Best laptop for producing/writing

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HeadFullaMuzikk

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I'm going to be coming into some serious money in the near future while I'm away working and it ocurred to me that being marooned in the middle of nowhere maybe I should invest in a laptop and use the free time and solitude to master producing on it. :)

I want to eventually fully produce, but for now I'm most interested in honing my programming and writing skills (R&B, Hip Hop and Caribbean style jams). Not to mention getting familiar with engineering in the computer studio enviroment. (I've produced tracks before but in a full studio with engineer assisting, etc - now I wanna cut out the middle man using a computer)

So - tell me which laptop is the best for the bucks out there now? I've heard good things about the Dell Latitude and also the Sony Vaio notebooks... and of course there's always the new Mac G5 laptops...

Any nominations?
 
the one with the most $$$ sign i'd expect, deep pocket question indeed...
 
I am sorry, but I cannot help you out with the whole computer thing. I hope you wouldn't mind answering me a quick question though, please...

ok You said that you recorded some with a studio and engineering assistance and all that. In your opinion from your experience do you think that it is best to start out with the studio recording and assistance or to do the whole computer recording thing that you're doing now that I can't really help you with. sorry again that I could not be of more help to you. any response would be most appreciated. lauren
 
Well, if I had the deep pockets I'd do something like this...

1) The latest 17" widescreen laptop. The Powerbook G4's are nice and I'm not sure that the G5 is going to be out in a laptop model all that soon. That's one power hungry processor, and besides I wouldn't buy it until I've had some really good reports rolling in.

Toshiba also has a 17" out there, but I'm not sure how compatible it is with...

2) Pro Tools! Add a magma expansion chasis and throw in the finest HD system you can afford. Its not exactly portable, but its as "pro" as you can get with a laptop.

3) Since it isn't easily portable, i'd throw in either an Mbox (for serious mobility, but not much IO- I've even edited projects on the plane) or Digi 002 Rack (less mobile, way more IO). That will get you into Pro Tools on the road while having a SERIOUS rig back at the studio for pro grade projects.

Now- without the deep pockets myth:

1) Any laptop that is Digi compatible. In my case, I landed on a vpr matrix 15" widescreen. Not as classy as the Mac, but I could afford it and all my PC stuff (for work) still works. Look for fast harddrives (most lappy drives are slow), multiple firewire and USB 2 ports, and lots of RAM upgradeabilty. Don't even bother looking for one with decent on-board sound.

2) A Digi 002 for the home studio and an Mbox for the road. The control surface on the 002 kicks buttocks.

Interstingly enough, that's exactly what I did.

There are, of course, lots of non- pro tools options, but that's just what I have the most experience with.

Take care,
Chris
 
If money is no object, I would definately go with a mac Powerbook. The G4 processor with a 17 inch display will hold all the screens you will find on the software. Its hela expensive but the new OSX is so stable and powerful (my brother in law is a "mac genious" at the Apple store in town so I get good deals on the stuff), I think it would be a great lap top for you. Check it out. Lots of electronic musicians (Moby comes to mind immediately) use Mac. Again, the down side is your going to spend money on it and all the widgets that will have to go with it. Make sure you check out which software is available for the OSX too...of hand, I know PEAK and CUBASE are out on OSX.....

Good luck...of course, depending on how much money your going to come into, you can send me a big fat check and I can upgrade my stuff and then Ill send you CDs and reports on how I spend your money...You'll be like Sally Struthers and Ill be the poor musician. You'll feel good about yourself AND get more from your money because Ill be making music too! Think about it....I have "great expectations"....

: )

Michael
 
Only a laptop opinion

Hey Muzikk,
I realize each person will have a different opinion on brands, operating systems, software and interfaces. Therefore, I'll just tell you what I've got and just say that I'm happy with it.
I've got a Dell Inspiron 8200 w/P4 @ 1.7Ghz with a 40Gb hard drive for programs and a CDRW. This machine has the 15" screen.
I added a Glyph 80Gb firewire hd and am using Cubase SX. The interface I have is an RME multiface which is 8 in/out balanced 1/4" with a couple of digital in's/out's and midi in/out. This interface works through the pcmcia cardbus.
To be honest, I still haven't had a whole lot of hours on it so far since I've been spending a lot of time revamping my studio room.
But, the time I have spent on it seems to reveal its plenty fast enough for at least 16 tracks plus plugins.

Good luck in deciding.

Eric
 
Thanks everyone for all the input so far - much appreciated. Nice range of thoughts - that's exactly what I wanted.

Thanks to all you guys.

I was leaning toward the Mac laptop anyway... you guys seem swayed in that direction too... budget allowing.

Now I didn't say I had an UNLIMITED budget as some of you seemed to assume. I was thinking more like between $3500 and $4000. (Not that I wouldn't snatch up a good $2000 or less system if one was available. More money for other toys that way - besides... I doubt the comp price would include an Oxygen8 midi/USB keyboard to prgram with, right? more I can save the better for that and more software)

Any of you guys out there reccomend Logic Audio for the laptops though? I see most of you are Pro Tools users... I'm not really leaning to pro-tools cause mostly i'll be sequencing synthms and looping samples... not tracking a lot of acoustic stuff... that will come later. Most pof the guys I work with here use Logic in conjuction with Reason or Stylus amnd sweaer by it

[Side note to Lala: From what I've seen all the "studio" software that's popular and/or recommended literally emulate actual studio recording. Basically all the prgrams try to simulate what "real" recording in a multi-track environment is like. For that reason, "old school" engineering and production experience is invaluable and makes learning to use the software much simpler and more intuitive. Also, at the end of the day wether you're using a an SSL board in a huge studio or a mac in your bedroom, cutting vocals is cutting vocals, dubbing guitars is dubbing guitars and editing is editing... so "real" studio experiance can NEVER be a bad thing. :) Good luck and thanks for giving me a shout ot here.]
 
Logic audio is a superb program- it has a very good reputation, but I haven't actually used it. It does lock you into the Mac platform, though, so be aware of that.

That narrows your range of options down for a computer, though! Pretty easy: get the best g4 powerbook you can afford. Having made that choice, the rest of you hardware and software needs will flow pretty easily.

Good idea to get the jump on using Logic, too. Its a pretty dense program from what I understand, but a dream once you get it set up. I'd be seriously considering it myself if they still supported PC's, or if I buy a Mac in the future.

Before you mentioned Logic, I was going to suggest looking into Cubase SX, as well. Its a *fine* program with lots of features and goodies- including rewire capability (which Pro Tools has now, too.) I only dabble in electronic music, however, and don't really know which programs or features are best for it.

Take care,
Care
 
And let me add my "oh lordy, YES!" vote to the idea that recording in real studios (or on any analog equipment) is a great benefit to anyone using computer. Any recording experience of any kind is recording experience, but my observation is that analog gear experience translates to digital skill much faster than digital recording experience translates to analog skill.

Fun stuff,
Chris
 
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