Need a laptop for recording 16+ tracks at a time

[AllanD]

My current laptop gave me nothing but issues when I tried to do a live recording on Sunday. Clicks, pops, fizzing, and dropouts. What should my minimum specs be? I use Windows only, no macs. Using a Saffire 40 into the Saffire 56's ADAT, into my firewire card. I need firewire or an express slot for my current firewire card. Pretend budget isn't an issue, but let's try to keep it not too high. Suggestions?

 

[AllanD]

Bump, surely some guys can chime in.

 

[jackbraglia]

well if budget isn't an issue then why not get a mac?

 

[AllanD]

Without starting a war, I don't like Mac's and I believe they're overpriced. There's no budget, but obviously I don't want to be putting in more money than I need to.


I'll consider a DIY PC with a really portable case!

 

[jackbraglia]

haha, you sound like me from about 10 years ago. I was all about PC's since I was and still am a gamer. Then I went to audio school, learned pro tools on a mac, then got one myself and realized what a fool i had been for most of my life saying macs suck just because they're more expensive. when in reality i was hating on them because they are "trendy". the fact of the matter is they will last you much longer than any other store-bought computer and will retain their value for wayyyyy longer than ANY pc, and are well worth the extra money when you factor that in. not to mention that it is a much more stable platform based on unix, you'll find that having a reliable computer is far more important when doing live recording than a cost-effective computer. with that said, if you know how to build a PC from the ground up, then why even post this thread? that is the obvious way to go. put in as much power as you can afford...bada bing bada boom, end of thread, lol.

 

[jackbraglia]

also, speaking of small form-factors, check out the mac mini. its cheap (starts at $600), its tiny, powerful, and the guys at the apple genius bar tell me its the most well-built mac ever designed. something about all of the pathways being far shorter than any other computer in existence. so that thing will last you at least 6 years

 

[t-rave]

guys on gearslutz.com are pulling 40-80 or more tracks on there HP elitebooks.

heres a thread discussing working pc laptops..

http://www.gearslutz.com/board/musi...pc-laptops-buyers-guide-lets-make-sticky.html

these are workstation class laptops and not the garbage you get at best buy..

for the pc world avid, motu, and cakewalk use these to demo software at trade shows..

prices are going to be in the apple range but you'll get more bang for your buck...

http://www.cakewalk.com/PCResource/review.aspx?ID=1043

http://www.motu.com/newsitems/digital-performer-does-windows

 

[PhilTheBeard]

I know the dell xps series with an i7 in it will do the job just fine