AUdio Notebook

[FORMAT]

Hi guys.
I am currently trying to decide which notebook to buy, I am wanting to combine pre-recorded stuff with sound manipulation (I've got Ableton's Live, wicked for that kind of thing!) and live musicians.
Any advice?? I am still not set on PC or mac, although I use a PC in my studio setup.
Any advice would be welcome.

Regards
Roland

[c s]

then why not stick to pc. for example you can easily connect both via ethernet and transfer your samples which is not so easy between mac & pc (although possible, people say). also you save 1000 euros or more (depends on notebook manufacturer you choose) which you can spend on something else. also i'd suggest to go for 15" TFT, 14" minimum.

[FORMAT]

Thanx cs
I see you're from Germany too? I would really like to know what notebooks are recommended... because Win laptops can be very unsuitable for audio, as the tests on www.rme-audio.com revealed..... so if anyone has practical experience.... just shout! What are YOU using?

[c s]

you started a thread before on this topic a week ago to which i replied so i didn't repeat everything - i use some gericom(network) notebook, those cheap ones from mediamarkt or saturn. disadvantages: battery doesn't last too long (but irrelevant to me), machine gets a bit hot (but never caused problems even in hot clubs up to now) - advantages: unbeatable price - toshiba or so is much more expensive and hasn't even got more power. with an external sound device such as egosys u2a and w2k as os everything works perfect for me.

600mhz pentium III, intel bx chipset, 128 mb ram, 8 mb ati rage graphics - and this is important as newer notebooks often use "shared memory graphics" which steals memory from the main ram for graphics. avoid this at all costs and choose a machine with real graphics memory.

[FORMAT]

Thanx a lot - I believe the forum was down for a few days, which must be the reason for me not recieving your message. The Gericom has been recommended by a munich audio computer expert too. One last Q: Was your laptop configured by a "professional" comp tweaker, or is yours off the shelf? This seems to me to be the decisive factor when it comes to whether a machine works or not.
Thanks again for your time
Roland
PS your web site is really interesting!

[c s]

errm i don't know if it was configured by a "pro comp tweaker" - it was configured by myself... lol hmm i think i do know some basics.

website praise -> thanks! (actually i'm fighting some problems altering the flash stuff today. i seem to lack some fonts i once had installed ?!)

[FORMAT]

Well, I guess as long as the notebook works.... you CAN proclaim yourself a computer config professional..... I'll have to shell out 500 DM (still thinking in old money terms.....) to get a guy to do that for me... bit expensive, that's why I'm thinking about doing the mobile stuff on a Mac. Although I do know a fair amount about operating systems (98), if there is a serious problem such as audio dropouts... I'm lost.
I didn't notice any problems on you website, I am currently downloading some of the stuff (takes ages on my 56k modem). I was particularly thrilled by a shot that shows your computer screen: Is that Reaktor?
How is the response from the audience when they see a sort of "live" act - I bet that's pretty unusual for techno??

Cheers,
Roland

[arar]

Ive used a pretty basic 650mhz 64mb ram note book and a kaoos pad for live stuff and just about got way with it..Ive seen emef from this board do live stuff from his notebook with a keyboard controller, and this has gone done fantasically well at many gigs recently...64mb isnt quite enough, im moving to 128 asap, ive also seen bob brown do aset of a note book,and I know taht Si Begg has done this, as has Twitch, and probably ibrahim alfa, so it isnt that unusual...

[FORMAT]

I'm coming from a funk/rock background as I'm a guitar player... so I'm not really current as to what's common and what's not... but I would like to combine musicians and laptops playing together, so any specific configurations and experiences with those will be very much appreciated... Thanx! The decisive question being: will a gericom or sony do without special tweaking or should i best get a TiBook?

Thanx all!

[c s]

it's really not that complicated. the basic rule is just to make sure no programs are running in the background, make a clean (new) install of w2k and then install only the drivers & audio programs. concerning dropouts - usually there is a slider in the (ASIO) driver's dialogue which you can adjust to increase buffer size. it's all quite easy i'd say as long as the system is not filled up with 1000 other programs (browserinstanmessagervirussca nnergamesicq...). if you need detailed hints on setting up the machine just drop me a mail...

...and save your 500 marks ! lol

yes i'm a reaktor fan !

[c s]

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[deccard]

rotorik: brought to you by native instruments

[Loz]

I've got a Sony Viao laptop, was under £1000, and is a very nice machine. Screen is really good quality, too.

Onboard ethernet and modem, 20gb hard drive, 4 hour battery life, and for when you're bored, it's even got a DVD drive in it.

[FORMAT]

Hey guys,

thanx for all your hints! I guess now it's up to me to decide. As money is not so much as factor (I am willing to spend EVERYTHING for music), those Sonys look quite interesting too.

Regards,
Roland