Does anyone do Laptop recording??

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Member Since: May 26, 2004

I'm trying to gather as much info about laptop recording as I can from anyone who is currently doing this. I want to record several instruments/voices at the same time on individual tracks. But what do I need???
Please let me know what you use. (computers work, components, software, etc......)

I use:
Dell Inspiron 1100
Cakewalk Music Creator 2003 (upgrading to MS 2004)
Phonics Mixer

I need:
Audio interface
new mixer (8 - 10 channels)
(...and what else???)
Thanks
Gary

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Administrator
Since: Apr 03, 2002


May 27, 2004 02:46 pm

You need a USB2 or Firewire audio interface. We have quite a few in our Gear Bag section. www.homerecordingconnecti...t&cat_id=22

ANy mixer would work, there is now real difference between any mixer that would work for this task or for the desk top. However, for me the big difference would be size and weight for portability. Possible getting a Firewire or USB control surface that has the audio interface built in such as this Mackie service.bfast.com/bfast/c...mp;bfmtype=gear however, the big issue there is that you don't use any application that most support, such as your software's big brother Sonar, or Vegas, Cubase or the other more professional apps.

For outboard gear a compressor is nice, but if you bought your mixer right, some of them have effects like that built in like the Behringer UB FX-Pro series.

Member
Since: May 26, 2004


May 27, 2004 07:48 pm

Do you suggest I go with Sonar and Mackie, then?

Administrator
Since: Apr 03, 2002


May 27, 2004 07:53 pm

Not really recommending anything really, just spewing information.

I like Sonar myself. If you are really wanting to get into serious recording, you are better off with some of the big name apps such as Sonar Cubase, Nuendo, ProTools and the like because more integrated hardware such as control surfaces are designed to work with them, rather than the lesser known, economy apps.

I don't have much experience wish control surfaces, so I am not a guy to say anything about them, I like working with a mixer and mousing my application.

Member
Since: May 26, 2004


May 27, 2004 07:56 pm

If I go with HS 2004, what kind of audio interface (USB) will give me multi-channel ability?

Member
Since: May 26, 2004


May 27, 2004 07:58 pm

Actually, All I want to do with the laptop is capture the audio. I will then dump it into my desktop workstation for all the editing stuff. But I want to be able to capture separate tracks. Possible??

Chief Cook and Bottle Washer
Member
Since: May 10, 2002


May 27, 2004 10:57 pm

It's possible. (by the way...Your everywhere!) But for the most part there seems to be a limit of four channels for most A/D rigs on USB. One Ederal rig in our gear bag is 10 in and 10 out but it is discontinued a Musicians Friend however. You can figure just about $100 per A/D converter on USB and Firewire. Then there is the drive space issue. I have used a firewire drive on my laptop with four channels of audio no problem. I can't tell you where the bandwidth falls off however. With the A/D converters, the external drive and software you are easly talking a grand for eight channels. For two grand you can get an Alesis HD24 Hard disk recorder that will capture obviously 24 channels to a hard drive and has an ethernet port for transfering files to the desktop pute.

grrrrrrr
Member
Since: Mar 29, 2004


May 28, 2004 03:02 am

Definetely get an external firewire hard drive as it is important to run the apps and record the data on different physical drives. This will also make things easy for transfering to desktop.

Firewire does not use up important processor in the computer apparently while USB does.

I have a Tascam US-122 external audio interface. This only has two tracks capabilities and has decent performance if configure correctly. If you are overdubbing it works OK, but definetely go for firewire if you have the choice.

A good idea would be to get a PCMCIA card with 2 6-pin firewire ports. Then grab a firewire audio interface. And partition your external hard drive into 5-6 drives (1 for each song) so you dont have to defrag much. And boost the PC ram.

Other things that you need will (eg. Mixer) will depend on the scope of your projects. I am always of the opinion that the best possible sound must be made during tracking. Here some basic outboard equipment will help you capture that great sound you are looking for.

I run almost everything through an FMR RNC compressor and use a mixer as pre-amp. Looking to invest in a quality pre-amp soon. The main problem with audio interfaces with built in pre-amps is that you can't run them through effects before recording (at least I haven't figured out how) and they lack that great vintage sound many look for.

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