macbook for location recording?

[BFSound]

Im in need of some opinions on which macbook configuration to get for a tracking, then later mixing OTB.

Something like the duo core 2.4, 4 GB ram, osx 10.6? 15-19 " screen

Thanks

[david335]

How many tracks will you be recording, throught what interface, and with what software? The answers to these questions will drastically change the recommendation.

[BFSound]

Studiolive 24.4.2, either reaper, or studio one. and 24 currently eventually up to 32-48.

Thanks

[Howie J]

BF,

I have a MBP 15" from last year. 2.4 Ghz C2D, 2GB RAM with the 9400/9600 combo cards and 256 MB video memory. I'm sure I'll bump to 4 GB someday. I'm running PTLE and have run the full 16 tracks for good long stretches of time (2-3 hours) without problems. It also handles Final Cut Studio projects pretty well.
I think you'll find the power of the current Mac Book Pro's more than enough for audio work. I know I haven't pushed mine anywhere near it's breaking point yet.

Obviously the screen size will determine specs a bit, but in the range you're talking about 15-17, you are in the range of higher spec choices.

....just my $.02

Howie J

[gareth.h.rees]

I like the 13" Macbook Pro because its a nice compact size, so good for general use.

However, the 15" and 17" Pro's have an express card slot, which would give you more options in the future.

[Audiop]

I thought only the 17" have the express card slot?


/Peter

[gareth.h.rees]

Originally Posted by Audiop

I thought only the 17" have the express card slot?

Woops, you are indeed correct.

Maybe the old 15" pro had an express card slot?

17" laptop may be good for recording, since the bigger screen is always nice. Not as fun to carry around in your bag for general use though!

[jpupo74]

For laptops and location recording, a Windows based system is a better bang for the buck and you can really tweak the OS to gain more power out of it. If you are all about the Apple then ignore my post.
Cheers,
Pupo

[Audiop]

Originally Posted by jpupo74

For laptops and location recording, a Windows based system is a better bang for the buck and you can really tweak the OS to gain more power out of it. If you are all about the Apple then ignore my post.
Cheers,
Pupo

IMO stability, low noise, good connectors, usable touchpad is more interesting than "bang for buck" when it comes to location recording. :-)

I paid 1000 euro and 60 hours of troubleshooting + many miles of car trips on my PC laptop with no compensation for loss of income during that time.

I'm sure there are stable windows PC laptops out there but you never know beforehand.

I only regret I didn't buy the 13" MBP earlier... oh wait it didn't exist back then.. :-) but the 15" my friend recommended would have saved me lots of trouble.


/Peter

[Junkie]

Originally Posted by BFSound

Studiolive 24.4.2, either reaper, or studio one. and 24 currently eventually up to 32-48.

Thanks

you want to record up to 48 channels? you have to check out the SADiE LRX2. it will record up to 64 channels over MADI and power up to 48 mics with the optional cards (d-type connections to a break out cable), the pres have been compared against Millenia.

A small box, all DSP is done inside the hardware, connect over USB2, no latency if you're overdubbing, you can mirror record to an internal and external drive AND you can get the full SADiE software with it.

much more cost effective, great quality and a hell of a lot more practical than loads of outboard and converters.

Amen.

[d1rtynyc]

Field recording with 24 tracks can be done with the current crop of Macbook Pro's, but you need to max out the ram and be sure to use a high quality external 7200 rpm HD. Glyph or Gtech are dependable.

In all honesty though if you a recording critical performances and cannot afford a hickup in the recording a deadicated recorder might be a better option for reliablity. Something like the Alesis HD24 to track to. These can be found relatively cheap and are very dependable. Then you can extract the 24 tracks via FW to your Mac for mixing.

I am not trying to worry you about the Mac's performance, because they are reliable. Although a computing error during a critcal job can more costly in the end.

Good luck either way.

[Audiop]

Originally Posted by d1rtynyc

Field recording with 24 tracks can be done with the current crop of Macbook Pro's, but you need to max out the ram and be sure to use a high quality external 7200 rpm HD. Glyph or Gtech are dependable.

In all honesty though if you a recording critical performances and cannot afford a hickup in the recording a deadicated recorder might be a better option for reliablity. Something like the Alesis HD24 to track to. These can be found relatively cheap and are very dependable. Then you can extract the 24 tracks via FW to your Mac for mixing.

I am not trying to worry you about the Mac's performance, because they are reliable. Although a computing error during a critcal job can more costly in the end.

Good luck either way.

Although I can buy that a dedicated HD recorder is more reliable than a laptop I would still use a back up.

I would also expect a MBP to cope with more than 24 channels. My old PC laptop manage 8 channel at 192kS/s and I would expect a similar or better bandwith with the MBP due to FW800 and faster hardware.


/Peter

[Audiop]

Originally Posted by Junkie

SADiE LRX2

Seems like a nice tool. Do you know anything about pricing?

I really like the idea of one box with 16-32 mic inputs running on 12C DC connected to a laptop.


/Peter

[nobtwiddler]

I just got a new 17 inch MacBook Pro a few weeks ago.
I'm running DP-5.3 at the moment (as I know it works good)

My interface, and conversion in and out is handled by the Metric Halo UNL-8.
The UNL-8 is hooked up via Firewire using the computers Firewire 800 port with a bilingual cable. (800 to 400, 9 pin to 6 pin cable)

I'm also using a Glyph 602e drive, which is connect using it's eSata port.
And I purchased Sonnet Tempo eSata card which fits into the MacBook's eSata port
So far so good.
Although in my set up, I'm only running 8 tracks in and out, usually at 24/48 or 24/96 so I assume there isn't a real strain on anything.
Might be a bit different for you?

[BFSound]

Originally Posted by d1rtynyc

Field recording with 24 tracks can be done with the current crop of Macbook Pro's, but you need to max out the ram and be sure to use a high quality external 7200 rpm HD. Glyph or Gtech are dependable.

In all honesty though if you a recording critical performances and cannot afford a hickup in the recording a deadicated recorder might be a better option for reliablity. Something like the Alesis HD24 to track to. These can be found relatively cheap and are very dependable. Then you can extract the 24 tracks via FW to your Mac for mixing.

I am not trying to worry you about the Mac's performance, because they are reliable. Although a computing error during a critcal job can more costly in the end.

Good luck either way.

Already done going DB25 from the studiolive to an hd24 thumbsup plus the macbook

[BFSound]

Originally Posted by Audiop

Although I can buy that a dedicated HD recorder is more reliable than a laptop I would still use a back up.

I would also expect a MBP to cope with more than 24 channels. My old PC laptop manage 8 channel at 192kS/s and I would expect a similar or better bandwith with the MBP due to FW800 and faster hardware.


/Peter

i would expect one to. My ibook G4 can handle 25 tracks mixing with EQ, and minimal plugin on each channel thumbsup So im sure it can track at least that.

Do they make a macbook that can handle more than 4GB ram and is higher than 2.4 Ghz

Thanks

[jpupo74]

Originally Posted by Audiop

IMO stability, low noise, good connectors, usable touchpad is more interesting than "bang for buck" when it comes to location recording. :-)/Peter

???

My 2 are stable, low noise, have better connectors, and the the new touchpad is caca if you ask me. You love the Apple.

[jpupo74]

Originally Posted by nobtwiddler

I just got a new 17 inch MacBook Pro a few weeks ago.
I'm running DP-5.3 at the moment (as I know it works good)

My interface, and conversion in and out is handled by the Metric Halo UNL-8.
The UNL-8 is hooked up via Firewire using the computers Firewire 800 port with a bilingual cable. (800 to 400, 9 pin to 6 pin cable)

I'm also using a Glyph 602e drive, which is connect using it's eSata port.
And I purchased Sonnet Tempo eSata card which fits into the MacBook's eSata port
So far so good.
Although in my set up, I'm only running 8 tracks in and out, usually at 24/48 or 24/96 so I assume there isn't a real strain on anything.
Might be a bit different for you?

Man this is a nice setup!!!

[david335]

Pretty much any of the mps will work although the 15 & 17 are the only real mbps (the 13 is just a re-badged mb, the p is for marketing and to justify a higher price). As long as you get a 7,200 rpm HD and get at least 4gb of ram you shouldn't run into any issues.

Although I would recommend that you take a quick look at a pc. I jut bought a Dell Studio 1557 w/ a core i7 quad core processor, 4gb of ram, 320 gb 7200rpm HD, and a nice dedicated graphics card for $1300. I have done multiple live recordings with it and I have not run into any issues. It is fine to like a mac but please don't disparage PCs just because you prefer macs. And in response to audiop you don't want me to whip out the many stories in which an apple computer had failed me during a live performance and has cost me much more than $1000.

Computers are computers, they all have a tendency to fail. Both brands have good and bad points, advantages and disadvantages. If you really want a fail-proof system then get a computer that you never connect to the internet, and dedicate only to audio use, and build a fully backed-up and redundant system.

[hbphotoav]

I prefer Macs. 15" MBP 2.6 Dual Core Duo (last of the "old" style aluminum bodied MBPs) w/500GB 7200rpm drive, 4GB RAM. I usually run Logic tracking 18 tracks via a Mackie Onyx 1640 with the FW option. That, or an Apogee Ensemble... no worries either way.

I also occasionally cut video on location (HDV/Final Cut Pro Studio) and the old 1.83 Core Duo machine (3 years, 320GB HD, 2GB RAM) was a bit boggy in that scenario. Studio machine is a Mac Pro 8-core, 10GB RAM, dual 24" Dells and a 22" Viore 1080i for video playback... and editing anything on it is a bit of a breeze. Of course, files and drives play well on either machine.

Happy with a Mac since 1985. Reasonably satisfied (though occasionally ready to riddle one with my Beretta) with Dell Inspirons since 2001. Macs win.

YM, of course, MV.

HB

[BFSound]

Originally Posted by hbphotoav

I prefer Macs. 15" MBP 2.6 Dual Core Duo (last of the "old" style aluminum bodied MBPs) w/500GB 7200rpm drive, 4GB RAM. I usually run Logic tracking 18 tracks via a Mackie Onyx 1640 with the FW option. That, or an Apogee Ensemble... no worries either way.

I also occasionally cut video on location (HDV/Final Cut Pro Studio) and the old 1.83 Core Duo machine (3 years, 320GB HD, 2GB RAM) was a bit boggy in that scenario. Studio machine is a Mac Pro 8-core, 10GB RAM, dual 24" Dells and a 22" Viore 1080i for video playback... and editing anything on it is a bit of a breeze. Of course, files and drives play well on either machine.

Happy with a Mac since 1985. Reasonably satisfied (though occasionally ready to riddle one with my Beretta) with Dell Inspirons since 2001. Macs win.

YM, of course, MV.

HB

Well put thumbsup

I can mess around with 25 tracks ITB on my ibook 1.25 very smooth, little Eq work some plugs and it chugs along. Also my G4 mdd 1.25DP round FCP studio working with SD DV very smooth. Now just looking for that macbook to track and edit footage on the road. Right now SD DV but later in the year i want the macbook to be able to edit HDV as well and not bog too much. Then for more intense audio video when later this year we will get a mac pro 8 core, might wait for a 16 though?