Live performance/DJ laptop considerations

aquafreak · 7th November 2010

I am another one of those tortured souls trying to decide on a laptop for live performance. I would primarily be using Ableton and Torq, perhaps Traktor later on. It would primarily be DJ gigs where it needs to be as stable as possible for like 2+ hrs. Before I posted this, I found a similar thread that said "I would never trust a Vista laptop for live performance.".....So now we are in the era of 7.

So...A Dell XPS 17" can potentially be ordered with 16GB of RAM and Intel i7-840QM (1.86GHz, 8 threads, turbo boost up to 3.2Ghz, 8M cache). All this still comes out significantly cheaper than a MacBook Pro 15", with 8GB of RAM and 2.8Ghz i7.

My big problem with Windows is all the hidden processes - I have tried to optimize my Vista PC for music production, but all the freaking itunes processes force themselves open, for example. I am not as savvy as some on here despite all my researching. I have no experience with 7 yet. What is the current thinking on this - does the setup i mention trump a macbook pro, or still apples and oranges?

phas3d · 9th November 2010

I've been using a 15" MBP since 2007 with 4GB RAM. Therefore a C2D model. And it never failed on me. Not even once. I use Traktor Pro controlled by vinyl timecode disc.

T.R. · 9th November 2010

You will less likely run into stabilty problems with a Mac. And as the poster above me stated, timecode- vinyl is the most stable solution for DJing purposes. If you like the workflow of CDs better, just go for the timecode- CDs but being honest: if a club has turntables, you will mostly have two 12xx at your disposal. If they got CDJs, it could be Pioneers or chinese child- labour crap without any reasonable quality control.
Will you be touring with that setup? What kind of performance are we talking here? Outboard effects? The more info you provide, the better the answers we can give.

All the best!

Luke2010 · 12th December 2010

Quote:

Originally Posted by phas3d

I've been using a 15" MBP since 2007 with 4GB RAM. Therefore a C2D model. And it never failed on me. Not even once. I use Traktor Pro controlled by vinyl timecode disc.

what audio interface do you use?

7th November 2010	#1
aquafreak Gear Head Joined: Nov 2007 Location: washington, dc Posts: 57 Thread Starter	Live performance/DJ laptop considerations I am another one of those tortured souls trying to decide on a laptop for live performance. I would primarily be using Ableton and Torq, perhaps Traktor later on. It would primarily be DJ gigs where it needs to be as stable as possible for like 2+ hrs. Before I posted this, I found a similar thread that said "I would never trust a Vista laptop for live performance.".....So now we are in the era of 7. So...A Dell XPS 17" can potentially be ordered with 16GB of RAM and Intel i7-840QM (1.86GHz, 8 threads, turbo boost up to 3.2Ghz, 8M cache). All this still comes out significantly cheaper than a MacBook Pro 15", with 8GB of RAM and 2.8Ghz i7. My big problem with Windows is all the hidden processes - I have tried to optimize my Vista PC for music production, but all the freaking itunes processes force themselves open, for example. I am not as savvy as some on here despite all my researching. I have no experience with 7 yet. What is the current thinking on this - does the setup i mention trump a macbook pro, or still apples and oranges? __________________ "I’m gonna go somewhere where I can finish a song" - Kevin Eubanks "To love music more than anything, that is unhappiness" - Paul Klee

9th November 2010	#2
phas3d Lives for gear Joined: Aug 2010 Posts: 1,934	Live performance/DJ laptop considerations I've been using a 15" MBP since 2007 with 4GB RAM. Therefore a C2D model. And it never failed on me. Not even once. I use Traktor Pro controlled by vinyl timecode disc. __________________ Certified Logic Trainer

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9th November 2010	#3
T.R. Gear maniac Joined: Sep 2010 Posts: 290	You will less likely run into stabilty problems with a Mac. And as the poster above me stated, timecode- vinyl is the most stable solution for DJing purposes. If you like the workflow of CDs better, just go for the timecode- CDs but being honest: if a club has turntables, you will mostly have two 12xx at your disposal. If they got CDJs, it could be Pioneers or chinese child- labour crap without any reasonable quality control. Will you be touring with that setup? What kind of performance are we talking here? Outboard effects? The more info you provide, the better the answers we can give. All the best!