First Studio Overview

[davethebeerfrog]

After a long time researching I have finally come up with a rough studio set up idea and i thought i might make a post here to maybe get some feedback on it.
The potential idea is :

• MacBook 2.4ghz, 2 gig

• M-Audio FireWire 410 Audio/Midi Interface

• Pod XT for internal recording

• Active Monitors (not sure what kind yet)

• DFH Superior 2 (when its released this summer)

• Either Logic or Cubase (Im more comfortable in Cubase but have read that Cubase doesn't run to its potential on an apple mac)

Basically im a guitarist and i do a lot of drum programming and recording in Cubase SX3 which I've got on my home desktop P.C. (with Windows XP installed)
I currently use EZdrummer's DFH Plug-in for drum programming, Guitar Rig 3 and a borrowed Alesis IO2 Audio/Midi USB interface which is going soon.
But i want to move on and have the abitity to mix drums (EZDrummers samples are all pre equalized and compressed)
I'm sure i want to be using a Mac as I've used them to record before and just prefer them. It also needs to be taken to college so it has to be a Laptop.
Currently i don't have any intentions on recording drums or recording more than one track at a time so i wont be needing a massive multi track Mixer. I live in a flat so internal recording will have to suffice as well.

Also would using a Firewire 800 port be any use to me? I basically want as low a latency rate as i can possibly get and i understand that Firewire 800 is potentially faster than Firewire 400 but does this only apply to people recording multiple tracks at a time?

Any comments or advice would be greatly appreciated, cheers!

[richiebee]

The MacBook only has a Firewire400 port.

I'd be very hesitant in getting the MacBook. I know the MacBook Pro is quite a step up financially, but the MacBook has a tiny screen and slow hard drive. Since it only has two USB and one Firewire port, you'll run out of ports before you even get started (audio interface, pod, external drive, mouse, dongles). If you get a MacBook Pro with the 7200rpm drive option, you don't need to use up a port for an external hard drive (its still good to have a separate drive for your audio files, but if you do location stuff, you can get by using the internal one if its fast enough).

[brandondrury]

Pod XT for internal recording

I'd HIGHLY suggest you try a demo of Revalver MKIII before purchasing any products from the Marketer Of The Year....the exception appears to be their tube amp they made.

DFH Superior 2 (when its released this summer)

WHEN is a big word! The assholes said I would have it in June. I preordered it over a month ago, they won't answer their support emails, and their forum has been less than courteous about the subject. I'm not a baby about these things, but after I've shelled out the credit card, I deserve to be informed and not talked to as if I'm insignificant.

I'm waiting another day and then 7,000 people are getting an email to consider going with BFD2, Addictive Drums, Steven Slate Drums, because Toontrack customer service has sucked in this manner. If they would just tell me July 30th is the date or August 30th that would be fine.

Brandon

[brandondrury]

Pro is quite a step up financially, but the MacBook has a tiny screen and slow hard drive. Since it only has two USB and one Firewire port, you'll run out of ports before you even get started (audio interface, pod, external drive, mouse, dongles). If you get a MacBook Pro with the 7200rpm drive option, you don't need to use up a port for an external hard drive (its still good to have a separate drive for your audio files, but if you do location stuff, you can get by using the internal one if its fast enough).

I guess there is no way to add Firewire via PCMIA or something like that, right?

Brandon

[davethebeerfrog]

The MacBook only has a Firewire400 port.

Yeh i know, the FireWire 800 question was just out of interest, I wasen't sure if it would be worthwhile to me at this time so i thought id ask.

the MacBook has a tiny screen and slow hard drive. Since it only has two USB and one Firewire port, you'll run out of ports before you even get started (audio interface, pod, external drive, mouse, dongles). If you get a MacBook Pro with the 7200rpm drive option

As far as i can tell, the current MacBook and MacBook Pros have the same hard drive power. 2 gigs of ram, 5200 RPM, 2.4/2.5 Ghz processors. Yeh the graphics are much better on the MBP and you get a bigger screen, but to me, its not worth the extra 6 or 7 hundred.
As for the USB thing, the only high power port i require is the FireWire drive for the audio interface. I can easily add a USB hub or something for dongles, a mouse and so on.

Quote:
Pod XT for internal recording
I'd HIGHLY suggest you try a demo of Revalver MKIII before purchasing any products from the Marketer Of The Year....the exception appears to be their tube amp they made.

Thanks man, will definitely look into it.