KVR Audio

Adambomb337 · Post by **Adambomb337** » Sat Aug 11, 2007 7:00 am

I want to use a laptop PC for playing a live show. What would you recommend getting that is most reliable?

I'm mostly concerned about ground noise.

k-ninja · Post by **k-ninja** » Sat Aug 11, 2007 8:13 am

get a macbook pro

RockLobsterNet · Post by **RockLobsterNet** » Mon Aug 13, 2007 9:33 pm

Anything that has fast RAM and processor (preferably dual core). Just take care of it and it should be fine. I have a little tablet with a 2.0GHz centrino(note that it is single core and no HT) and 1.25 GB RAM and I have regulary used it to run one track with PSP VW, flux EQ and Comp, and L-2 Maximizier and a stereo track of Altiverb with flux EQ live. Never had any problems.

Also, a PC will perform just as well as a mac with the same specs. Most of these people who talk about how much better their new mac does are morons. It doesn't work better because it's a mac. It works better because it's newer and faster than what they had before.

thecontrolcentre · Post by **thecontrolcentre** » Mon Aug 13, 2007 9:46 pm

RockLobsterNet wrote: Most of these people who talk about how much better their new mac does are morons. It doesn't work better because it's a mac. It works better because it's newer and faster than what they had before.

bullshark · Post by **bullshark** » Mon Aug 13, 2007 10:05 pm

k-ninja wrote:get a macbook pro

Yep.

james0tucson · Post by **james0tucson** » Mon Aug 13, 2007 10:11 pm

RockLobsterNet wrote: Also, a PC will perform just as well as a mac with the same specs. Most of these people who talk about how much better their new mac does are morons. It doesn't work better because it's a mac. It works better because it's newer and faster than what they had before.

In real terms of power management, and of the size-to-portability ratio, I find my Macbook Pro to be superior to anything I can buy today. Granted the first criterion may be due to superior power management in OSX than in either Windows or Linux, but on the latter it definitely wins. I know I can get a sub-notebook, or a tablet, but I don't want a sub-notebook or a tablet. Other laptops the size of the Macbook Pro in its price range are less portable. To me, this is *everything*, because I can't use a computer that I don't have with me. I carry my laptop everywhere my knapsack goes, and it is simply not an encumbrance.

accvi · Post by **accvi** » Mon Aug 13, 2007 10:21 pm

kraftwerk did it once with these:

4 SONY VAIO Notebooks (Modell PCGGRX
516SP) mit Mobile Pentium 4 (2,0
GHz), 60 GB Festplatte, 512 MB RAM
• 16'' TFT Monitor mit einer Auflösung
von 1600x1200 Pixel („Sehr hilfreich
für die Darstellung von Arrange, Mixer,
PlugIns und FX")
• WinXP Pro
• Cubase SX 2.0
• Virtuelle Instrumente und PlugIns von
Steinberg, Native Instruments und TC
Works

http://kraftwerk.hu/honlap/eszkozok/sonyvaio.pdf

himalaya · Post by **himalaya** » Mon Aug 13, 2007 10:25 pm

Adambomb337 wrote:I want to use a laptop PC for playing a live show. What would you recommend getting that is most reliable?

If a pro audio laptop is too expensive, have a look at some of the business HP laptops, which I've seen being recommended.
They are high quality build, TI firwire chipset - should you want to use a firewire soundcard, and PC Card II expansion for (nowdays) cheap and reliable PCMCIA soundcards, if that's your preference.
I've been looking at the new Santa Rosa HP Compaq 6710b Business Notebook PC (GB893ET) :
http://h10010.www1.hp.com/wwpc/uk/en/sm ... 80355.html
I was about to buy it, but HP have take the (very low) price off the website, and all affiliates have it at a few hundred quid more!

Muzik 4 Machines · Post by **Muzik 4 Machines** » Mon Aug 13, 2007 10:41 pm

k-ninja wrote:get a macbook pro

oups im late, i was gonnasay exactly that

james0tucson · Post by **james0tucson** » Mon Aug 13, 2007 11:12 pm

Muzik 4 Machines wrote:
k-ninja wrote:get a macbook pro
oups im late, i was gonnasay exactly that

Of course, the problem is, if you really want the full range of audio software available (especially if you want free/cheap stuff, but more to the point, certain specific applications), you have to run Windows on the damn thing.

I don't want to ever go back to Windows for anything. I hope my current DAW lasts long enough that my next DAW can just be Linux.

Tony Ostinato · Post by **Tony Ostinato** » Mon Aug 13, 2007 11:41 pm

im pretty happy with my hp compaq nc6320 and m-audio firewire 410. win XP, TI firewire, expresscard slot.

i came close to buyin a mac pro.

Muzik 4 Machines · Post by **Muzik 4 Machines** » Tue Aug 14, 2007 12:45 am

he asked for the best laptop to play live, and a MBP is probably, and it will run XP/Vista, OsX or linux of your choice
and to play live, there is Live, and it's cross platform, so I don't see a problem in having a good laptop that doesnt weight a lot, and that is cool to look at from the crowd

RockLobsterNet · Post by **RockLobsterNet** » Tue Aug 14, 2007 1:59 am

james0tucson wrote:
RockLobsterNet wrote: Also, a PC will perform just as well as a mac with the same specs. Most of these people who talk about how much better their new mac does are morons. It doesn't work better because it's a mac. It works better because it's newer and faster than what they had before.
In real terms of power management, and of the size-to-portability ratio, I find my Macbook Pro to be superior to anything I can buy today. Granted the first criterion may be due to superior power management in OSX than in either Windows or Linux, but on the latter it definitely wins. I know I can get a sub-notebook, or a tablet, but I don't want a sub-notebook or a tablet. Other laptops the size of the Macbook Pro in its price range are less portable. To me, this is *everything*, because I can't use a computer that I don't have with me. I carry my laptop everywhere my knapsack goes, and it is simply not an encumbrance.

I agree with the power management issues and size issues. I bought my tablet before I started running plugins and such live; now I'm planning to sell it within the next year for something with more screen space(it's a 12") and a dual core processor. My main issue is that macs themselves are not better hardware. In addition I would rather run windows, and let's be honest, macs are far more expensive than PC's. I would rather have something with the equal hardware and geared toward the software I want to run.

Aside from that, here is a tip to save money. Buy the notebook with as little RAM as possible and the smallest HD possible, then upgrade them with stuff from newegg. You'll save a few hundred dollars. Be sure to keep the original HD as some companies will void your warranty if you send a laptop back with a different HD than what they put in.
You may also consider using N-Lite (www.nliteos.com) to reburn your XP install disk with a very stripped down version of XP. Many people will dual boot a full install and a stripped down install for day-to-day use and audio use. I know there is one version out there gutted for audio, but I believe it is a pirated version.

I also noticed that you are not asking about an interface. If you don't have one, PLEASE do not use the computer's output. For just output, take a look at the Echo Indigo cards. Otherwise, I bought a MOTU a few months ago and it is worth every penny. I used the have a Firewire 410, but the MOTUs are well worth it.

Tony Ostinato · Post by **Tony Ostinato** » Tue Aug 14, 2007 2:12 am

I like the size of the nc6320, i place it flat on a music stand and along with nuendo running halion, arturia arp2600 and moog modular, albino3, and 5 WIVI's i also have the real book pdf's loaded, and also finale and a lot of finale charts.

i can run all that and also have winamp running on the internal audio with no problems.

i use the 410 , i almost went with the rme but the price, im not sure how much grand apiece gear i wanna tote to gigs. i was ready, still am, to bail on the 410 the first sign of any trouble, but so far so good.

Adambomb337 · Post by **Adambomb337** » Wed Aug 22, 2007 7:21 am

What I am most concerned about is the ground noise. I have a dell laptop and either that or the m-audio mobile pre usb is causing A LOT of horrible ground noise.

What do you all know about ground noise and laptops?

What are the advantages/disadvantages to having a tablet?

What is it like running windows on a macbook pro?

Here's the thread about the interface/sound card:

http://www.kvraudio.com/forum/viewtopic ... 84#2668884

best laptop for playing live?