Best Laptop/Desk Top for recording

[cowboy812000]

Hello,

I need to know what computer laptop or desk top will allow me to record my music with the least amount of problems. I have an Adat and mixer...some effects ect. I want to record drums and bass scratch track on the Adat...no problem there. This is where I need help. I would like to dump those drum tracks(all 8) directly to a PC via TOS link, to mix the drums down( a laptop would be great...portability and space are a concern) then record directly into the computer the rest of the stuff...guitar, bass , vocals ect. At that point I think I would only need to record 2 tracks at a time.


Ok the million dollar question...! Is there a laptop that can be purchased that will allow me to do this without adding a seperate interface? If not...what interface would do the best job? What means will it connect ( fire wire....expansion card???). Please keep in mind I'm just an amature and what to spend my time recording not going through manuals for hours and trouble shooting hardware or calling help lines...you know. And lastly, what will it cost between the computer and interface (if needed)
and where is the best place to purchase the items? Thanks for your input.

Cowboy

 

[Jeyan]

Hi cowboy,
Everything depends on yoru application, if you want to carry your recording setup to different places a laptop is advisable, but anything other than that a desktop is the best choice (cheaper, efficient,easily upgradable and faster) so lets assume you are going to get a desktop, The best PC on market for recording.....................................oops too bad! none of them are satisfactory, so what can you do now? Build your own! You dont have to go through all the pain, there are a lot of companies that make very high quality customized PCs for a very reasonable price. Check this site out
www.abspc.com
You may say well Dell makes good PCs, true they make good PCs, but for whom? for the moms and dads and not for recording people. If you look at dell's configurations, It will come with a motherboard integrated audio/video and 128mb ram, if you try to upgrade it to 512 the price goes up by $150. Not just dell, but any brandname companies do the same, use cheap parts and make as much as profit they can. The only option for a good PC in decent price is by configuring on your own and let some company build it.

 

[Jeyan]

Forgot about yoru interface question, if you use a laptop the ideal way to do a recording is through firewire or USB2.0 port, most of the laptops come with built in ports. All you need to buy is the audio interface in usb or firewire version (it may range any where from $100 - $2000) if you are using a desktop you can get good PCI sound interfaces and use line ins.

 

[cowboy812000]

Yea I know about the dell thing....I have been building PCs for years now. Unfortunatly, this one i'm using now is comprised of a VIA MOBO that has a VIA Chipset.....They suck (ignorance may be bliss...but not when it comes to computers). Well thats a little harsh...it works well for everything else but as you can see from some of my earlier posts on here there are compatability issues with every interface I have tried. So that leaves me no alternative but to purchase a PC that will be solely for the purpose of recording. Thus the above question...but more specific. I decided on a Laptop (I have no space for another desktop and would like to take it on the go). I'm well aware of the upgrade limitations of laptops. It is better now that there are usb and firewire hook-ups......What brand and model # has been good for this purpose. I'm willing to spend about $1200... more if necessary...less would be a bonus. I'm willing to pay up to $500 for an interface maybe more....hopefully less...ha ha (prefer firewire)....that will allow me to achieve the goals stated above...oh and one that comes with software that works well with the hardware (recording, editing and effects ect.). Is that too much to ask? I'm counting on you guys to keep me from getting burned...again ...by the manufacturers that over state the capabilities of their products...and understate the problems and their inherant design flaws. Thanks again for your input.

Cowboy