Laptop recording setup
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Posted on Sep 06, 2004 02:23 pm
Bfunk
Member Since: Sep 06, 2004
Hi,
I have a Fostex FD-4 that can do 2 simultaneous 24 bit tracks, and I'm borrowing another to give me a total of 4. Inevitably, I'll have to give the other back, but I'm not looking forward to the prospect of going back to 2 tracks. If I'm going to buy more equipment, I'd like the capability to record 8 simultaneous tracks (preferably 24-bit, but not a necessity). I have both a laptop and a desktop running Sonar, and I've been dumping tracks one at a time from the FD-4 to the computer via RCA cables then syncing them up in Sonar, so obviously I'd like to have a better system than that.
Here's what I'm looking for:
-The ability to record 8 simultaneous tracks, ideally with a choice of XLR and 1/4" inputs for each track (but at least 4 XLR inputs if not all 8)
-An easy way to digitally transfer the synced up files to my laptop (or record them directly to the laptop). I have USB 2.0 and a PCMCIA type I/II card slot, but no firewire port.
-Since I'll be doing most/all of my mixing and mastering on the computer, I'm not concerned with a bunch of effects/etc. in a recorder (assuming I need to buy a recorder rather than just an audio interface), nor am I concerned with a CD-RW since I can burn discs from the laptop. I imagine it would be nice to have a compressor/limiter to prevent clipping during recording, but it hasn't been a problem so far...
-I'd like to be able to use the setup in both live situations and in a home studio.
As always, I'm sure my desires exceed my budget, but I'd like to know what the alternatives are and about how much they cost. I'll probably have to compromise my plan and go with something that can just do 4 simultaneous tracks, but I'm not ready to give up yet.
So far I've looked at standalones like the Boss BR1600, Yamaha AWG16, Tascam 2488, Roland VS-1880, Mackie SDR 24/96 (I think I'd need a console in addition to this one), and I've also looked at audio interfaces like RME, Motu and Echo to record directly to the laptop. I belive I'm currently leaning towards an Echo Mona to get four simultaneous tracks with balanced XLR input and the ability to expand to 12 tracks with something like a Behringer AD-8000.
Any help, ideas, suggestions, or good natured ridicule would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks!
B
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Noize2uCzar of MidiAdministrator
Since: Apr 04, 2002
Sep 06, 2004 04:11 pm If you allready have Sonar in both the laptop and the desktop PC, you really need to look at an audio interface to solve this problem. Using a digital recorder and then dumping tracks into Sonar is the long hard way around things.
First question I would ask is do you need the interface to be portable with the laptop? If not that narrows it down a bit as to what you can use.
Second is if you do need to use it with the laptop, do you really need 8 channels or will 4 do?
As for transfering files from the laptop to the PC and back, you simply tranfer them through the USB port or connect them via network connetion. I transfer stuff from PC to PC vai the network here all the time and it is no problem with loss or anything.
BfunkMember
Since: Sep 06, 2004
Sep 06, 2004 04:42 pm Hey, thanks for the response.
I would like the interface to be portable with the laptop for the possibility of recording live performances. 4 tracks will do IF I can expand to more tracks later (i.e. like the Echo Mona and an ADAT lightpipe compatible converter with multiple XLR inputs and preamps).
I have a 802.11b wireless network running to transfer files between the desktop and the laptop, so that won't be an issue.
Noize2uCzar of MidiAdministrator
Since: Apr 04, 2002
Sep 06, 2004 08:54 pm Well, right now connecting via USB or firewire is somewhat limited unless you are willing to spend some serious cash. On the budget forefront right now there is the M-Audio Quatro but down side is it is only 1/4" connections with no Pre's onboard. The next step up from them is the OmniStudio with a bit higher price tag. But it does have 2 XLR inputs with Pre's on them and then 2 1/4" analog ins as well. Expandability is questionable though with these units. I would imagine performance will suffer a bit by running more then one through USB into a laptop, but I dont know for sure.
The next step is FireWire and M-Audio offers about the same units in their firewire verions as well ecept one unit that will do 8 inputs of which only 2 are again XLR with pre's.
ESI www.esi-pro.com/viewProduct.php?pid=16 also has a very budget priced FireWire unit that supports 4 in 8 out but again it is only 2 XLR in and 2 1/4" in so you will not have all 4 channels in being XLR.
There are s few more solutions out there but they are goin above the $1500.00 range for price which is out of most home studio's budget.
BfunkMember
Since: Sep 06, 2004
Sep 06, 2004 09:16 pm Any opinion on the following?:
Echo Layla 24
Edirol UA-101
M-Audio 1010
It seems that a PCMCIA/Cardbus solution would work better than USB. I guess I can always add a firewire port via the Cardbus card as well. I'd prefer to avoid a PCI card solution as it would limit me to my desktop, but I'm not necessarily ruling that out either.
Noize2uCzar of MidiAdministrator
Since: Apr 04, 2002
Sep 06, 2004 09:23 pm Out of those 3 you listed the Delta 1010 is probly the best, as they are by far one of best at keeping their drivers up to date and running without much problem. I have been using their interfaces for years without any problems at all. And I have had stellar results on systems that are not so up to date shall we say.
The Echo unit can be very fussy as to the system it runs on so I sould watch that one. And the Edirol unit is really fairley new so I have heard of a couple of bugs they need to work out for some systems as well.
Sep 22, 2004 11:25 am Hi - I too am looking for a mobile recording solution. i currently have an IBM t20 laptop that i am going to hot rod with an Hitachi 7200rpm 60gb drive, iomega 52x external cd burner, usb2.0/firewire combo pcmcia cardbus and 256mb more ram (for 384mb total)... i'm hoping that this setup will allow me to have the horsepower to record 8-tracks simultaneously (for live gigs)...
ne-way, i have been looking at the presonus firepod and it looks sweet. here are the specs:
PRESONUS FIREPOD
High-Speed FireWire Network Audio Interface
Up to 96K Sampling Rate
8 Discrete Microphone Preamps (+60dB gain) w/ Trim Control
8 Analog Mic/Line Inputs, 2 Instrument Inputs
8 Analog Line Outputs
S/PDIF Digital Input and Output, MIDI Input and Output
Balanced Send / Return for Channels 1 and 2
Zero Latency Monitoring
Daisy chain two FIREPOD's
Separate Main and Cue Mix Outputs
Cubase LE Audio Production Software Included
all of this for around $600!!!
note that you can link TWO firepods together (via firewire cable) to give you 16 mic pre's and i believe 16-channels simultaneous recording (assuming your laptop can handle the load). nice.
check out the online stores (americanmusical.com, sweetwater.com, musiciansfriend.com, etc..) or your local banjo center or sam ash to pick one up...
if you go with the firepod you will need to pick up a PCMCIA firewire card for your laptop ($30 to $50).
Sep 22, 2004 11:40 am Is that the 600-700 mHz CPU PIII? you may experience some dropping out and other issues if trying to record 8 tracks at once with 600-700 mHz with only 384 MB Ram...and it is certain to happen with 16.
Just FYI.
