25th June 2007
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#1 | | Lives for gear
Joined: Sep 2004 Location: Washington, DC
Posts: 8,117
Thread Starter  |  The laptop studio 2007: How to carry it all?
For my studio-in-a-cafe-or-hotel-room rig, I have a 17" macbook pro (the latest version --- superpowerful!) Mbox mini (mainly for editing, listening) an m-audio axiom 25 (really cool, two octaves, just enough to input notes) a firewire drive shure KSM44 (not particularly sexy from a GS perspective, but very useful and versatile, particularly for demos) a set of 7506 headphones
I own a massive amount of software (all legally purchased) and switch back and forth between Digital Performer, Live, and Pro Tools, depending on what I'm trying to do. I would love to have Logic as well, but I haven't had the need for it yet. I like the way it looks though. And that counts for a lot when you're staring at a screen all day...
Anyway, i'm going on an 11-day trip to Michigan w/ the girlfriend. Mostly to go swimming, drink wine, read books, relax and, y'know, have sex and stuff. I believe this is called "a vacation."
There will be times when she is occupied (sunbathing or hiking or whatever) when I can sneak off and make demos... basically, use my laptop like a 4-track cassette recorder for song ideas, etc. I have a bunch of new tunes/ideas in my head. Would like to sketch them out.
Do you guys have suggestions for travel bags that would carry all of this gear elegantly?
All suggestions welcome. Would love something that is light and stylish and efficient. I'm all about setting up in cafes and making a record while sipping iced soy lattes and letting people walk by...
Lemmeknow.
- c
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25th June 2007
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#2 | | Gear maniac
Joined: Oct 2006 Location: boston
Posts: 233
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25th June 2007
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#3 | | Lives for gear
Joined: Sep 2004 Location: Washington, DC
Posts: 8,117
Thread Starter |
cool. thank you!
other suggestions?
m-audio is cool, i suppose, but i would prefer not to cart around a massive advertisement for the company. if they wanna brandish their logo, i want the product for free. seems logical to me.
but maybe all of these companies are gonna have huge logos. maybe i oughta get used to that.
keep the suggestions coming. i'm gonna order in the next 48 hours or so.
- c
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25th June 2007
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#4 | | Lives for gear
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 880
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Put something on the logo and you're fine :-)
Never used those bags, anyway, but they seem to be ok for what you need.
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25th June 2007
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#5 | | Lives for gear
Joined: Jul 2005 Location: Phoenix, AZ
Posts: 2,359
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If you're traveling more than just this trip, you might look into something by Pelican. They're a bit pricey, but you don't have to worry so much about dropping the bag, or someone sitting on it and crushing something.
The laptop will be fine in a shoulder bag, of course, since you won't likely check that on an airplane.
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25th June 2007
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#6 | | Lives for gear
Joined: May 2006 Location: Haifa,Israel
Posts: 1,283
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Any good large laptop oriented bag will do I'm attending college (technology,not music related) next year and wanted to be able to take a small portable setup with me to move around between my main studio and the dorms and also for gigs.
The setup includes my small midi 25keys,motu ultralite ,IBM Laptop and AT M40fs headphones ,some cables and still have room left for some notes that i'l need for school so i got this one Targus 15.4" Urban Backpack
79$ and fits everything,very comfortable on your back,also the laptop has a spacial padded compartment which is a plus.
Btw,are you planning on taking a mic boom with you to the hotel? :P | |
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25th June 2007
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#7 | | Lives for gear
Joined: Mar 2004 Location: berlin
Posts: 1,887
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there are many laptop bags on the market http://www.amazon.com/b/ref=amb_link...pf_rd_i=541966
some solutions are even on wheels which i find cool when you want to move real much equipment.
how long is battery duration?
how do you like the glossy screen?
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25th June 2007
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#8 | | Gear maniac
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 163
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How about a lowpro photographers backback..the laptop ones? They have a section at the back for the laptop, and the front divides into 2 parts.
I have the 'compudaypack' model which I bought for my camera gear and i use it with my portable protools system as well. Can fit laptop, mbox mini, firewire drive, headphs, teeny speakers and cabling/pw supplies, and the usual stuff - wallet, pencil case notebook etc.
Seem to well made... I'm one of those people that wrecks bags by stuffing too much crap in 'em, havnt busted a stitch yet.
Birdi
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25th June 2007
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#9 | | Gear maniac
Joined: Sep 2004 Location: New York, New York
Posts: 276
| a x i o Incase Products
I like the dub bag w/ a hardsleeve
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25th June 2007
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#10 | | Gearslutz.com admin
Joined: Apr 2002 Location: A Yank in London, UK  |
New Macbook / romantic trip with the girlfriend
Seldom do people dare to mention both in the same sentence!  | |
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25th June 2007
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#11 | | Lives for gear
Joined: Dec 2002 Location: London
Posts: 1,128
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25th June 2007
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#12 | | Lives for gear
Joined: Sep 2004 Location: Washington, DC
Posts: 8,117
Thread Starter | Quote:
Originally Posted by Tomer1  Btw,are you planning on taking a mic boom with you to the hotel? :P
[/LEFT] | yeah, a small unassuming one stays in the car trunk.
but i see your point. 
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25th June 2007
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#13 | | Lives for gear
Joined: Sep 2004 Location: Washington, DC
Posts: 8,117
Thread Starter | Quote:
Originally Posted by Jules New Macbook / romantic trip with the girlfriend
Seldom do people dare to mention both in the same sentence! | Yeah, I like to live dangerously, apparently.
We're staying in a friend's summer house. I am hoping that there will be "downtime" when I can go off and be creative without being boorish or alienating. My girlfriend and I are both avid readers, so I'm hoping to use some of the time that would normally go to sitting around reading to, y'know, make some beats and sounds in my headphones.
We'll see how well all of this goes...
Btw, I showed her your post and she laughed and said "I like that guy. Bookmark that remark."
- c
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25th June 2007
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#14 | | Lives for gear
Joined: Sep 2004 Location: Washington, DC
Posts: 8,117
Thread Starter | Thanks for all of these suggestions!
Very much appreciated. Very helpful. Thank you to everyone.
- c
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26th June 2007
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#15 | | Gear maniac
Joined: Aug 2006 Location: NC
Posts: 231
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26th June 2007
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#16 | | Lives for gear
Joined: Apr 2007 Location: Akron, Ohio
Posts: 548
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Hey I got a big Gigskinz book bag. It has a slot for the laptop. plenty of room for cables and mics. There are 4 outside pockets which i put cables in. And I put my small 12chnl mixer in the bag, with my laptop and mics. Its very durable, and water resistant, so if you spill your latte, dont worry!
I really like these! GigSkinz Bags: Gig Bags, Bags for Gigs | |
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29th June 2007
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#17 | | Lives for gear
Joined: Sep 2004 Location: Washington, DC
Posts: 8,117
Thread Starter | update
Got a couple of PMs asking me what I ended up with. I bought this and it's truly amazing. stylish, well-designed, snug, perfect, feels like the laptop and the other gear inside is very safe and protected. I'm not psyched I'm a walking Digidesign advertisement now, but it really is a great bag. All things considered, not so bad.
For the Axiom25, I bought a mini keyboard bag from Gator that has absolutely the most hideous, huge, embarrassing logo I've ever seen --- much more garish than this photo would suggest --- so I wouldn't recommend that. I don't know what they were thinking. I'm covering it up with black tape 'cause I can't even bear to look at it.
Aesthetics are important. Life is short...
- c
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29th June 2007
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#18 | | Lives for gear
Joined: Sep 2006 Location: Toronto
Posts: 1,137
| Quote:
Originally Posted by Birdi How about a lowpro photographers backback..the laptop ones? They have a section at the back for the laptop, and the front divides into 2 parts.
I have the 'compudaypack' model which I bought for my camera gear and i use it with my portable protools system as well. Can fit laptop, mbox mini, firewire drive, headphs, teeny speakers and cabling/pw supplies, and the usual stuff - wallet, pencil case notebook etc.
Seem to well made... I'm one of those people that wrecks bags by stuffing too much crap in 'em, havnt busted a stitch yet.
Birdi | I second that!! best thing I have. jam packed with 2 4050s(and showckmounts), 2 4041s, apogee minimi, RME quad micpre, headphone amp and a whole ton of other random small things. You can totally customize those bags.
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