Help Please!

[keyblk]

I am planning to purchase a LAPTOP, or NOTEBOOK computer to use for digital Audio & Perhaps a little Midi.

It will not be my main computer I just need it for portablility. I have to record an entire choir, but it's a bit much to bring out my entire desktop, Monitor, etc etc.

I dont believe I need to record more than 3 or four tracks at track at a time. Anymore would be gravy.

So please forward some make/model suggestions... it would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks

Ps. I don't have unlimited funds ether.

 

[microchip]

Greetings...

Hopefully someone with some more knowledge on using laptops will come along, but here is some input in the mean time...

Regardless of whether you are using a laptop or desktop, you need to have certain things (all of which depend on the quality of the recording).

At the very minimal, you need a mic input for the computer, a sound card in the computer, and software that will handle multitrack recording which I believe you want to do.

(Any low-end Cakewalk recording software should do this for you).

As for the computer, you at least need 128 ram and 30-40 gig hard drive. Anything less and you are cutting it short on disc space and memory.

As for the quality of the recording, using cheap mics are not going to get you far in sound quality, nor will a cheap soundcard. And, if you want to record in any form of stereo, you need a way to have 2 inputs into your recording software (ie, a good soundcard).

Well, that about sums it up. I think for what you are going to do what you have is more important that what brand you have. It's a matter of finding the minimal items you need at a price you can afford.

If you have any further questions, feel free to ask! I am sure someone who uses laptops will come along with more help for you.

Micro

 

[keyblk]

I thank you so much for your reply...

I have been pretty successful with the desktop running Cubasis on a XP 1700 AMD with1012 ram, I use an Audigy soundcard. My recordings are sounding pretty good and I do have some decent concenser microphones. The recordings can only get better with the help of people like yourself on this site.

Well I'm kinda aware of the minimal things that I should have... I grow weary when I see articles around that say to beware of hard drives in laptops that spin around 4500 because they will produce pops and clicks.

I will do whatever it takes to get the right equipment. I don't have $$$ to waste. Thanks again for your time