KVR Audio

tapper mike · Post by **tapper mike** » Fri Aug 10, 2012 6:54 pm

Why do you absolutely positively need a laptop? Desktops are more powerful and reliable for the same price.

If you need a fashion statement or something to carry around for non audio production buy a netbook or an ipad. And use the desktop as your main audio hardware.

trimph1 · Post by **trimph1** » Fri Aug 10, 2012 7:14 pm

Oh....goody.

Laptops are toys. Gee. Really?

I recently bought...ASUS G75VW-RS72 Laptop Computer :3rd generation Intel Core i7-3610QM 2.3GHz Processor:
8GB of DDR3 Memory;750GB Hard Disk Drive;DVD Super Multi Burner;3GB NVIDIA GeForce GTX 670M GPU;17.3" Full HD Display.

I've been using this 'toy' as a DAW for awhile now with no issues...

I use both and do not see why there should be this issue in the first place...

GaryG · Post by **GaryG** » Fri Aug 10, 2012 7:51 pm

I certainly use my laptop more as an instrument nowadays than just a DAW. Processing guitar is a big part of my 'thing' and to be tied to a desktop would be very constricting. Being able to take it with me when working with other people is a major boon, not just limited to a few pedals but have my full array of sound toys anywhere I need them.

Agree with ttoz though, DPC seems to be a growing issue on newer laptops.

t3toooo · Post by **t3toooo** » Fri Aug 10, 2012 7:55 pm

for recording a asus eeepc 1005pe and a sound devices usbpre works just fine for me.

sellyoursoul · Post by **sellyoursoul** » Sun Aug 12, 2012 5:31 pm

The biggest issues that I have had with laptops for daw use are noise, crapware installed by the manufacturer, and locked bios. None of this has changed.

james0tucson · Post by **james0tucson** » Sun Aug 12, 2012 6:01 pm

[quote="tapper mike"]Why do you absolutely positively need a laptop? Desktops are more powerful and reliable for the same price.

If you need a fashion statement or something to carry around for non audio production buy a netbook or an ipad. And use the desktop as your main audio hardware.[/quote]

Where is the desktop system than can run on battery power for 4-5 hours?

james0tucson · Post by **james0tucson** » Sun Aug 12, 2012 6:04 pm

GaryG wrote:I certainly use my laptop more as an instrument nowadays than just a DAW.

This is an aspect that's lost in the discussion in most DAW communities. It's not just a recording and mixing device, it's a musical instrument, or part of an instrument. A lot of people in the DAW community are simply not on this side of the fence, and just don't give it consideration.

Hink · Post by **Hink** » Sun Aug 12, 2012 6:27 pm

personally I had a laptop as my DAW for years and it had it's advantages and disadvantages but the truth is my laptop was used as a desktop anyhow. I see no reason for me at this time in my life to ever go back to a laptop, it's not like I am going to a friends house to record and in fact with 5 years of using a laptop I never used it mobile.

As for using it as an instrument I use my music computer as an instrument all the time, just not a mobile one. I have no desire to be in a band and my house isn't that big so again I have no reason for it to be mobile.

Even tough this is backwards thinking I think I will always be stuck in the concept that batteries at their peak power are the only time you will get the best performance. Again, I do know it's not the same as it was when I use to change batteries in pedals long before the battery lost any significant life...but try telling me that, if I can't convince me of that no one can

David Carpenter Wind Core · Sun Aug 12, 2012 7:17 pm

I use a 2u rack-mounted PC intel i7 2600k 16 gig ram ssd 128 ssd 512. With a touchscreen and firewire interface skb case the whole rig weighs about 50 Lbs. It has enough power to play just about any combination of instrument or effect at low latency.

Also have a laptop 20 lbs with interface and case. It has about 1/4 of the low latency power both cost about the same.

Weight seems to be the difference. Heavy is reliable but light is quick. For practice or jamming I use the laptop way easier to setup and break down. The difference is about 15 min.

For anything type of paid gig the rackmount is rock solid and has the power to play live. Also when a rig is a little bulkier and awkward once setup it is harder for someone to steal components or the whole thing. This is were weight has a good advantage.

When it comes time to upgrade it will cost a fraction of a laptop upgrade.

BertKoor · Post by **BertKoor** » Mon Aug 13, 2012 7:33 am

memyselfandus wrote:a laptop that I spent $800 on four years ago beat the pants out of the last two I spent even more money on.

So you could have saved yourself over $1600 and still be happy with the laptop you bought 4 years ago

memyselfandus · Post by **memyselfandus** » Tue Aug 14, 2012 3:07 am

michael2 · Post by **michael2** » Tue Aug 14, 2012 3:21 am

ttoz wrote:my battery health in my 18 month old mbp is still at 96%

i really look after it though and you have to, with batteries.

What i do is simple... I pull the plug out every night i go to bed and put it in sleep to give the battery a rest from the power...

on the first day of every month i do a complete drain and charge. that's it really.

Now i voted YES, but for different reasons, as i voted YES before i saw your comments.

WINDOWS based laptops ARE becoming worse for recording. A few years ago everything used quality TI firewire, for example, now it's all ricoh crap, and even some DAW builders can only build usb compatible stuff with the newer sandy and ivy bridge.

Furthermore, dpc latencies in older systems were never an issue but now it's really hit and miss. You can not go and buy even a 2K dell and expect it to work even with USBm it's a crapshoot, so.. yes, 3 years ago things were different.

my macbook is about 4 years old and working great. the only issues I have ever had are that the battery is not what it once was, and I had to clean out the trackpad (it had crumbs in it). I bought it for $700 used off craigslist when it was about 6 months old. i'm in the market for a new laptop and will definitely buy another mac (this time a macbook pro).

EnGee · Post by **EnGee** » Tue Aug 14, 2012 4:02 am

I use a laptop (2 years old) and still going really good. My next purchase will be a laptop (windows also) but with higher screen resolution than 1366x768.
I don't miss the power from the desktop (my plugins are old) but I miss the screen resolution.
I feel light in movement with my small setup: laptop, mpk mini and a mouse

egbert · Post by **egbert** » Tue Aug 14, 2012 4:36 am

trimph1 wrote:Oh....goody.

Laptops are toys. Gee. Really?

I recently bought...ASUS G75VW-RS72 Laptop Computer :3rd generation Intel Core i7-3610QM 2.3GHz Processor:
8GB of DDR3 Memory;750GB Hard Disk Drive;DVD Super Multi Burner;3GB NVIDIA GeForce GTX 670M GPU;17.3" Full HD Display.

Thanks for posting this - if this laptop is a good one for audio it is worth knowing about. Perhaps you could run a free DPC latency tool on it and post the results here.

It would be worth knowing what your audio interface is and what buffer sizes you can run without clicks.

http://www.thesycon.de/deu/latency_check.shtml

sellyoursoul · Post by **sellyoursoul** » Tue Aug 14, 2012 5:09 am

Good hardware specs doesn't mean that the machine will be good for recording. A high spec i7 machine might have dropouts like crazy at lower latency settings.

KVR Audio

Laptops getting Worse for for Recording?

are Laptops getting Worse for Recording?