Laptop Users...Help!

  • Thread starter Thread starter tkingen
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tkingen

tkingen

Djembes Rock
I'm already using a computer with Sonar4 and a Delta1010 for recording at home. However, I'd like to put together a laptop based system (also with Sonar4) so that I can transfer projects to the laptop, go to other locations, have other musicians record tracks, and then go back home to transfer the new tracks to the original project folders in my home setup.
So, I am asking for advice on how to make this happen. What kind of sound card is needed? Is it even possible to upgrade the soundcard in a laptop? If it's a USB or Firewire deal, or there any available that just offer a good quality input so that I could use my existing pres?
Then, for transfering the files, do you just use the network cards?
Thanks for any advice or insights on this. I know nothing about laptops!

Regards,
Terry
 
yup, you got the basics of it.

get yourself a run-of-the-mill laptop. then get yourself either a usb or firewire soundcard. if you only need one input, a USB card would work fine. if you want many inputs, go with firewire. There are models available that don' t have pres so you could use your own. What you could do is get rid of your delta 1010 and upgrdae to a MOTU mk firewire unit. you would use it for both your desktop and laptop.

to transfer the files, you could use a network card, or burn to CD/DVD, or use a firewire/usb external HD to act in between your two computers.
 
tkingen said:
I'm already using a computer with Sonar4 and a Delta1010 for recording at home. However, I'd like to put together a laptop based system (also with Sonar4) so that I can transfer projects to the laptop, go to other locations, have other musicians record tracks, and then go back home to transfer the new tracks to the original project folders in my home setup.
So, I am asking for advice on how to make this happen. What kind of sound card is needed? Is it even possible to upgrade the soundcard in a laptop? If it's a USB or Firewire deal, or there any available that just offer a good quality input so that I could use my existing pres?
Then, for transfering the files, do you just use the network cards?
Thanks for any advice or insights on this. I know nothing about laptops!

Regards,
Terry
Click to expand...

Your basic options are USB, FireWire, or PCMCIA soundcards. I have a Tascam US-122 that I use as my main interface for both home and field recording. The upsides are it is portable and rugged, has 2 usable built-in pres (or 2 line-ins), and the converters seem fine to my ears for 24-bit recording. The downsides are some people have had setup problems with the Tascam drivers and Tascam tech support is virtually nonexistent. I transfer files via a USB flash drive (1gb) or Data CDR to my desktop for mixing.

USB, in general, is not great for more than a couple of tracks being recorded simultaneously. FireWire seems to be better for that, from what I've read.

Alternately, you could get a portable DAW then upload the tracks to sonar on your desktop. Fostex, Zoom, and others make these.
 
Thanks for your responses, guys. The portable standalone units look interesting but most of the budget ones only record at 16bit. I'd like to keep it in the 24bit world. Also, the laptop solution seems more attractive because it would be easier to line things up by using the same software.
Something I should probably add...this does not need to be "power machine." I plan on doing most of my work at home with the "big machine." I'd like to just do a temporary stereo mix, transfer it to the laptop, go record another track or two somewhere else, and then transfer the new track(s) over to the "big machine" and make it line up with the preexisitng tracks.
Or, go to somewhere that has a nice sounding room, record solo acoustic guitar, and then transfer that over to the big machine.
So, can I get by with a budget laptop? And, for USB interfaces (most laptops seem to have USB ports), it looks like they typically have built in pres. I'd like to use my nice standalone preamps without being limited to the onboard pre of a cheap USB device. Any suggestions?
Apologies for all the questions. Recommendations and advice are greatly appreciated!
 
As I said, the US-122 has both XLR and 1/4 ins. Both have access to the preamp section, but the 1/4 in accepts a line level signal from your external preamp.
 
scrubs said:
As I said, the US-122 has both XLR and 1/4 ins. Both have access to the preamp section, but the 1/4 in accepts a line level signal from your external preamp.
Click to expand...

Sorry, I didn't understand this from your first response. So, accepting a line level from the external pre means that the input is strictly acting as a pass through? That would be great! I will look into the US-122.
I also like the idea about USB flashcard for file transfers.

Thanks,
Terry
 
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