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thecrazyg
Senior Member
Australia
451 posts
Joined: Jun, 2003
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 Posted - 2006/08/14 : 04:09:24
OK so I'm looking at getting a new computer, most likely a laptop that I can use for uni etc - Somewhere along the line I want to get into production and live stuff as well, and just was wondering what sort of specs I should be looking for?
At the moment I'm looking at the new macbooks as I get a pretty decent discount on them for being a student - currently looking at ones with either 1.83 or 2ghz dual core with 1gb ram - would this be sufficient?
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XtarsiA
Senior Member
United Kingdom
431 posts
Joined: Mar, 2005
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Posted - 2006/08/14 : 08:51:07
those specs would be fine... only thing wrong.. there macs.
i run a lappy :D its gettin pretty old now but 1.8ghz 64bit chip n 512mb ram does me fine! havent had shortages of cpu yet so, all is well :D
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thecrazyg
Senior Member
Australia
451 posts
Joined: Jun, 2003
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Posted - 2006/08/14 : 14:43:32
awesome, thanks. . .
now just to decide... turns out that a dell will be cheaper than a mac anyway for wat u get so ill go with that...
and try n save some freakin money :S
just out of curiosity, whats wrong with macs in terms of producing?
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Edited by - thecrazyg on 2006/08/14 14:44:52 |
Chris Goldfinger
Senior Member
United Kingdom
311 posts
Joined: May, 2006
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Posted - 2006/08/14 : 15:15:22
i no idea about macs as i have never used one, but my advice would be go with dell
if you spend the same amount on a dell as you would a mac the dell will be absolute quality where as a mac would be just half decent
i have no idea how apple can justify the over inflated prices
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XtarsiA
Senior Member
United Kingdom
431 posts
Joined: Mar, 2005
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Posted - 2006/08/14 : 16:08:53
quote:
Originally posted by thecrazyg:
just out of curiosity, whats wrong with macs in terms of producing?
well, i have a passionate hatred for macintosh lol (dont know why really tho)
but now that there running PC chips there just PC's with a different case and GUI.
so really just pick wichever is best for u, wich given prices, get the dell. like chris said
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silver
Admin
Japan
12,565 posts
Joined: Feb, 2001
894 hardcore releases
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Posted - 2006/08/15 : 04:35:10
You really don't want to play live, all live groups don't play live midi or cubase. all you need is a laptop that can play a WAV file and your good. If you really want to "play" live mix down an edit of your tunes without the main riff part or piano or something then play it live.
Also if your track has vocals, mixdown an edit with only 20% volume or none on the vocals and get your singer to sing live.
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thecrazyg
Senior Member
Australia
451 posts
Joined: Jun, 2003
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Posted - 2006/08/16 : 14:51:15
Ive decided im not really the performing type anyway, so live is out of the game. . even though i think playing 'truly' live (playing melodies, vocals, etc) is an interesting prospect.
I am also having second thoughts about which i value more:
the power of a desktop
or
the mobility of a laptop
both are useful to me, both are just 'wants' not 'needs'.
how do i decide? ARGH!
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Woxxy
Junior Member
Sweden
142 posts
Joined: Oct, 2002
36 hardcore releases
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Posted - 2006/08/16 : 23:22:12
quote:
Originally posted by thecrazyg:
Ive decided im not really the performing type anyway, so live is out of the game. . even though i think playing 'truly' live (playing melodies, vocals, etc) is an interesting prospect.
I am also having second thoughts about which i value more:
the power of a desktop
or
the mobility of a laptop
both are useful to me, both are just 'wants' not 'needs'.
how do i decide? ARGH!
About PC/Mac:
Either one is fine. The most important part is that the platform runs the software you will be using. Most music-software runs on both PC and Mac, except for Logic which was only updated for Mac.
General advice, if you can live without the novelty of owning a Mac and want to have more software (generally speaking) on your platform, go for a PC.
I personally see no reason for owning a Mac.
About performing live:
You may actually want to consider learning how to play live just like Silver said. It's not that hard and it sounds really professional. You can always tweak filters and the likes, live.
About stationary/laptop:
If you can live without a laptop in school, I would choose stationary over portable any day of the week. Stationary PCs are always more bang for the buck than portables. Upgrading is alot cheaper and easier aswell.
Personally, I think laptops are useless unless you're playing live, since you more often than not will have alot of VSTs/AUs running when you're producing, which takes alot of CPU, which of course the laptop has less of, compared to the stationary PC. And considering University purposes, you probably have computer rooms (like every other University I've ever heard of, including my own) and using a laptop during class always draws away your attention from the teacher.
So, conclusion of my own personal opinions:
Stationary PC for producing. Laptop PC for performing live.
You may also want to consider buying a firewire audio interface (like the ones from http://www.m-audio.com/) with midi-ins in case you ever do get a laptop for performing live (a cheap latop will suffice).
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thecrazyg
Senior Member
Australia
451 posts
Joined: Jun, 2003
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Posted - 2006/08/19 : 14:45:08
the live thing does still intrigue me. . it definitely seems like 'the way forward' . .
I've decided I'm going to go for a laptop anyway, and get a console to handle my gaming wants , which were a big part of why I was erring towards desktop.
I'm still cut between mac & other laptops - macs are actually very reasonably priced for me bing a student & getting discount, and compared to similar spec windows core duo laptops I can save quite a bit (except on dell. . but who wants an exploding laptop :P )
I hear the macbooks will be getting core 2 duo in a month or so too which will be nice...
Anyhow. . thanks for the input. . I'm sure ill change my mind 6000 times more before I buy something, and then still wonder if i did the right thing afterwards, im cut so evenly down the middle on this one.
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No Left Turn
Senior Member
United States
474 posts
Joined: Nov, 2001
242 hardcore releases
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Posted - 2006/08/20 : 19:26:56
Looking at your options, and your pros and cons the laptop definitely would give you the best of both worlds. You'll have a powerhouse workstation that you can take anywhere with you. The only downside of not having a desktop is that the laptop won't be as easily upgradable. Big deal. I honestly can't see a 2.0GHz dual-core being "slow" even in 2 years. You'll still be able to run the hundreds of plugins without your CPU breaking a sweat.
As far as playing out with your laptop, there are numerous ways you can use it for a live performance. Live PA, Serato Scratch Live / Final Scratch, a super glitched out Ableton Live set, a "normal" dj set, there's so many things you can do. Experiment with them, see what works for you and find crazy things to do that you don't see others doing.
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Underloop
Advanced Member
United Kingdom
3,895 posts
Joined: Mar, 2002
91 hardcore releases
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Posted - 2006/08/20 : 20:36:30
quote:
Originally posted by No Left Turn:
....find crazy things to do that you don't see others doing.
Best advice ever!
Oh, and my 2 cents worth on the computer - get a desktop. Now that flat screens are the norm, you've not got a drastic amount more stuff to carry than a laptop. The benefits?
Flexibility
1) cheaper to upgrade
2) horrible scenario - graphics card dies while your doing sound checks before the gig - simply get in your car, go to maplin and buy a new one, slot it in, install drivers and your away again - 1 hour tops. Taht happens witha laptop and your up the swanny!
stability
live situations are nasty for any equipment. Smokey, hot and humid. Laptops tend to run a bit hotter than desktops anyway due to their compact nature. Plus if you find your desktop runing a bit warm, simply stck a couple fo dozen system fans in (I'm sure you won't hear them over the sreaming teenage girls throwing their knickers at you on stage!)
security
how easy is it for Rob Bing to pick up a laptop as he's walking past? You can't be with it constantly, all it takes is someone to distract you while your dismantling your gear.
price
desktops are cheaper. end of.
The only 2 pluses that laptops have are battery power and they are more portable.
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thecrazyg
Senior Member
Australia
451 posts
Joined: Jun, 2003
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Posted - 2006/08/21 : 03:19:44
Hey underloop, those are good points... PCs are very portable now esp. if I put a bit more into getting the right case.
Particularly the replaceability of parts etc. is a big plus in my opinion, cos like you said. . laptop breaks down. . what can ya do about it?
This especially worries me once the 1 year warranty included runs out. . then you're right up shit creek if the motherboard or something similarly unreplacable kicks it.
The way I'm looking at things now is this: I will get a PC with max CPU & ram, just use onboard video to begin with, but get quality parts & make sure its got the slots etc. for upgradability.
Then later once I've got more experience in production. . I will assess whether or not I *need* a laptop for going live or if i can just cart my box around.
Thanks everyone. . the picture is becoming ever so slightly clearer as the days go by ;) Glad I havent rushed into it.
*expect 2350890854.124 more changes of mind*
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If someone ever asks you why,
you spend your weekends getting high,
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IM HARDCORE UNTIL I DIE!
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