Computer Basics...

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PannyDeters

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I have a Tascam 414 and a some cheap outboard gear.

I started reading "Home Recording Power" (so far, THE best home recording book I've ever seen) by Ben Milstead today.

It got me seriously thinking about switching to a computer-based system.

Here's the deal.

I'm not a computer geek. I can get around but I don't know anything about specs.

I have a Sony Laptop and I want to know if it can be used to do some basic recording.

Here are my specs... (copied from system tools...)

OS Name Microsoft Windows
Version 4.90.3000 Build 3000
OS Manufacturer Microsoft Corporation
System Name VAIO
System Manufacturer Sony Corporation
System Model PCG-F610(UC)
System Type X86-based PC
Processor AMD-K6(tm)-III Processor AuthenticAMD ~550 Mhz
BIOS Version EPP revision 9.00
Windows Directory C:WINDOWS
Total Physical Memory 187.45 MB
Available Physical Memory 68.89 MB
Total Virtual Memory 769.16 MB
Available Virtual Memory 588.15 MB
Page File Space 581.72 MB


Is this enough? Can I MAKE it enough if not? What the hell is virtual memory?

If anyone wants to give this a shot, I'd appreciate it more than you would think.

Thanks.

DP
 
A definition of virtual memory can be found here.

The required specs of a laptop for recording shouldn't be any different than for a desktop. It depends on what your expecting to do i.e. how many tracks you want to record, plug-ins, etc.

Do you have a soundcard already?

You should do a search on this BBS for thread titles including the word "laptop". You should find a lot of answers to start with.

Good luck!
 
I'm not really making a distinction between a laptop or a desktop.

I just want to know if I can record on my computer.

I want to use SONAR (I think), DirectX, and be able to record 8 tracks, at least two at a time.

I have no soundcard except for whatever this thing came with.

Thanks for the reply.

DP
 
You can definetly record with your setup. The line in on your laptop is stereo so you have two inputs. The converters are crap though so don't plan on using it for too long.

There are "Soundcards" that goes in your USB port, and I think that's the best shot for a laptop.

That's really all you need.
 
Feeling your pain

I myself once wanted to put together a PC based Digital Audio Workstation (DAW) out of a lap-top. See my girlfriend needed a lap-top for school and I wanted a DAW and I thought it would be the best of both worlds if we bought a lap-top together. The laughter at every music store I went to lead me to believe that I was probably never going to get a PC lap-top to produce pro-sounding stuff. So I convinced my girlfriend that a full sized PC would be the best for her and for me blah blah blah and 15,000 arguments later I am walking out of the store with a brand new full sized PC with a Pent III 933 MHz processor, 128 MB RAM, and a 40 GB Hard Disk Drive.

Now, 1 year later, I have a better job and more money and I went and finally got her that lap-top. It has a Pent III with 1,200 MHz, and 256 MB of RAM. And it cost the same as my PC did a year ago.

Now I would be dissapointed in the fact that the lap=tops are cheaper than before, however there will never be a lap-top that can match the flexibility of a standard PC. The problem(s) will start when you realize that you want a good sound card. I am not sure what all you know about data transfer (i.e. analog signals [guitar or microphone] being converted into binary digital signals [ones and zeros that the computer can read]) but the sound card is where this normally takes place. There are some audio interfaces where this process takes place outside the computer, but they are expensive as hell. Anyway, without good conversion then you will get a shitty sound that is full of impurities and fuzzzzzzz along with a thin whimpy NON-PRO sound.

Now I read that someone mentioned that you can buy an external sound card that goes through a USB. This, I know nothing about, other then it is not a standard practice and I see big $$$ signs, with shakky results.

Then you will run into problems when you want to begin recording and storing your Audio .wav files. Most all PCs come with the factory standard slow 5400 rpm Hard Drive. Now when you want to really record audio, you will need an entire hard drive with NOTHING ON IT other than .wav files. And this HD needs to be faster (at LEAST 7200 rpm) They are a bit more expensive but worth it. Now there are not too many possibilities in the lap-top department for this kind of performance.

The end point is... if you have like $1000 then get a PC and save the rest of the money for cool effects and sound cards. You can probably even skimp on the monitor and just use the lap-top screen as your monitor and then **poof** you have one of these new $700 Flat Screen Monitors.

If you have any other questions then do not be afraid to ask. But in the mean time... remember this... GO SLOW!!!! There is nothing worse than Techie breakdown. Go ahead and get the software and become acquanted with it... then work with Midi (if that interests you). Read every magazine and website you can find. And have fucking fun. In the beginning it wasn't fun at all for me because I bought a PC, a keyboard, a sound module, a midid-interface, a sound card, Logic Audio Platinum, Delta Omni Studio, and pro-headphones, all in the same day. IT WAS S TECH OVERLOAD and I have yet to fully recover.

Take it easy,
Mike
 
hey dp.
have you found the hard drive size? i question using sonar. i would begin with a very modest multitrack software. amd k6 iii seems to be a bad indicator for offboard audio - please see digidesign's explicit condemnation of it in their compatibility sheet:

http://www.digidesign.com/compato/maindigi001win.html

please post back on progress. if i have time later i may be able to look into it more specifically.
 
Thanks for all the info.

I think to start off with I'm just going to try and find some free software and see how that goes. If it looks good, I'll upgrade.

Eventually I'd like to build one of those $1600 roll-your-own's that they give instructions for on Prorec.com.

For now, I'm just dabbling.

DP
 
Yeah

Yes, you evil Smurf catcher. Please fumigate your wisdom on the rest of us and tell us how you can construct an overweight DAW.

Mike

PS. Despite the "tongue in ass cheek" sound to my reply, I am only kidding and I am honestly interested.
 
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