Anyone Do Laptop Producing?

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DJ Mark 7

DJ Mark 7

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#1
Jul 18, 1977
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#1
I've been thinking about getting a laptop for production use in the future but have NO idea what I'd need as far as CPU, soundcard etc. I currently use a desktop that works fine but it would be nice to be able to bring the laptop places and work on shit mobile....All I really need is it to be stable enough to run Cubase w/VSTs and similiar programs to a midi controller without crashin the fuck out. And my guess would be an external soundcard correct?

I know there are like $4,000 laptops that do everything but what would be a basic setup at the least cost

Thank Ya
 
Kavie

Kavie

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#2
May 4, 2002
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I bought a laptop through Gateway (sure there are better companies to go through out there) for a little more then $2000. Running Windows XP Media Center and it works fine for everything that I'm running, although Media Center is suppose to not be compatible with a lot of hardware and software. I'm currently running Cubase, Reason, SONAR, FL Studio, and I'm able to run ProTools M-Powered. As far as everything but ProTools go, the stock soundcard that I have works fine, but I have a M-Audio MobilePre that runs off the USB power supply, and a M-Audio Oxygen 8 (USB MIDI controller) which also runs off the USB power supply. Only thing I'd say is either go with Windows XP Home or Professional or Vista, just be safe from the non-compatibilty issues that are "suppose" to be out there.

Here is a picture of the one I have. I bought the 17". I think it came in a 14" and 15" as well.

 
Defy

Defy

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#3
Jan 23, 2006
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Rich City
#3
if you're gonna get a laptop I'd suggest a macbook pro. especially since you dj you can use Serato as well as Ableton Live for shows and significantly cut down on records you bring with you to dj gigs. I run pro tools with an mbox and reason.....sometimes ableton live at the same time, but others just ableton & reason.....mine is just stock and usually don't have problems with latency....
 
Miguel Foreals

Miguel Foreals

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#4
Aug 8, 2006
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#4
Defy said:
if you're gonna get a laptop I'd suggest a macbook pro. especially since you dj you can use Serato as well as Ableton Live for shows and significantly cut down on records you bring with you to dj gigs. I run pro tools with an mbox and reason.....sometimes ableton live at the same time, but others just ableton & reason.....mine is just stock and usually don't have problems with latency....
Click to expand...

^^^^
 
DJ Mark 7

DJ Mark 7

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#6
Jul 18, 1977
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I have a separate laptop that I already use for Serato...I try to keep it pretty straight so that it doesnt freeze up on my gigs and whatnot...

a Mac would do the trick but unfortunatley all of the software I already have is for Windows....Thanks for the advice!
 
28g w/o the bag

28g w/o the bag

politically incorrect
#11
Jan 18, 2003
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#11
BOOBOO619 said:
I don't have a laptop, but I got a desktop and do desktop producing. haha


What you guys think of this beat I just made, it was done with all freeware plugins (bassline synth, 2 funky lead synths & Piano), except the pad synth is Pro-53:


http://www.zshare.net/audio/70082451e1c936/






Anyways, definitely give BootCamp a shot. Them MacBook Pros are nice.
Click to expand...
shit sounds pretty clean... i'm trying to achieve a sound with similar qualities to this

and so far, boot camp on 10.5.1 runs flawlessly with Win XP on my macbook... but i haven't tried out any pro audio applications on it yet

far as a sound card goes... i connect my behringer truths to my computer via mbox2 mini

::
 
Defy

Defy

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#12
Jan 23, 2006
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Rich City
#12
you like 10.5? I haven't upgraded yet....actually I need to get a dual layer disc cuz I got the disc image sitting on my hard drive
 
28g w/o the bag

28g w/o the bag

politically incorrect
#13
Jan 18, 2003
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#13
yeah the shit is coo, only thing is i had to trash cubase se because it absolutely refuses to work on 10.5... and loading up a beat i made on se with cubase studio 4 causes problems like having to load up all the drums on battery all over again, and setting all the instruments on each VST i got loaded up

::
 
V

Vince V.

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#14
Mar 22, 2004
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10.5 has hella issues with music stuff right now, that's the main reason I haven't upgraded yet. I hear nothing but complaints when it comes to running music apps.. . .
 
BOOBOO619

BOOBOO619

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#16
Apr 26, 2006
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#16
maculentways said:
shit sounds pretty clean... i'm trying to achieve a sound with similar qualities to this

and so far, boot camp on 10.5.1 runs flawlessly with Win XP on my macbook... but i haven't tried out any pro audio applications on it yet

far as a sound card goes... i connect my behringer truths to my computer via mbox2 mini

::
Click to expand...
Thanks. I didn't do any mastering or anything of that nature either. As a matter of fact, I really don't know how. I just level shit out and pan my instruments. Alls I added on the master channel of FL Studio's mixer was a Limiter that has multi-band compression and a slight touch of BBE Sonic Maximiser, just subtle amounts so it doesn't completely sound squashed or lose much dynamics.

If your wondering what plugins I used:
1. Asynth (freeware) - Bassline synth
2. Asynth - Square wave synth lead
3. PolyIblit (freeware) - Sawtooth wave synth lead
4. Pro-53 - Pad synth
5. Yannleo Accentor X-1 Grand Piano (Freeware) - Piano chords

That's it, really simple.
 
Defy

Defy

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#17
Jan 23, 2006
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Rich City
#17
Vince V. said:
10.5 has hella issues with music stuff right now, that's the main reason I haven't upgraded yet. I hear nothing but complaints when it comes to running music apps.. . .
Click to expand...
that's kinda why I haven't upgraded, but its like that with all updates where shit won't work.....Ive been dealing with that kind of shit since upgrading from os9, so there wackulentways!!!!
lol j/p
 
916Fine$t

916Fine$t

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#18
Dec 20, 2007
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#18
i dont kno too much about cubase in cpu usage wise but i have a dell b130 1.7mhz centrino that does the job just fine in fl studio. i had latency issues until i changed my buffer rate then it worked fine. i use tons of vst's and have less than 4 gigs left on my HD basically anything will do the job u just gotta tweek it till it works. im usin my yamaha EZ250i as my midi controller and it works like a charm
 
DJ LOON

DJ LOON

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#19
May 9, 2003
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#19
i use the macbook with mbox 1 protools. with external harddrive no freeze ups ever, (/knocks on wood). 2.0ghz intel duo 2 core whatever lol should look for that in a laptop anything less sucks. it will do the job though.
 
BOOBOO619

BOOBOO619

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#20
Apr 26, 2006
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#20
How does an Intel Dual Core 2 (2.0GHz) compare to an Intel Pentium IV 3.2 GHz?

Right now I have an Intel Pentium IV 3.2 GHz on a desktop, just wondering how those CPUs differ.


Is a Dual Core2 2.0GHz really:
2.0GHz X 2 = 4.0 GHz

?????
 
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