Topic: Min. Requirements for 24bit laptop recording?

[Rick]

I’m looking to get into 24bit recording. It looks like you can get some good deals on laptops on ebay. Can anyone suggest recommended basic requirements I should look for in PC laptop?

i.e Processor, RAM, HD….etc

Thanks!

[sygdwm]

http://www.24bitfaq.org/

a little dated but a good read

d

[Rick]

So any 1+ GHz, 256MB RAM and 10+ GB laptop should be fine then? That should be easy enough to find. I guess battery power is the only other issue.

So what are some good websites to buy used/refurbished laptops?

[mirth]

I hear Dells will give you a glitch in your recording whenever the lid is opened/closed. I tape successfully using a Celeron 400Mhz w/192MB RAM and a 6GB hard drive. Its all in how you tweak the OS.

[Electric Cowgirl]

Rick-

IMO (i don't know a lot about computers outside of recording) you should look for something with maximum RAM and at least 30GB of memory.  You want something that is fast with plenty of room to store your recordings.  You do not want to have to delete a show to make room.  Also the smaller the better.  I use a fujitsu lifebook....it is very small and has been very reliable. 

As far as batteries go check out electrovaya power pads.  They work with any laptop and are exceptional.  I get 10 hours with the lid open of recording time with the 120.  Electrovaya also makes a 160 that will give longer record times.  Check for them on ebay..a bit pricey but worth every penny. Also make sure you get the right one (120A, 120B...ect) to go with your laptop.

One more thing to consider is your pre/ad.  You will need something that will produce a 24/96 or 24/48 signal. This includes Mini-Me, UA5(cheapest) and the V3.  With the V3 you will need to get something to go from coax to USB or better yet firewire. 

Also you will need a recording program.  I like Wavelab since it does a seemless split after you have recorded 2.0 gb of music.

I LOVE recording to laptop.  It is super easy once you get the bugs worked out, and NO transfers.  Just plug into your stereo or heaphones and add the trackmarks.  Too easy.

[scb]

>>So any 1+ GHz, 256MB RAM and 10+ GB laptop should be fine then?<<

half that speed should be fine

[rustle]

>>So any 1+ GHz, 256MB RAM and 10+ GB laptop should be fine then?<<

half that speed should be fine

This is true. But I wish I had started with at least 800mHz processor. That way I could use an external DVD drive to burn right to DVD-A (with the proper software). This would have saved me even more time

[Rick]

Rick-

IMO (i don't know a lot about computers outside of recording) you should look for something with maximum RAM and at least 30GB of memory.  You want something that is fast with plenty of room to store your recordings.  You do not want to have to delete a show to make room.  Also the smaller the better.  I use a fujitsu lifebook....it is very small and has been very reliable. 

As far as batteries go check out electrovaya power pads.  They work with any laptop and are exceptional.  I get 10 hours with the lid open of recording time with the 120.  Electrovaya also makes a 160 that will give longer record times.  Check for them on ebay..a bit pricey but worth every penny. Also make sure you get the right one (120A, 120B...ect) to go with your laptop.

One more thing to consider is your pre/ad.  You will need something that will produce a 24/96 or 24/48 signal. This includes Mini-Me, UA5(cheapest) and the V3.  With the V3 you will need to get something to go from coax to USB or better yet firewire. 

Also you will need a recording program.  I like Wavelab since it does a seemless split after you have recorded 2.0 gb of music.

I LOVE recording to laptop.  It is super easy once you get the bugs worked out, and NO transfers.  Just plug into your stereo or heaphones and add the trackmarks.  Too easy.

Thanks for the info, I allready have the UA-5 so I'm on the way.

[caymanreview]

im using a picturebook with 15gig HD and 677mhz, and 128mb ram with zero problems except through usb, and i think that was user error

im doing 24/96 via firewire, and had zero problems doing 24/48 via a vx pocket

[Rick]

im using a picturebook with 15gig HD and 677mhz, and 128mb ram with zero problems except through usb, and i think that was user error

im doing 24/96 via firewire, and had zero problems doing 24/48 via a vx pocket

Idealy I'd like to get one of those. Seems like they sell for alot more then a similar speed computer though.

Anyone thinking about selling one 

[caymanreview]

the picturebook processors are a little different though

the crusoe processors (mostly and only in picturebooks???) are maybe the best ever made for battery life and such

ive heard alot of people say they had the 600-667mhz picturebooks and they were faster than the higher mhz machines, both having the same ram, im not sure exactly why

[caymanreview]

im using a picturebook with 15gig HD and 677mhz, and 128mb ram with zero problems except through usb, and i think that was user error

im doing 24/96 via firewire, and had zero problems doing 24/48 via a vx pocket

Idealy I'd like to get one of those. Seems like they sell for alot more then a similar speed computer though.

Anyone thinking about selling one 

il possibly have one for sale end of the month. looking at either a new desktop or laptop to replace the ones i have. ideallys its gonna be a nice mac laptop

i have one all set up with dual boot, and a really nice external power pack that was cuystom made

[dklein]

You might want to track down Jamie Lutch - he posted his recently.  All kinds of nice homemade power devices as well.

[John Kelly]

the crusoe processors (mostly and only in picturebooks???) are maybe the best ever made for battery life and such

*cough*G3*cough*

[Rick]

im using a picturebook with 15gig HD and 677mhz, and 128mb ram with zero problems except through usb, and i think that was user error

im doing 24/96 via firewire, and had zero problems doing 24/48 via a vx pocket

Idealy I'd like to get one of those. Seems like they sell for alot more then a similar speed computer though.

Anyone thinking about selling one 

il possibly have one for sale end of the month. looking at either a new desktop or laptop to replace the ones i have. ideallys its gonna be a nice mac laptop

i have one all set up with dual boot, and a really nice external power pack that was cuystom made

Well please let me know if you do decide to sell it!

[caymanreview]

il know right around the last part of the month, and the way im leaning now is to sell it and get a new powerbook

cant beat a zero interest loan from work to get a new laptop!

[Rick]

What about iBooks? Are the requirements about the same?

[John Kelly]

I've done 24 bit on an iBook 500, and I know others who use the old clamshell iBooks.  Basically any iBook would work.

[Rick]

Cool! When then its an iBook or Picturebook then