Hardware!

[Urban breed]

I need to make a decision, and fast.
Over the years I've been completely against the idea of getting a laptop.
This time I'm not so sure.
I'm fairly sure I can get one that's more than adequate for the kind of studio work I do. Well, mostly, anyway.
I know what I want and what I get when I build myself a workstation.
I'm not that much of an expert when it comes to laptops.
I've been looking around and so I'm getting to know the market a bit better but I figured I'd get some help from you guys too.
Would you recommend me to pick up a top of the line laptop rather than putting together yet another workstation?

A laptop makes it easier for me to record, regardless of whichever side of the Atlantic Ocean I happen to occupy, whenever I find the time.
I would however have to carry an extra flightcase of equipment whenever I fly for that to be completely true.
A laptop would also make it easier to work on the next 'Trail of Murder' album as I wouldn't have to worry about them having the plugs or the sample libraries I'm using.
Don't bother complaining about the monitor or other peripherals as I can simply hook it up to bigger and better ones as they are available almost everywhere I work.
I'll stop now and see what you have to say instead.

I want several replies and fast. I'll be buying something before 14:00 tomorrow. ... ... I think :blush:

...Urban

[Tarathur]

Urban-

My partner Chris and his drummer have both built their own home studios and have a lot of knowledge in this area that may be helpful. Both have laptops for remote use as well as towers. If interested in talking to either of them, I can put you touch. You should have Chris' information. Keith (drummer) is on AIM a lot. I can get you his handle. Keith is a little more experienced than Chris on the engineering side.

Let me know if you want their info. :)

-j

PS- Don't know if you've checked your email, but if you could let me know about those items as well, that would be great! Thanks much. :)

[No-Mercy]

I would definitly suggest getting one for travel, but keep the regular desktop for a base, also can be used to backup anything you're planning on taking with you on the laptop.

i personally prefer top-of-the-line laptops with very small "station". i find it is much easier than to have things somewhat scattered.

also, alot of people would become frustrated over the mouse or complain about that. if thats a problem, there's an extremely simple regular desktop mouse/wire you can use for connection.

ive bought a few laptops, definitly think DELL is the best way to go.

[Frod]

Someone once told me that he required a big-fat-ass screen on the laptop. Well, seems like that requirement flew away. I have no idea what requirement you may have on the inside performance but what I can tell you is that the smaller and less heavy your laptop is the more you will love to carry it with you.

Me... I would prefer the same brand as No-Mercy mentioned, simply because thats what I'm used to, I mean touch pad, buttons and keyboard.

[lady_space]

Someone once told me that he required a big-fat-ass screen on the laptop. Well, seems like that requirement flew away.

He has a wife who rolls her eyes every time he says that?

S

[Urban breed]

Why does it not really matter if the screen is barely 2"s wide?
Almost everywhere I know I will record there are decent monitors I can use instead, or even additionally.
Why does it not matter so much what the keyboard and touchpad feels like?
Well, I'll more or less do the same thing there.
So, we're basically down to pure performance.
What I would really like to know is if there are any models out there equipped with 2 7200rpm HDD's.
Because otherwise I'll have to carry eSATA drives as well as the laptop.
Oh, well, I guess I'll have to carry so many things in order to be able to do anything properly that I might as well carry a workstation as a laptop. :)

[No-Mercy]

What I would really like to know is if there are any models out there equipped with 2 7200rpm HDD's.
Because otherwise I'll have to carry eSATA drives as well as the laptop.

I've never used or seen anything equipped with 2.

The one I have used for a while that meets the 720 requirement is Seagate's 100GB...they just came out witha 120GB but that only runs 540. By what you're asking, I'd get this and carry eSATA drives. I'd suggest the Seagate ST3500601XS-RK 500GB eSATA External Hard Drive, to go with the laptop...same brands work great together.
It's pretty lightweight and usually can fit into an extra toppocket on most laptop cases anyway. This is the best way to go as far as I know for what you're looking for.

[Bryant]

If you are going to be recording, I suppose the biggest thing is soundcard and audio ports. There are USB sound cards out there. I know Creative (Soundblaster) makes one. As far as performance.... as long as there isn't a lot of crap software running all of the time on startup I think the processor speed is less important than the frontside bus speed and the hard drive type. I think a SATA hard drive will be the way to go. SATA speed is currently at 150MBps and will likely be up to about 600 MBps in the near future.

Make sure that the laptop has Firewire ports. M-Audio 410 is a Firewire sound card. It looks to have several inputs etc. Firewire is also more than fast enough for that external hard drive. You will also want a large HDD and you will want to probably make two partitions on your HD. One for your programs/operating system and one for files. Here is a decent laptop. It has a 200GB HDD, firewire, Centrino Dual core processor and a 17" widescreen moniter.

Bryant

http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=3231183&CatId=2511

[Urban breed]

If you are going to be recording, I suppose the biggest thing is soundcard and audio ports. There are USB sound cards out there. I know Creative (Soundblaster) makes one.
They have gotten better over they years. Still, there are cards out there with better ASIO drivers.
The soundcard was an entirely separate decision, but yes, quite an important one.
I would never have gotten a laptop without a IEEE1394, (firewire), port and USB simply does not have the throughput that firewire has. True, for as long as we're talking IEEE1394a USB 2.0 has a slightly higher transfer rate at 480 as compared to the firewire (a) with a transfer rate of 400.
This, however is a bit misleading since USB uses a lot more overhead and this rate is actually only the "burst" rate. Firewire has superior consistent throughput and so it's better for my purposes. Now IEEE1394b, well, lets just say the rate is doubled. :)
So which soundcard did I get?
This time I settled for the Focusrite Saffire Pro 26 I/O.

As far as performance.... as long as there isn't a lot of crap software running all of the time on startup
Don't worry, around these parts I am known as Mr Restrictive. :)
I run nothing but the services and applications I want.
Unless I have to because some lame ass software provider decides their application gets so much better if they include additional software, that I would rather not install if they so paid me, without which the application I want) to run simply won't anymore.
However, performance is precisely what worried me the most about this.

I think the processor speed is less important than the frontside bus speed and the hard drive type.
Not true. Unless you really only mean that one should not think another 200MHz for the next step up will make a world of a difference.
That would only be true if you're constantly running at near 100% cpu load . :)
For audio production CPU speed is essential. This because soundcards do not work like graphics cards. The cpu performs almost all of the actual processing here.
Front side bus is important. Absolutely. You can't have one without the other though.

I think a SATA hard drive will be the way to go.
SATA speed is currently at 150MBps.
Yes it is. SATA 2, though, is at 300. :)

Make sure that the laptop has Firewire ports.
Oh, yes, agreed.

You will also want a large HDD and you will want to probably make two partitions on your HD.
Yes, a large HDD is a must. However, right now the largest HDD would be 300GB so I settled for 250 and to just have the one, to me, is simply unacceptable.
Having it partitioned is not an option if performance is what you're after.
What you need is a separate drive, and this is what's important, it needs to be on a separate controller.

[Urban breed]

I want to extend a thanks to everyone that participated in this thread (and those that PM'ed me).
I'm sorry if I was a bit unclear as to precisely what I needed to know.
I should've made it positively, unmistakingly clear that what I wanted to know was if anybody had first-hand experience of laptops in heavy duty studio work.
I know my way around computer hardware, perhaps I know more than what's good for me...
However, I am most grateful and very happy to see you all try to help me out.
Oh yes, even when I am told things I already know. :)
Your arguments, right or wrong, helped me formulate and try my own.
You all contributed to my decision.
Taking time to help me out like this...it shows you care.
It warms my heart. It really does.
So thanks, again!

...Oh? what I got?

I'll tell you later... ;)

[Bryant]

I would think firewire would be the way to go with the throughput required for that kind of high-end audio recording.

Very little I can suggest to you. You are a total geekazoid. :grin:

Soundcard ? That is no soundcard. That is an audio workstation/preamp. I am sure it is of most importance as far as what you need it for.

As far as the "extra" software and start-up stuff, give it a chance (not the stuff that actually runs in the background mind you) before you go deleting it though. I replaced a DVD burner once on my PC and bougt an HP burner. Surprisingly the DVD player software that came with it was pretty good and the website had tons of codecs etc. free for download.

When I was talking about processors.... I meant architecture, not just front-side bus. I am sure you are more up to date than I with what processor is better for your needs, but there are processors out there like the AMD Athlon mobile and the AMD Turion which are very similar, but although the Athlon has a very slight edge in performance, it consumes almost twice the power as the turion.
Of course the core 2 by Intel is the newer of the mobile processors, so I expect better performance as of right now over what AMD has to offer. Having said that, I don't know if the Core 2 extreme is available for notebooks yet (I doubt it) but hell will freeze over before I pay $1000 for a freaking processor anyway.

What I was talking about as far as partitioning you hard drive was meant for wise use of space. Partition the "C" drive and put your OS, and the internet stuff on one partition like your browser etc. You can put completed songs, porn pix and other files and shit on the other partition. You can use the SATA 2 disc for your recording software and work in progress etc. You have to use your space wisely. :D

Anyway..... I hope you enjoy your new workstation.


Bryant

They have gotten better over they years. Still, there are cards out there with better ASIO drivers.
The soundcard was an entirely separate decision, but yes, quite an important one.
Now IEEE1394b, well, lets just say the rate is doubled. :)
So which soundcard did I get?
This time I settled for the Focusrite Saffire Pro 26 I/O.


Don't worry, around these parts I am known as Mr Restrictive. :)



Not true. Unless you really only mean that one should not think another 200MHz for the next step up will make a world of a difference.
That would only be true if you're constantly running at near 100% cpu load . :)
For audio production CPU speed is essential. This because soundcards do not work like graphics cards. The cpu performs almost all of the actual processing here.
Front side bus is important. Absolutely. You can't have one without the other though.


Yes it is. SATA 2, though, is at 300. :)


Oh, yes, agreed.


Yes, a large HDD is a must. However, right now the largest HDD would be 300GB so I settled for 250 and to just have the one, to me, is simply unacceptable.
Having it partitioned is not an option if performance is what you're after.
What you need is a separate drive, and this is what's important, it needs to be on a separate controller.