KVR Audio

DSmolken · Post by **DSmolken** » Sat Sep 21, 2013 11:25 am

I want to move to a new computer with a touch screen, and I'm seriously tempted to go for something big. I need something I can use live, so it does need to be somewhat portable.

Without going into too many boring specifics, I've got a pretty good idea of how much storage, RAM and CPU power I'll need, but it's hard to decide if it's worth paying more for extra screen size. For a non-touch screen, I think 14" would be fine, but if I'm gonna use the screen to not just look at stuff but also to control stuff, then maybe bigger is better.

I'd appreciate any opinions on working with bigger touch screens in general, especially for Fruity Loops. Or specific opinions about the Dell XPS 18 which I'm seriously tempted by.

whyterabbyt · Post by **whyterabbyt** » Sat Sep 21, 2013 11:31 am

For any kind of 'continuous' touch-screen usage (eg as replacement for mousing and controller useage, and especially multitouch) I really wouldnt want anything which couldnt lie flat. Minority Report lied.

DSmolken · Post by **DSmolken** » Sat Sep 21, 2013 4:38 pm

Yup, I'm thinking the same thing, regardless of size I'll get something that can sit flat or even better at a shallow angle. My iPad spends most of its time close to vertical, but I use it for setlists and lyrics. For moving faders and tweaking synth parameters, close to horizontal definitely be more convenient.

Lenovo does make a 27" tablet. Looks huge on stage, though it's probably bigger and heavier than I'd feel like lugging around. I mean, it weighs as much as my double bass.

Hadrondrift · Post by **Hadrondrift** » Sat Sep 21, 2013 6:54 pm

Try the following:

Sit down at your chair, in front of your PC / Laptop, make yourself comfortable.
Now raise your hand, your arm and use your index finger to draw some imaginary lines on your screen. Continue to hold up your arm, continue drawing imaginary lines with your finger. Cover the whole screen, so that you have to move not only your finger, but your hand and arm as well.

Do this for two minutes. Rest a few seconds, do it again.

Decide finally that you do not want a vertical touchscreen, as you presumably do not want to consult your physical therapist on a regular basis.

For touch, I would go for tablet, nothing else.

So it's unfortunately still difficult to get something bigger than 11''

thecontrolcentre · Post by **thecontrolcentre** » Sat Sep 21, 2013 7:01 pm

Hadrondrift wrote:Try the following:

Sit down at your chair, in front of your PC / Laptop, make yourself comfortable.
Now raise your hand, your arm and use your index finger to draw some imaginary lines on your screen. Continue to hold up your arm, continue drawing imaginary lines with your finger. Cover the whole screen, so that you have to move not only your finger, but your hand and arm as well.

Do this for two minutes. Rest a few seconds, do it again.

Decide finally that you do not want a vertical touchscreen, as you presumably do not want to consult your physical therapist on a regular basis.

For touch, I would go for tablet, nothing else.

Been considering a touchscreen myself. Thanks for confirming what i thought was the major disadvantage. Will stick with my mouse/midi-controllers In the studio. Maybe for playing live ... i like to stand up, so a tablet and laptop could make sense.

DSmolken · Post by **DSmolken** » Sat Sep 21, 2013 8:07 pm

Hadrondrift wrote:Decide finally that you do not want a vertical touchscreen, as you presumably do not want to consult your physical therapist on a regular basis.

Defintely. I'm pretty sure I don't want a vertical touchscreen if I'm gonna be touching it a lot, mostly cause horizontal is steadier and not wobbly. The iPad stays vertical at shows because it's easier to read that way and it really only gets touched between songs, but when I'm actually doing stuff on it, like arranging setlists, I keep it horizontal.

Hadrondrift wrote:So it's unfortunately still difficult to get something bigger than 11''

There aren't a ton of options, but there are a few slightly bigger convertible laptops with 12-13" screens and much bigger all-in-ones that can be laid down and used like a tablet, from 18 to 27 inches. I'm definitely gonna stay away from anything that's just a regular laptop with a touch screen.

martygras · Post by **martygras** » Mon Sep 23, 2013 9:27 pm

The "touch screens" used in many animation studios require a special pen and are laid out like a drafting table so you can lean on it without messing up your work. These are spendy, but very high resolution and reliable.

Hey aren't all those famous paintings in the Louvre created on an easel?

Hadrondrift · Post by **Hadrondrift** » Mon Sep 23, 2013 10:00 pm

Maybe the painters of those famous paintings in the Louvre used a
maulstick to support their hand?

___
Hit me with your maulstick, baby, hit me, hit me.

ontol · Post by **ontol** » Tue Sep 24, 2013 2:42 am

DSmolken · Post by **DSmolken** » Tue Sep 24, 2013 7:39 am

Definitely worth a mention. I mean, it's big and they're showing it sitting close to horizontal. So even if it's not a complete computer, it does reinforce my thinking that I should get something that will easily sit at that angle, and that is as big as I feel like lugging to shows along with the other gear I'll need.

Vintage73 · Post by **Vintage73** » Tue Sep 24, 2013 11:00 am

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6824009438

Can lay nearly flat.

Shop around. I only linked to NewEgg because they give the stats.

There's a 27" version available, too.

DSmolken · Post by **DSmolken** » Fri Sep 27, 2013 8:23 am

Thanks for all the advice. Ordered the Dell XPS 18 - I'd love something bigger, but I think 18" is as big as I want to deal with lugging to shows where I'll also have to bring vocal mics, a bunch of cables, a few instruments etc. This thread did convince me that 13" or 14" would be much too small.

holdebolder · Post by **holdebolder** » Fri Oct 25, 2013 3:04 pm

I have a 23inch touchscreen as a second monitor mounted on a rack. I love it. I have used it a few times live, but no thanx no more.

You see the nice picture above with a guy and a huge touchscreen. But he is doing it's job under very specific conditions.
It works indeed and it looks cool.

But a few drawbacks i encountered:
- in most live situations there is lot of lightning spreaded out on the stage. This does under certain conditions interfear with the touchscreen
- in some live conditions smoke machines are used. They are dust-spreaders. These dust particles can severely interfere with you touchscreen.
- my screen is mounted on a rack but tilted. Moisture accumulates in live conditions very often at the roof, so waterdrops can fall down and can interfere with your touchscreen.

all together: i love touchscreens, but nothankyou on stage anymore

kind regards

psychoxkps · Post by **psychoxkps** » Mon Nov 04, 2013 10:48 pm

its logical....

DSmolken · Post by **DSmolken** » Tue Nov 05, 2013 12:42 pm

I'll see how it really works in real life soon. Finally got my hands on the Dell this weekend - bought it in Texas because it's a cheaper there, and it took a while for my family to bring it from Texas to England and then to Poland. Started moving software and data over to it, so first impression is: it's nice to play with synth parameters and faders right there on the screen, and a bigger screen would be even better but this is as big as I'll feel like lugging to gigs.

At least I'm not famous enough or dark enough to perform with smoke machines.

KVR Audio

Are bigger touch screens more useful?

Best size?