what should i buy?

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drum_

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Ok so i've been stuck for a while on what i should get, though i'm not in a position where i can buy whatever it is i want i still would like to know what set up im aiming for. I am a Noob so don't be to harsh and i probably have more money then sense. i'll be using my Laptop Which is not the best - Dual core 2.13Ghz, 500GB hard Drive, 3 ram
Ive seen a couple of products i like maybe you can tell me your thoughts. I plan on using Reaper. As for sessions i would think small full band recordings no more than 14. on the very rare occasion maybe 16. i know its effects that run up application

Zoom R16 - 16 track recorder, 8 at one time, also interface, can record to SD card, 1.8ghz required- cheapest ive seen £275 new , i'd probably try to pick up a second hand one
I really like tracking drums which is one of the reasons i'm so drawn to this. my only concern is that 1.8ghz would be to high especially when im also mixing or got reaper open. They say higher specs might be needed for laptop use though i didnt see that for this product the i suspect it still applies.

M audio fast track Pro

Focusrite Saffire 6

i was considering getting the Zoom R16 and little M audio Fast track US44010 USB to free up applications seeing as there going silly cheap. Switching when appropriate.

Though i've done mixing and recording before i've never had to use my own set up or equipment so it was never an issue.
Any suggestions or advice would be appreciated
 
I absolutely recommend the tascam us800. It has 6 mic inputs with preamps and comes with cubase.
And its on sale for 100. Amazing deal imo.
 
And as you suspect your laptop will more than likely be a problem. Any clue if the harddrive is 7200 rpm?
You could upgrade your own ram and/or processor
 
I'm gonna have to agree with kidkage about the tascam us800. It works really well for the price point with better sound quality than the price implies. If you must go with one of your selections then I'd say the Zoom R16. Don't do the fast track, they're a pain in the ass to set up and get working without glitches/latency issues.
 
Your internal drive speed is not so much an issue if only using it for OS/programs and streaming audio from an external 7200 HDD. You will however need to run a separate USB2.0 controller to run an interface and external drive at same time (both USB2.0). Or go with one of them connected via firewire. Or firewire can handle both an external drive and interface as far as I know.

+1 for the US-800 IMO
 
Yeah it's Acer Aspire 5742z i bought it way before i planned on buying all this so...
 
Man, seems you may be a bit limited here man. No firewire or a PCMCIA port for addition of a controller for USB2.0 or firewire. You can get some stuff working as far as recording drums, but I think you are going to have some limitations when you start streaming multiple tracks and adding effects with the laptop. Unless you require portability, a PC will always be less expensive to get the power you want.

What do you plan?
 
it has 3 USB 2.0 connections but as far as anything else not to sure.
I thought i would have buy a new PC or Laptop though
 
it has 3 USB 2.0 connections but as far as anything else not to sure.
I thought i would have buy a new PC or Laptop though. How much you recon i would have to invest to get laptop up to spec or for a PC bearing in mind i would also need a monitor and everything else.
 
The 3 USB2.0 connections on your laptop are run by the same controller. USB interfaces do not play well, or at all, with another streaming device on the same controller. Your limitation is your internal hard drive speed. If you have no internet, and run nothing else on it, other than recording software, you can probably do quite a bit with a USB interface. The last thing that I would personally want to deal with though, would be limitation of clean audio from my PC. Creativity is quickly ruined by system limitations.
 
My recording PC (self built i7) was $750 for more power than I plan to need for years. And way more power than you probably need starting out. I would think you could get a decent desktop with a dual core processor like you have in your lappy, for $400 or so. Or buy used. The key is to get something that is devoted to recording. No internet, antivirus, or crappy bloatware that computers bought for home use come with, and multiple fast HDD's. You can get a bunch of power for cheap, by installing only what is necessary for recording. To do this with a laptop, would probably be over $1000.
 
All this about a fast hdd i've never heard before from reading other sources, that been said seems pretty obvious. it was always as long as it's a certain size hard drive, you've got more than one core, a couple ram you'll have no issues.
so what would you say 7200 rpm absolute min
 
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5400 is the minimum. Ideal, no. A 7200 RPM drive as a shared one with streaming audio, would allow many more tracks. Like I said, if you have the ability to run your OS/programs alone on the internal, with an external drive @7200, you should be fine. The problem arises when you share two needs with one 'slow' HDD. Your PC will be trying to run OS, effects, samples, and audio streaming with one device. It will not run smoothly with multiple tracks. Your best bet is to delegate a drive for each purpose. You can build an external drive with a 1TB HDD in a case for under $100. The problem you have with the laptop, is the lack of ports to use an interface and external drive at the same time. A desktop opens up way more options, and at a lower price. Like half price with more options and power.

You can probably do quite a bit with what you already have. You won't know until you try. There are too many variables for me to say exactly how your system will perform. Try it, and upgrade when you need it.
 
I will add, that a couple G's of ram is also minimum. It really depends on what your PC is used for other that recording, and how you have it setup. 4GB is a minimum in my opinion. I have 16 now, though 8 would be sufficient. Unless you have 64-bit OS, you can't even use the memory anyway. My last PC I used for recording (used to access internet and business purposes now) had a dual Athlon CPU/32-bit W7. It worked fine until I needed the an ability to run 30+tracks, with a huge amount of VST's. It just did not have the ability to do what I needed with reasonable amounts of latency. With the i7 I have now, I can record vocals on a fully processed mix, with less than 10ms of delay, monitoring through Cubase. That to me, is worth every bit of $1000. Your needs may not be as much a of yet, but keep in mind, that you may need this in the future. Resale of an inadequate computer is pretty much nil.
 
when i was at college i would sometimes run session of 30-40 tracks give or take on a Pc only 2GB of Ram with plugins, auto tune and amplitude. Was minor delay when starting play other than that no problems.
 
On what software? OS? Drive speed?

Are you arguing? Track count has no importance to CPU usage, as long as the drive sending it, is not overused.

I am giving you my advice based upon my experience. You take it how you want to. I could care less if you take it. Just trying to give you advice on what I have learned from my experience.
 
It will not run smoothly with multiple tracks. Your best bet is to delegate a drive for each purpose. You can build an external drive with a 1TB HDD in a case for under $100.
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How exactly would i go about doing this?
 
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