drive in that laptop now) and avoiding an external drive. Then using NAS/external storage to backup projects. but that requires reinstalling windows. That would offer a take it anywhere recording solution without clumsy external drives & power supplies... glen

+1. Listen to this man.

There's no need to spend more on Apple branding just to get the same internals as a cheaper PC laptop.

mindwalker · #11 02-15-2010, 06:41 AM

Thanks for all the replies guys! I might do a little laptop upgrade then.. think my problem is memory as a few programs running and I get lag and pagination!

Faster hardrive and firewire seem to be a good way to go too!

MacMusica · #12 02-15-2010, 12:15 PM

Its down to what soundcard you use to get the latency as low as around 4ms as this is not decernable to our ears. For memory you will need 2gb if you want to run it with any VSTi/DXi samples e.g. Toontracks SD2. But the more fx you use need more cpu and memory. 4gb is highest to use in XP32 although it will only use about 3.5gb of this.
However, if you use an interface for guitar e.g. guitar rig & line 6 then these become the soundcard and their latencies are about 30ms at 24bit. I record dry and monitor the line 6 but process using Cubase5 and add the Pod Farm VST. You need to reduce monitoring latency and hardware monitoring this way is direct ie not via the PC whilst recording.
I have actually got a Soundscape (now SSL) dedicated DAW box too and these can be operated by any laptop with little power at all as they don't draw any resources from them.

nickcoumbe · #13 02-16-2010, 06:06 AM

Ok, to hijack this slightly.

I am running an Acer Aspire 7535G-824G50Mn with Wondows 7 64 bit.

It has an X2 processor and 4gb ram, but no firewire.

I want to record, but I don't want latency. What can I do? Am I down to using Guitar Rig or similar?

spudler_t · #14 03-08-2010, 05:53 AM

I use A HP Pavilion DV-7 1285 DX. I have 2@ 2.4 Ghz Processors, 8 Gig Ram and 2 Toshiba 500 Gig Hd's. I use USB but I do have Firewire if needed and I can record just fine. I can actually run a few programs while recording and still I have had no Issues.

Tank · #15 03-16-2010, 06:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wilch

+1. Listen to this man.

There's no need to spend more on Apple branding just to get the same internals as a cheaper PC laptop.

You are really ignorant. It is (not only) the hardware that makes the difference. Although I pay for USBs with enough power output, FW connectors, aluminum unibody, excellent LED display, sound without latency the extra anyday... however the software makes the biggest difference.

But some people like the pain that is windows, as the laptop is cheap...

I for one think however: No time wasted to get it recording out of the box... priceless.