DMusic.com | for indie musicians and fans | Free MP3 music downloads - Forums: The General Forum: Portable computer studio

Forums > The General Forum

Portable computer studio

sqrlcub	Date: May 3, 2004 @ 1:56 PM Has anyone out there had success with converting a laptop into a portable studio? I'm looking at converting my 1800 AMD laptop into one so I can get some nice live sounds. I see that there is a pretty nice USB sound card (MBox by digidesign) that may work well with it. If you guys have suggestions please post them in.
ryanwilliams	Date: May 3, 2004 @ 3:06 PM this, in terms of having that be my whole computer, which would then make the whole thing portable, however less laptop-like. But I've got an AMD processor and they only make that for Intel.. I dunno if I feel like going through the hassle. But we'll see. " id="98205">I'm dreaming of doing that, someday when I can finally afford a laptop--and technically, for what I need, I can afford a used one, but then my need-for-speed gets in the way, heh. All I use to record is my condenser mic, which I run into the AudioSport DUO by M-Audio, and that's USB, so I'd just need the portability. I was thinking of this, in terms of having that be my whole computer, which would then make the whole thing portable, however less laptop-like. But I've got an AMD processor and they only make that for Intel.. I dunno if I feel like going through the hassle. But we'll see.
sqrlcub	Date: May 3, 2004 @ 3:24 PM You get a great sound out of that condenser mic. I just have a crappy sound blaster card in my home pc. The MBox one looks nice and is USB but it will be a bit before I get my dream portastudio up and running. So a good condensor mic and probably that MBox USB soundcard. Will I need much else? Ryan, Dell's have some really cheap laptops that are the lower end of the line (which is how I got mine). It is totally not worth the price to buy one of the higher end ones that will be on their lowest tier in 3 months. Realistically there isn't really any software out there (including the MMORPG's) that stretch the capability of anything over around a 1100 processor.
Apertome	Date: May 3, 2004 @ 3:30 PM Well, I don't own a laptop, but I would sure like one! A lot of people use PowerBooks for this purpose, but I think they are overpriced and underpowered. In fact, a friend of mine just got a 12" PowerBook, and I can't stand using the thing. Yes, it looks pretty, but the screen and keyboard are just too damn small. I also found myself constantly hitting the touchpad accidentally while typing. Personally, I like AMD processors for desktop systems, but Intel Centrino is where it's at for notebooks. You can get great battery life on those suckers. I used to work in notebook tech support for Dell, and I would still buy one. Sure, like any other product, there are some duds, but overall, they are pretty good, and the warranty is good. I also like IBM Thinkpads. HP/Compaq notebooks are crap, in my experience ... Interesting link, Ryan, but I wouldn't go that route myself. Looking at the specs, it looks like basically all the components are laptop parts EXCEPT for the CPU. That sounds like it would be a big advantage, but the things that slow laptops down the most are slow hard drives, RAM, cache, and video cards. That thing takes 2.5" hard drives, "slim" CD/DVD drives, a notebook video card, etc. These products are slow and also very expensive. Not to mention that you would either have to purchase one of their LCD panels or lug around a separate display. If you want a small "desktop" system, I would recommend something from Shuttle (http://www.spacewalker.com). They have been around for a while and a lot of hardcore LAN gamers use them. The motherboard is smaller than a standard one, but the rest of the parts you install are just like in a tower. It's not quite as portable as the item you linked, but pretty small. You can also get them for Intel or AMD processors. sqrlcub, you might want to look at some solutions comparable to the digi one; you could probably find something equally good cheaper. M-Audio makes some good stuff.
sqrlcub	Date: May 3, 2004 @ 3:57 PM I will look into the M-Audio, do you have a suggestion with some specifics? I have a shitty Tascam 4 track that I never use because even though it is portable, It really is only good for doodling on. I would have to put in a firewire port for the only M-Audio device I have seen, but that isn't really a problem.
Apertome	Date: May 3, 2004 @ 5:09 PM A friend of mine just got an M-Audio Quattro (which is USB). I haven't used it much, but it seems pretty nice: http://www.audiomidi.com/common/cfm/product.cfm?pid=728 One thing of note is that it does NOT provide phantom power (nor preamps, I believe), so you would definitely need an external preamp for a condenser mic, and you might even with a dynamic mic. I'm a little hazy on the details. You can add phantom power and preamps (as well as some other stuff) with the Omni I/O Studio USB: http://www.audiomidi.com/common/cfm/product.cfm?pid=4199 They have some other stuff, like the Firewire 410: http://www.audiomidi.com/common/cfm/product.cfm?pid=3688 which is probably what you were looking at. Yes, it needs firewire. There is other stuff, too -- I'd poke around M-Audio's web site a bit, and then find somewhere cheaper to actually buy something
Intergalacti...	Date: May 4, 2004 @ 11:32 AM Its cheaper and easier just to use a digi-four track and then put the data card into your normal pc I find. Obviously you have to have the right programme though.
sqrlcub	Date: May 4, 2004 @ 12:08 PM I'd like to know about that too. What can you tell me. I have an analog 4 track (sucks) that I don't use because it is really only good for sketches.
Intergalacti...	Date: May 5, 2004 @ 2:55 PM its one of those tape recorder ones is it? Well those ones suck I knwo their a lot cheaper and if you just wanna listen to yourself play thats cool but its better to get a digi-track best buy I've had in a while. Unforunately I aint been able to chuck stuff on this site yet cos I recorded all of my songs before I had that but I'm gonna be recording 'The Perfect Person' soon on it and chuckin it on here.Seriously though get a digital one their ten times better than those shiddy tape versions you can actually hear everythin on the digi one lol and the sound quality in comparison is unbelievable.
smartazz	Date: May 6, 2004 @ 9:23 AM the mbox is pretty cool... but there are a few issues. there is a lot of latency and depending on what you use it for that can be a problem especially for live apps.... plus there are no midi inputs so you'd have to use another usb port for that and digi says not to use any other usb devices while using the mbox.... although i never had a problem with that when i was using one... if you don't mind putting in a firewire card and you've got the bread the digidesign 002 is proving to be a great portable rig i'd definately recomend it to anyone.
Traf	Date: May 11, 2004 @ 6:38 PM I use a titanium powerbook and I think it's just awsome... The audio processing is just so quick... and anyway.. I just love macs..

Post A Reply
From:	Guest	(Icons - Linking)
Post: