Topic: How much to put a laptop rig together?

[dmonterisi]

so, i've got a notion to add a laptop to my rig...what's the bare minimum i would have to pay to set this up? It would have to be viable for about 9 months until i get a sd recorder (maybe sooner if they work right first time around and are on time)...I would need everything after the a/d...laptop itself, battery long enough for a show, i/o device that can handle 24/96 and some means of connecting it to my home pc...i would like it to be relatively small (shocking, i know), but if it was 9" deep when closed then it would fit in my current bag.  i would use it for nothing other than taping if that matters.

thanks for any suggestions

-damon

[rabhan]

24.48 vxpocket 200$
24.96 multiset 1000$

picturebook ~600-2000$

[John Kelly]

The emi 2|6 or 6|2 would also work for audio input.  They can be had for around $200, I believe (and do support 24/96).

Not too up to date on notebooks since I've been out of the PC world, but check ebay for deals on Fujitsus and Sonys...

[Wes]

the m-audio firewire 410 which is suspose to come out in a few days should be a good interface and mucho cheaper than the multiset ($400). right now those are the only 2 96K portable interfaces i know of.  besides that all you need is a computer.  i highly recommend the picturebooks.  p-book and quad- cap. battery will run around $1200 i think.  

[John Kelly]

Actually the 410 does 24/192.  I'm really looking forward to this thing, but I want to hear it before I throw in some cash.

And FYI, DigitalProAudio is selling them for $325.  Not too shabby.

[mirth]

I thought the 410 did 24/96 on the inputs and had an internal sampling rate of 192...

[John Kelly]

Yeah, it only takes in a 24/96 digi signal, but it'll do 24/192 conversion from the analog inputs.


I think.

[mirth]

'twould be kickass if true.

[DaryanLenz]

If size is an issue, look for a small laptop.  I have taped successfully usb out of the mini-me with a computer runiinng a 200mmx processor and 64mb of ram...audio does very little on the system bus, so anything more than 500mhz and 128mb is overkill if you are not planning on using it for anything but taping...which is what I do!  I hate laptops for anything but taping...too damn small and not fun to use ior type on!

daryan

[zhianosatch]

If size is an issue, look for a small laptop.  

Awesome advice, D.

[Simp-Dawg]

i wonder what the absolute minimum specs are...i have a 133mhz pentium 2 laptop with 48mb ram and a 2gb hdd at home, it would be fun to see if you could record on it.  it would also be fun to load it up with m80's and blow it to pieces.  it's heavy and thick and worthless to me...if anyone wants it LMK and make me an offer.  it has a battery (which does hold a charge), cd-rom, floppy (w/ external enclosure), NO usb ports, about 12" screen, works perfectly and has win98 on it.

[dmonterisi]

i wonder what the absolute minimum specs are...i have a 133mhz pentium 2 laptop with 48mb ram and a 2gb hdd at home, it would be fun to see if you could record on it.  it would also be fun to load it up with m80's and blow it to pieces.  

  +t

[kindms]

I currently run a UA-5 digi-MOD to a Sony PCG-GRS700k

It is way more notebook than needed but I got it as a Tower replacement that can tape in the field.

I have been running at 24/48 and love the results couldn't be happier. I haven't yet run at 24/96 only because I cannot playback the 24/48 files in their full glory yet.

specs on my laptop P4/1.8/1024/60GB and I use the valence N-Charge Battery as well as 2 internal Sony laptop batteries