What is the best laptop for recording?

[jerzeysk8board]

What is the best laptop for recording? Please include the company and name. For example dell xps......so on and so forth. Give me some names to think about and dont worry about the price.

 

[teddyastuffed]

best laptop for recording music: a powerbook G4 by apple. get either the 15" or 17" one and you'll be set. just get a firewire soundcard and thats practically everything to get u started. if ur a pc user, dont be scared away by the fact that its an apple based system. OSX is probably the most user friendly operating system and you dont have to really worry about getting viruses or anything malicious. its by far one of the best operating systems and you will be happy with it. my word -_-


an apple powerbook G4: 15" or 17". final answer

 

[cawhite12]

well... I use a dell inspiron 8600 with a 2.0Ghz Pentium M in conjunction with a firepod, and it is rock solid. If you don't enjoy tweaking the OS, or aren't very comfortable in a PC environment, then by all means, get a mac. The issue I have there is that with a PC you get a lot more power for your dollar, BUT!!!!!!!!! If you are not very savvy with the operating system and have a problem with dedicating the computer mostly for DAW work, then you might think about a mac. Just my 2 cents.

 

[TimOBrien]

I'm recording with a Gateway M520 (widescreen and 2.8Ghz P4) with a Motu828mkII and Glyph firewire drive. Zero problems.

But if my recording programs that I use weren't PC-only (N-Track Studio, Soundforge8, FruityLoops, etc), I'd be using a high-end Powerbook.

I've owned both PCs and Macs since the early 1980s and have no biases on either platform; but you have to choose based on the software you want to run...

 

[altitude909]

Anything High end pentium M should do fine (the M processers are quite nice). If your set on a Mac, wait till the summer when the pentium based ones are out. The G4 is a pretty dated chip right now and holding out for 6 months will be well worth the wait

I find Ableton to be a very good barometer for benchmarking audio hardware and they do very handy performance surveys:

http://www.ableton.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=12375&highlight=performance+live++test

 

[brzilian]

I'm recording with a Gateway M520 (widescreen and 2.8Ghz P4) with a Motu828mkII and Glyph firewire drive. Zero problems.

I'm currently using a Gateway M7515 with a Mackie Onyx 1220 and no issues. It was $1200 at BestBuy with the following specs:

Athlon 64-M 4000+
1 Gb RAM
100 Gb HD
15.4" Widescreen @ 1280x800
USB 2.0 and Firewire ports
Dual Layer DVD burner

 

[studiops150@dir]

Xps Rocks

Dell Xps 1.7 Pen Processor 1.5 Gig Ram It Rocks $1200.00

 

[vschiano2008]

GO MAC. it really is much easier. i have an IBook G4, i got the 14", 1.42 ghz processor. i maxed out the memory, up to 1.5 gb. the base computer was 1300 becuase i got the dvd burner and a 60 gig hd. i got the ram from dealram.com for like 150 bucks. the powerbook may be a better alternative but my computer handles it well.

 

[Anthony]

What is the best laptop for recording? Please include the company and name. For example dell xps......so on and so forth. Give me some names to think about and dont worry about the price.

Although I would rather like to recommend Mac over PC. Considering we are in 2006, considering CPU power available, considering G4 value one would hardly or realistically deny that for someone who would like to use G4 as primary and only recording/create source...

G4 is really from stand of CPU generation and raw power outdated.

Unless you are inclined to learn Solaris and have 10k spare to buy Sun's custom design portable workstation and your cousin owns Steinberg or Motu who would kindly recompile Perfomer or Cubase for you

Well, then the most powerful PC portable (which still cost less then 17" G4)

Has SATA RAID (yes, two drives, no typo) making this machine faster then even most of the top desktop lines.

Intel P4 540 3.4GHz (LGA775) Intel 915P + ICH6

2GB od RAM (DDR2 400/533)

17.1" WSXGA+ (1680x1050) TFT

nVIDIA GeForce Go 6800 - 256MB DDR3, 256bit, PCI-Express x16

2x Dual Layer drives (no typo)

Full size keyboard

Sound : Intel Azalia Compliant (8-channels virtual output) with subwoofer

Including everything else imaginable (TV tuner as well)

Model comes from EU and it is roughly said compilation of components that presents highest available power presently available in this domain. Should I remind you again, still, less $ then top of the line G4 powerbook.

You can find the link about company here, as well as described model : >>>>>>>

To canvas the DATA with sight, product gallery : >>>>>

Should you require need some translation at later time, PM me

This sort od power makes no excuses , although industry likes to use "desktop replacement" term to highlight its line, this machine is literary desktop replacement.

 

[wx3]

http://www.musicxpc.com/products/m2/m2.htm

 

[Anthony]

http://www.musicxpc.com/products/m2/m2.htm

Thanks for that link wx3

Very intriguing.

I was aware that they are using referent design source, but these are not the same machines.

Hm. I have to investigate this, very intriguing.

But actually very good news for jerzeysk8board if is located in the states, much cheaper delivery after all

EDIT : This model from your link has older chipset then EU model and ATI Radeon 9700 vs nVIDIA GeForce Go 6800 in Niko's model, also AGP vs PCI-E (!) DDR2 (!), (4GB max)... far from the same after all.

Just learned source origin is FIC, they both assemble from it, but clearly, Niko has more gadgets, and clearly more power

 

[brzilian]

Although I would rather like to recommend Mac over PC. Considering we are in 2006, considering CPU power available, considering G4 value one would hardly or realistically deny that for someone who would like to use G4 as primary and only recording/create source...

G4 is really from stand of CPU generation and raw power outdated.

Unless you are inclined to learn Solaris and have 10k spare to buy Sun's custom design portable workstation and your cousin owns Steinberg or Motu who would kindly recompile Perfomer or Cubase for you

Well, then the most powerful PC portable (which still cost less then 17" G4)

Has SATA RAID (yes, two drives, no typo) making this machine faster then even most of the top desktop lines.

Intel P4 540 3.4GHz (LGA775) Intel 915P + ICH6

2GB od RAM (DDR2 400/533)

17.1" WSXGA+ (1680x1050) TFT

nVIDIA GeForce Go 6800 - 256MB DDR3, 256bit, PCI-Express x16

2x Dual Layer drives (no typo)

Full size keyboard

Sound : Intel Azalia Compliant (8-channels virtual output) with subwoofer

Including everything else imaginable (TV tuner as well)

Model comes from EU and it is roughly said compilation of components that presents highest available power presently available in this domain. Should I remind you again, still, less $ then top of the line G4 powerbook.

You can find the link about company here, as well as described model : >>>>>>>

To canvas the DATA with sight, product gallery : >>>>>

Should you require need some translation at later time, PM me

This sort od power makes no excuses , although industry likes to use "desktop replacement" term to highlight its line, this machine is literary desktop replacement.

My Arthlon-64 Mobile laptop easily outperforms 500 series P4's when doing video encoding work. I am certain it would do the same with audio apps.

 

[jabulani jonny]

I shopped for a recording laptop for a year. I primarily do mobile recording and love the flexibility of recording whenever wherever I want. Check out the laptops at www.adkproaudio.com. They've got some mean machines. I settled on a Dell 9300 when I confirmed it had the correct chipset to allow a PCI-e graphics card to work with no glitches. The specs are as follows:

Pentium M 1.73 ghz, 533 mhz FSB- The guys at ADK ProAudio thoroughly test laptops for audio production. The PM with the Sonoma chipset was found to have the best performance barring a dual processor system. Don't take my word for it! Go check it out for yourself
1gb DDR2, 533mhz RAM
60GB 7200 rpm HD
17" WXGA
256mb nVidia 6800
Firewire & 6 USB

I use an M-audio 1814 coupled with a Behringer ADA8000 and an extra 160gb 7200 rpm HD. I'll be selling the 1814 and the ADA to get two Firepods in the next month or so.

I waited for a 40% off coupon to show up at www.notebookforums.com and snagged this baby for $1500 before tax. I absolutely love it. I've used to record 16 tracks of audio for a 2.5 hr show with no hiccups or glitches. I'll probably be adding another interface to push it to 24 tracks at some point, but don't need to right now. It can also handle plenty of plugs and since I generally only work with 16 to 30 tracks, I haven't maxed out my track count yet.

Anyway, it's been freakin' rock solid and I also got it with the 3 yr unconditional warranty with accidental damage protection. Sweet!

Take it FWIW.

 

[chessrock]

If you're talking best bang-for-buck, then I would have to say just look for the most powerful / loaded one you can afford from a trusted name brand. Keep in mind that Macs and Intel-based PCs tend to offer greater stability, overall, while Athlon-based PC's tend to give you the greatest power for the $$.

Some of the more popular and stable PC Notebooks include: Sony VAIO, Toshiba Satelite, Gateway / E-machines, and Acer Aspire.
.

 

[jabulani jonny]

I had nothing but problems from an Acer Aspire 1711. Their customer service was non-existent so I'd probably stick with the other names. Sony will be much higher priced for what you could find elsewhere. Toshiba A series was pretty good, but a Dell spec'd the same if not better for cheaper. If you can find a Dell coupon at www.notebookforums.com, that will be your cheapest bet for a well built machine.

 

[chessrock]

I had nothing but problems from an Acer Aspire 1711. Their customer service was non-existent so I'd probably stick with the other names.

I hate to say it, but sadly, almost none of the guys kicking out these laptops have very good service. I've heard a few good things about Gateway. But then, I've also heard a few good things about Acer ... and a few not-so-good (relatively speaking). Your best bet is probably to get a good plan from the retailer if you can. They can be expensive, but the in-store service / insurance plans are great if you can swing it. Most of them will even cover you if you drop it down a flight of stairs, no questions asked.
.

 

[jonnyc]

I'd say as of today the new Intel/Apple Dual Core MacBook Pro's look like the way to go. You get a dual core 1.8ghz intel processor the option of adding a 100gb 7200 rpm hardrive and 2gb ram. That would make one hell of a daw, let alone laptop daw.

 

[jabulani jonny]

Damn skippy it would, but does he need that power and at what price. With that setup your talking about $3M. Again, I got my 9300 fairly loaded with a 3 yr warranty and 3 yrs accidental damage protection for $1500 before tax.

 

[sonnylarsen]

I think the MacBook Pro will be making quite a splash in the future, but for now the only recording app compiled for the Intel Mac is Garageband, which is a great program but not the best. Pro Tools, Logic, Cubase, none of these are availablle yet. I think I heard Logic Pro for Intel Macs is only a couple of months away. I have heard nothing about any other recording apps.

 

[Anthony]

My Arthlon-64 Mobile laptop easily outperforms 500 series P4's when doing video encoding work. I am certain it would do the same with audio apps.

Your M4000 is certainly more power efficient, this machine can barely handle 40 minutes at the most. This is not mobile CPU like yours, actually entire machine is more like desktop camouflaged as laptop. It is capable, but with this particular chipset (Intel), faster and more efficient memory, RAID and particularly speed of this Intel, I seriously doubt you could outperform the same in A/V, specially video.

This machine is from the scratch optimized as A/V workstation and here you can read the test results.

Note that results in red are when operated by batteries :
Test >>>>

You can easily compare your own results with these, but don't be disappointed

I prefer AMD as well, but reality is that only FX and latest X2 finally ended Intel's domination in video. Due to faster and more efficient memory controllers, better chipsets and better CPU optimization for video, Intel was ahead. There are charts and charts proving that, as I'm sure you are aware as well. For example : Mother of all CPU charts -

>>> Main page <<<


It is not without reason that AMD developed tiredness toward usual : "Fastest For Games" and finally with FX and X2 it is powerful for video as any Intel competitive CPU, well in case of X2, faster without doubt. But stability plays even more important role and I can't wait the time for AMD to finally departure from VIA games and chose (or creates itself) only partners that would create serious and stable chipsets. With early 754 and 939 greatest universal criticism was 'Great power but lacking equally suited chipset to match the same power. Intel chipsAet and AMD power, sounds great = cool and fast.