Upgrade? PC/Mac? Laptop/Desktop? (Need some friendly advice!!)

[Steve Henningsgard]

Instead of telling some boring-ass story, I'm just going to lay out the facts here and see what you guys come up with

CURRENT SITUATION: Recording out of a rented, semi-treated practice space shared with a band. Using a PC tower (P4 3.0ghz HT, etc.), a MOTU 896, Sonar, and some decent mic's. Currently doing demo's/ep's for local & semi-local bands for a cheap per-song rate.


THE ISSUE: The band I'm sharing the space with (my band) is moving to another space which won't work for recording. Also, I'm going to be interning at a decent local 'Pro-Tools HD'-running studio. After the internship, I will be able to work out of the studio. Although I'm not currently charging very much, It's paying the rent and that's what matters. However, if I don't have a space to record in, I won't be able to do any more projects until my 3-4 month internship is complete. Then, I run the risk of having too-few projects to record at the much more expensive studio.


THE QUESTION(s): Do I sell my current PC Desktop rig, and get a laptop? This way, I could continue recording inexpensive demos/ep's for cheap at the bands' individual practice areas, which won't be much worse than where I am currently working out of? Or do I try to find another space to work out of for cheap?

Also, as I'm currently running Sonar, I won't be compatible with many of the studios I could potentially be working at in the future. Would it make more sense to get a Mac laptop, a digi002/003, and some sort of 8-input preamp? Or would it make more sense to save the hundreds of dollars it'd cost to go with Pro-Tools, and stick with the MOTU/Sonar combo?

Help! :/

 

[Agent47]

IMO, and I have to stress I have NO experience of mobile recording... But, I think setting yourself up as a mobile recordist would be the better option. As long as you're prepared to travel, it may well suit a lot of bands who are busy who might need you to come to them. Plus you don't have to rent business premises. As long as you have room in your car for portable treatment, mic stands etc. etc.

I have a colleague who does freelance recording of choirs and small ensembles, and I know for a fact he uses a laptop with sonar on it. He does the mixing and mastering at home, but he always seems fairly busy with it.

Just my tuppence-worth.

 

[Hard2Hear]

You'll find that with all the other gear to lug around anyways, a rackmount PC will make you alot happier in the long run. You can get a 10-12 space rack on wheels, have your PC, interface, etc. I do these setups for people every day and by time they consider a laptop setup needs their interface, external hard drives, power supplies, power conditioner, etc; alot of them find getting a rack is actually the simpler option.

As much as I like Sonar and MOTU (use it myself) if you're working in a PTHD studio, it will become very convenient to have a PTLE setup at home. Going back and forth cutting part in the studio and working on a mix at home will be much easier. Not that Im a big Digi supporter, but thats what makes their stuff so prolific in the industry.