Buying a new computer

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Bews

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I'm completely new this recording stuff (I've been an $8 dollar Sony mic tied to a chair in the center of the room staright through an old crappy sound card to recor my band). But now, I'm trying to start making some decent recordings, and my first step is to buy a computer. I have a budget of about $1300 for a lap top computer, and I plan on using a breakout box for my recording so a soundcard isn't much of a big deal.

Right now I'm looking into buying:
MacBook
2.0GHz Intel Core Duo
60 GB (I have an external 120GB hard-drive)
1GB of Ram
Super-Drive (DVD-RW/CD-RW)

Is this sufficient?
 
Bews said:
I'm completely new this recording stuff (I've been an $8 dollar Sony mic tied to a chair in the center of the room staright through an old crappy sound card to recor my band). But now, I'm trying to start making some decent recordings, and my first step is to buy a computer. I have a budget of about $1300 for a lap top computer, and I plan on using a breakout box for my recording so a soundcard isn't much of a big deal.

Right now I'm looking into buying:
MacBook
2.0GHz Intel Core Duo
60 GB (I have an external 120GB hard-drive)
1GB of Ram
Super-Drive (DVD-RW/CD-RW)

Is this sufficient?
Click to expand...

Have you checked the prices on the MacBook's?
 
Bews said:
I'm completely new this recording stuff (I've been an $8 dollar Sony mic tied to a chair in the center of the room staright through an old crappy sound card to recor my band). But now, I'm trying to start making some decent recordings, and my first step is to buy a computer. I have a budget of about $1300 for a lap top computer, and I plan on using a breakout box for my recording so a soundcard isn't much of a big deal.

Right now I'm looking into buying:
MacBook
2.0GHz Intel Core Duo
60 GB (I have an external 120GB hard-drive)
1GB of Ram
Super-Drive (DVD-RW/CD-RW)

Is this sufficient?
Click to expand...


That should be sufficient for 99% of what people generally do. I get away with using a pentium III with 256 MB and no problems BUT I only record two tracks at a time right now. I also don't use a ton of effects.

The rig you describe will be ample, unless you also want to use it for video editing, in which case the more RAM, the better.

That being said, any setup will hit a performance wall if you start piling on too many VSTs and effects.

What will your recording projects typically demand in terms of # of inputs, effects, and VSTs?
 
95% of the time I will be recording one track at a time: vocals, guitar, etc. and those will generally have a fairly low amount of effects... But on some occassions I will be using a FirePod to record drums 6-7 tracks at a time (seems pretty expensive to spend $500 on a firepod when I need occassionaly, but everyone disses the preamps on the cheaper firewire breakout boxes) Oh, and I plan to do a lot of sequencing with a midi keyboard.
 
IdentitySeven said:
Have you checked the prices on the MacBook's?
Click to expand...

Yes, I am ordering this as a college computer through my universities online apple store on the apple website... At this price the computer I listed is about $1289. (It will be used exclusively for recording though)
 
check out this thread

https://homerecording.com/bbs/showthread.php?t=210482

i discuss everything i just bought for my new computer from newegg.com

pretty top of the line stuff...except for the video card...but hey...im recording audio here.

AMD AM2 4200+ 2.2ghz Duo Core
nice motherboard.
2 gigs of ram
case
firewire card
350 gb hd

for 509 bucks
 
you should be able to get a better computer for 1300 then what you listed. i havent looked at laptop prices in so long tho i really dont have any examples.

if you were to go with dell you most likely for sure could get a better pc for that price. i know macs are more expensive but also worth it to an extent... pcs and macs both "can" have their problems though so i wouldnt simply rule out pc's based on that.

i'd want 1.5GB or 2GB RAM and 120GB of HD 128 or 256MB of video card RAM And firewire,usb, etc.

My advice is just keep looking until you find the best price with the best specs. I wouldnt necessarily go with some cheap brand though... and make sure you get a warranty maybe?

If you really wanted to save some money however you could get a desktop with waaayyy better specs for that price then you could a laptop. Laptops are more expensive of course because the technology is better. Everything is super small and slim...
 
Generally I recommend you stay away from laptops unless portability is the primary requirement. Laptops are fragile, and tend to grow legs and walk if your attention wanders. From a recording point of view you are highly constrained as to your A/D/A conversion, number of channels, etc. You can get a lot more bang for your buck with a desktop.

Still, you know your needs best. Insurance, insurance, insurance. If your budget can't handle the insurance you're begging for grief. My wife has, I shit you not, run over my laptop TWICE.

Luck
 
Nonsense. Throw away great sex over a computer? Your priorties are whacked.
 
Honestly unless a laptop is the only way you are willing to go, you would do much better with a PC desktop system. You can build it yourself if you are savvy enough with them newfangled computer machines, or you should be able to put together a PC DAW through one of the many turnkey dealers that should have everything loaded and be set up properly. This could even include an interface depending on what you want to do. If you Build a PC, you can get your firepod (which includes cubase LA, which is ample for most applications) and a new computer for $1300.
 
Bondo said:
Honestly unless a laptop is the only way you are willing to go, you would do much better with a PC desktop system. You can build it yourself if you are savvy enough with them newfangled computer machines, or you should be able to put together a PC DAW through one of the many turnkey dealers that should have everything loaded and be set up properly. This could even include an interface depending on what you want to do. If you Build a PC, you can get your firepod (which includes cubase LA, which is ample for most applications) and a new computer for $1300.
Click to expand...

I would love to get a pc desktop and isolate it for only use as a DAW, but right now I have to buy a computer for college that meets their specs. (which includes the requirement to get a lap top) so for now... My plan is to get a lap top, set up my studio around it, and then eventually invest in a 100% recording computer... I'm also looking into investing in Logic Express, because I've heard it was fairly powerful program (especially since I plan on doing a lot sequencer work) that's why i was looking into macs...
 
Logic express is a great tool. I have an IMac and am very pleased with my results. I was going to suggest the IMac, but since a laptop is part of the specs,then I'd go with the middle of the road macbook.
 
Bews said:
I would love to get a pc desktop and isolate it for only use as a DAW, but right now I have to buy a computer for college that meets their specs. (which includes the requirement to get a lap top) so for now... My plan is to get a lap top, set up my studio around it, and then eventually invest in a 100% recording computer... I'm also looking into investing in Logic Express, because I've heard it was fairly powerful program (especially since I plan on doing a lot sequencer work) that's why i was looking into macs...
Click to expand...


Well in that case I would say go with that setup (I can't believe I am saying go with a mac...).
 
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