Ok Geeks... Unleash your fury on me!!!

**ScarySouthernMan** · 08-23-2009, 02:42 PM

As it were I'm in the market for a new recording PC.

There are some things I know and a LOT of things I don't know. Most of which I'm sure have been covered here 543273546 times before so please pardon my general lack of research prior to asking the questions...

Here is my situation...

Question 1 :

I know I want a Laptop for portability. Honestly (don't hold back on me) how badly does that limit my performance options?

Question 2 :

I have a Tascam US-144 interface that I actually like (I know, I know) a lot. I use Cubase, Reaper, Audition and even Audacity. I have just enough experience with DAW software to know I don't really enjoy any of 'em but rather find myself choosing the lesser of many evils. I've been reading a lot and have found that Reaper seems to have a bit of a reputation for not taxing CPU's as badly as others... Again, not credible info, just what I've read. Is there a DAW program that is "better" for a Laptop given it's general lack of freedoms that come with a desktop? If so why?

Question 3 :

I've read a lot about external HD's for laptops. Is there a sacrifice of ANY kind when recording to the factory HD and then later dumping save-worthy info to the external? I know I need to be careful not to wipe any otherwise unrecoverable data from the internal HD... With that in mind are there latency or sync (or any other) issues with transfering the data from the onboard HD to the external that I need to be aware of?

Final question :

If and when running to exactly similar versions of the same DAW software... Is it a pain in the ass to record with the laptop (again with the portability to buddies' studios etc. in mind) and transfer files to a desktop for editing purposes? That is to say that if I am recording with the imaginary new laptop and I wanna plug and play the data via external HD for the sake of not swamping the laptop down with a bajillion media files using the exact same DAW program (Reaper or Audition for example), is my stuff just gonna work automatically once I configure proper file destination issues and the like?

Thanks so much for the tech help. When it comes to stuff like this, I find myself dangerously behind the learning curve to only be 27 years old.

The final inquiry would be this... Given the info specifications which I'm getting ready to spell out... Can you guys give me a roundabout budget to expect?

This is what I have that I wanna retain for use...

Tascam US-144 interface
Several decent tube and solid state instrument Amps.
Multiple Daw software programs, primarily Reaper and Audition.
A suitcase full of mics and DI stuff that I'm already happy with.
Appropriate cables for all that stuff
A quasi-capable (although rapidly aging) desktop PC that I can dedicate to offline editing and post-production crap
A number of outboard effects including a wicked pedalboard (a motherload of analog Boss stuff and a couple classics) with a ton of routing options... Parametrics, Sonic Maximizer, a non-powered mixer with sub-par DSP and lame pre's that I don't really care for, power conditioning stuff, and a closet full of odds and ends in the way of cables and crap...

This is what I want that I don't have (not pertainent to the Laptop)...

An affordable tube channel strip for pre-interface manipulations
Perhaps some dynamic mics (I'm thinking a pair of beta 57's)
Sound isolation stuff for close micing cabinets and vox

And of course the new computer...

Any outboard (or really inboard too) peripheral gear you guys can recommend that I may have overlooked or left out? What is in your daisy-chain that YOU can't live without? Why?

What do I need as far as Laptop components so that Reaper and Audition don't suck?

Dual processors? High-speed drives? Video cards? etc???

Y'all tell ME.

Thanks so much for your time,

- Scary

I just need to know

**ScarySouthernMan** · 08-23-2009, 02:44 PM

Also failed to mention that I'm an XP guy... Macs are too complicated for my simpleton brain... I have no desire to own a Mac. I know this sparks great controversy but I don't care about any of that... I don't wanna talk OS... I wanna talk machinery.

Thanks again...

Scary

**Audio~Geek** · 08-23-2009, 03:52 PM

by that last message you've already eliminated the best option for powerful portable recording computers.

I can't help you.

**Husky Band** · 08-23-2009, 05:33 PM

I have a system similar to what you are thinking of. I have a Dell Inspiron 1525 with a Core 2 Duo 8100, XP Pro, 4 gig of ram, 320 gig internal and 720 gig USB external. I use a Presonus Firestudio with it. Main DAW software is Reaper/Audition. I've never had the opportunity to record more than a couple of tracks at a time but I've playback/edited 24 tracks with plugins with Reaper without issue.

**richiebee** · 08-23-2009, 05:49 PM

Originally Posted by ScarySouthernMan

Question 1 :
I know I want a Laptop for portability. Honestly (don't hold back on me) how badly does that limit my performance options?

Depends. I've yet to see a good Windows laptop. But depending on what you want to do, it might be okay. You said you don't want a Mac, and its a shame you've closed your mind to this. I really dislike Apple as a company, but their laptops are fantastic and I've yet to see a Windows laptop come close. I'm sure its out there somewhere, but certainly not for any cheaper than the Mac.

If the laptop thing isn't essential, then I'd scrap it right now. You get WAY more desktop computer for your money... and then I'd stick with a PC and Windows.

Question 2 :

I have a Tascam US-144 interface that I actually like (I know, I know) a lot. I use Cubase, Reaper, Audition and even Audacity. I have just enough experience with DAW software to know I don't really enjoy any of 'em but rather find myself choosing the lesser of many evils.

Don't enjoy any of them? Then why are you doing this? For the money??? My advice would be to pick the one you hate the least, ditch the others, and learn how to do everything on the one you chose.

Question 3 :

I've read a lot about external HD's for laptops. Is there a sacrifice of ANY kind when recording to the factory HD and then later dumping save-worthy info to the external?

The big plus of using an external drive with a laptop is that it should be faster than your build in hard drive. Dumping it later is kind of pointless... you need to write directly to a fast drive. Laptops are available with 7200rpm drives, though I'm not sure even these are up to the performance of a full sized drive.

I know I need to be careful not to wipe any otherwise unrecoverable data from the internal HD... With that in mind are there latency or sync (or any other) issues with transfering the data from the onboard HD to the external that I need to be aware of?

I don't quite understand what you're getting at here. One thing you'll likely find if you do start moving files around is that your DAW won't know where to look for them after you've moved them. But see above. You shouldn't need to be moving files around. Just write to the fastest drive and keep it there.

Final question :

If and when running to exactly similar versions of the same DAW software... Is it a pain in the ass to record with the laptop (again with the portability to buddies' studios etc. in mind) and transfer files to a desktop for editing purposes? That is to say that if I am recording with the imaginary new laptop and I wanna plug and play the data via external HD for the sake of not swamping the laptop down with a bajillion media files using the exact same DAW program (Reaper or Audition for example), is my stuff just gonna work automatically once I configure proper file destination issues and the like?

Same deal... you'll have to reconnect all the audio files with the project on a different computer. That can be a pain in the ass.

What do I need as far as Laptop components so that Reaper and Audition don't suck?

Dual processors? High-speed drives? Video cards? etc???

How do you want to work? Recording all live instruments? Working with MIDI? Will you require extensive processing?

We all have very different needs and this is an important consideration.

**ScarySouthernMan** · 08-23-2009, 07:06 PM

Thanks for the help guys...

A couple more specifications... My needs are not complicated. I only need to be able to record two channels simultaneous (again with the US-144) and I am technically able to record MIDI but admittadly am scared to death of the idea because I don't know much about it other than what I've read in a couple how-to books.

I'd say the heaviest load on the entire process would be 2-channels of live instruments or 2 MIDI tracks.

I guess that I should have reworded that shady statement about the DAW stuff. I absolutely enjoy recording but as it were, I'm sadly novice to the processes and HAVE used all of the above software and still own it. I prefer Reaper because it's a little more usable for a guy going my speed. I don't have a ton of experience with any of 'em. I understand my ways around most of them with exception to anything MIDI related as I haven't tryed to undergo any of that.

I would love to learn a LOT more about plug-ins and VST and things of the sort... But I'm still in the baby steps process.

My main reason for not wanting a Mac is because of the amount of time I'd have to spend learning OSX or whatever the case is. I'm doing GREAT to be able to maintain my PC's operations. I realize I may be closing some doors for myself, but I'm not out to set the world on fire... I just want to be able to express my music with enough quality to not be embarrassed of it.

Ultimately, the entire interest in the Laptop vs Desktop is for portability sake. I'm in two gigging bands and jam with a third. I also have a 4th location where a ton of brainstorming goes on and would like the ability to record some multi-track stuff right then and there instead of recording the ideas and later trying to recreate amp settings, mic placements, etc.

I suppose I could go with a desktop but I feel like the portability factor may out-sway the idea.

So I understand this right... It's OK to record straight to the External HD? I was under the impression that the computer is labored more while doing this (because the US-144 communicates via USB also... so two devices working at the same time???) and could cause latency. Is there any truth to that?

I'm TOTALLY fine with it if so. That's my inexperience speaking at that point.

Thanks for the replies... Keep 'em coming...

- Scary

**Husky Band** · 08-24-2009, 06:14 AM

You're requirements are pretty tame. There are a lot of laptops that will work well for you. Like I said earlier, my Dell Inspiron handles 24 tracks with plugins through Firewire without issue. However, the school issued me a HP/Compaq 6510b that has all kinds of issues with the new Presonus drivers. The FW port won't work with the Fire Studio at all so I have to use a TI Bus Card adapter. So, it's sort of a crap shoot with laptops. I don't think you'll have near as many issues with USB as with Firewire.

**fortyseven** · 08-24-2009, 07:14 AM

I pretty much agree with what has already been said. My advice is to use the software you have and are comfortable with and leave the rest for a later stage when you feel more at ease. MIDI and VST's scare you now but eventually you will learn about them and realise their usefulness. Rome wasn't built in a day; take one small step at a time.

IMO, the only thing about a laptop is that its portable. Other than that I would never go near one. I have an old 1.8Ghz 2Gig RAM laptop that I sometimes use when Im travelling and it keeps up with what I need. I am able to run about 10 - 15 tracks simultaneously, depending on the amount of effects/vst's etc.

The other thing about laptops is the need for an external drive. I think that other than being slightly inconvenient, external HDD's shouldn't cause any extra latency. Latency has more to do with processing power (or the lack thereof) than HDD speed or location.

**richiebee** · 08-24-2009, 07:28 AM

I agree with Husky Band. Your requirements are tame.

The laptop idea will work just fine... you can probably even record your 2-4 tracks direct to a slow hard drive without any dropouts.

So, just get something with as much RAM as possible (minimum 2Gb, 4 if poss), and then consider the fastest processor you can afford, especially if you're going to be using Vista. Windows 7 is almost upon us, but there are still some driver issues. So, be prepared to stick with Vista for a while if you're not going to be installing XP. Vista works just fine by the way on powerful machines.

I would stick with a reputable brand (as reputable as any computer company is!), like Dell, HP or Lenovo.

I've had tons of bad luck with Toshiba laptops even though they get good ratings and I personally wouldn't go with Acer, Gateway or any budget brand.

For what its worth, you'd probably "learn" OSX in a day. There's really not that much to learn if you just use it to access your programs.