Recording Equipment

I've been meaning to buy a laptop and some software to be able to do some recording on the road, live and also low end "studio" with some insulation and separate inputs. But after looking at equipment and reviews of all different items, I haven't got a clue what would be the best way to go. I don't want to spend more money than is beneficial but at the some time have a flexible budget...so I figured maybe some of you might have some suggestions. I've been leaning towards a MacBook with Logic Express 8.

Any thoughts...

Macs are okay, but not every piece of equipment plays well with Macs. Make sure your equipment/software is compatible.
I would recommend a desktop instead, but whatever.

My equipment is all compatible with either Windows or Mac, so that isn't a factor.

I have a desktop which I can use to record but:

One, I can't get the band into the room where the desktop lives, and

Two Vista combined with Ableton which is what I'm using on that machine often result in me wanting to pull my hair out....and you can't get away from Vista with a new PC.

I just want something I can take to the band which I can use to record live sessions, but which will also be able to work for some slightly better recording if we ever want to put together a demo because I still can't put a drumset, two guitars, a bass, and me in my computer room.

Hense the Macbook...even if it is twice the price of the PC laptops...

There are a few machines that don't have Vista pre-installed at purchase. Yea, I see what you're getting at. Keep in mind the whole latency thing as well.
Good luck.

If you're planning on getting a Mac, Logic is a good choice. I'm pretty sure it doesn't work with a PC. I was actually just talking about this in the below thread, so I'll quote what I said there for you:

It really all depends on what you want to do with it, but I'd start with getting an interface and some mics. Nothing too fancy or expensive so you don't end up wasting your money if you decide you don't want to do recording seriously later. If you're into entry-level stuff, an M-box is a good place to start if your computer supports Firewire. If not (As I know of right now), M-boxes use USB 1.0 as the alternative, so you'll probably want to try something else if you don't have Firewire capability.

And if you don't want to use Pro Tools and sell your soul to Digidesign, Cubase is a pretty good alternative digital audio workstation, and I'm fairly certain you can get a Tascam interface with way more inputs along with Cubase for less than the price of an M-box and Pro Tools.

In summary, there are a lot of choices, and a lot of it's based on opinion. If you start with Pro Tools, you're pretty much limited to nothing but Digidesign software and hardware, which can run on the expensive side. There are cheaper alternatives that work just as well. Just do your research before you buy and you'll be fine!

I use a Toshiba M-205 Tablet PC. http://www.oatmealrecordingstudios.com/ ... ulite.html It is nice to run the progs with a pen. I have Propellorhead, Steinberg, Cool Edit, etc, etc. I use a M-Audio, Quattro, Midi Interface (has analog IO also). This is a small Tablet. Only has an 80GB HDD and a Centrino 1800 Processor, 2GB DDR. I use external mini USB HDDs or Thumb-drives for temp and storage. Win XP Tablet PC OS works fine. Keep it all in a nice Laptop Travel Bag. You can gig it to your home PC via the Quattro. A Dell XPS M1530 or M1730 Gaming Laptop works great also (my son uses one). The M1530 has a Sound Blaster X-Fi option and 250GB HDD and a 2 Duo 2200 Processor, 3GB DDR and does't require the Quattro.

Also, when using a Laptop for recording strip it down and use it strictly for recording!. By "strip it down" I mean to remove all other programs except those that you will be using for the studio. Make sure nothing else is running and the network is shut down. This will make the recordings clearer and with less interference from internal activity.

What the ! Man I am still trying to figure out my electric pencil sharpner.

I smell geeks.

Speak english will ya, I'm tryin to lurn something here.

Yeah he went over my head too...but at least I understood the not having to much software, and nothing running part...I guess computers are getting to complicated for little ole me.

Well, he gave some pretty good advice. I'll break down what he said for you.

By Propellerhead, I think he means the loop-based digital audio workstation (DAW) Reason. Steingberg = Cubase which I mentioned in my earlier post. I haven't heard the Cool Edit name dropped in a while, since my brother and his hip hop home recording days. I never used it. The other two I have, and they're pretty awesome. Check them out for sure, Cubase moreso than Reason, since Reason's more for beat-making and sequencing than anything else.

I looked up the interface he listed (M-Audio Quattro), and it's essentially at about the capability of Digidesign's M-box. Two XLR inputs + other TRS inputs. Didn't count. Pretty good for entry-level stuff, unless you're trying to record a full band (Or mic drums). I've never used it, but I think the connection type is USB 2.0 according to the internet, which is very usable.

The computer he included is basically a touch screen laptop if memory serves. The techie-looking stuff he listed was just his computer's statistics. Its hard drive is 80GB. In comparison, mine is 160 gigabytes, though my processor's just a dual-core. We have the same amount of RAM, being random access memory, in short terms, how much memory your computer has to do immediate tasks. "OS" refers for operating system. He uses Windows XP, which by the way he talked, might have some mod for the use of the touch screen or whatever. I can't see why it would though.

He also said he uses external memory (i.e. Flash drives, external hard drives) for memory backup and storage, which is pretty much ESSENTIAL if you're going to record all-digital. That's good advice. Do it.

Hopefully that helps! =]

Thanks man, I think I can get the ol pencil sharp now.

I actually use this setup for micing my drums. I have the Tablet PC mounted on a Pearl Drum Stand at my set. I use an Electronic Set. You can use mics instead of Drum Triggers. I use the M-Audio Quattro (obsolete by the way) mainly for the midi conections but I also have the analog (4 stereo outputs = 8 mono channals) connected via 8 single channal RCAs to a Teac 1, Tascam Series Line Mixer. so you could do 8 drum mics with the Quattro or similar I\O
View my set-up and specs at http://www.oatmealrecordingstudios.com/ ... ulite.html

I actually use this setup for micing my drums. I have the Tablet PC mounted on a Pearl Drum Stand at my set. I use an Electronic Set. You can use mics instead of Drum Triggers. I use the M-Audio Quattro (obsolete by the way) mainly for the midi conections but I also have the analog (4 stereo outputs = 8 mono channals) connected via 8 single channal RCAs to a Teac 1, Tascam Series Line Mixer. so you could do 8 drum mics with the Quattro or similar I\O
View my set-up and specs at http://www.oatmealrecordingstudios.com/ ... ulite.html

Oh thanks for the explanation. Yeah, having a mixer in addition to that is helpful. What does your signal flow path look like, if you don't mind my asking (I'm curious)?

I recently went to a producer conference in Hollywood and I was amazed that a lot of producers are using there laptops (of course with the right software) for their actual music and vocals. Now days laptops are becoming desktop replacements and with the new technology thats always being released along with the software you really dont need a band anymore, only for performing live. Your on the right path!

well I accidentaly found this website looking for musicians at Red Deer Canada, and I have had a problem for the last year almost.
I bought a laptod DV4 with windows vista 64 bits.
NONE OF LIKE 6 AUDIO CARDS I HAVE TRIED IS COMPATIBLE WITH IT!!!!
do you know of any audio USB card compatible so I can use native ASIO instead of the crappy ASIO4ALL ????