Best Laptop n soundcard configuration for live performance

[audioscream]

I am looking for few suggestions....i wanna buy a laptop for my live performance....like nightwish and kamelot used to do with their orchestration and few choir and backup stuffs......so what is the best configuration for a laptop to use in live...????....and is it necessary to add a sound-card like m-audio at live with the laptop as well..???...if so what is the best one to hold the vst sounds....????.....i hope i will get a positive reply soon......thanks in advance.....

[viberunner]

I play exclusively with a MIDI keyboard and a Laptop.

However, and this is a big one, I only use modelled (or model-heavy hybrid) instruments. This keeps the CPU, RAM, and hard-disk space requirements way down to a modest Dell D410 with 1 gig of memory and almost no free HD space. Even on that modest lap-top and memory I can have several instruments and effects at once.

If you're going the route of samples, you'll need a much stronger machine than I have, including a a high-speed HD (possibly external?) and more than one gig of memory.

You need an audio interface. You can't put a Laptop's internal sound-card through a PA, the hum is just too hideous to describe. Check out this one: Cakewalk UA-25EX.

For a live-performance DAW I really strongly recommend Cantabile, it's amazing for live work. Even the LITE version is amazing, is time-unlimited, and free, so worth investigating.

- - -

EDIT: also, the single most important piece of advice I can give you is not to screw around with the Laptop once it's up and running.

(1) Fresh install of the OS.
(2) Tweak the OS for audio (there are threads on this, or ask if you need help, stuff like turning off the internal sound-card, make sure you use the ALWAYS ON power settings, etc.)
(3) Install your Software.
(4) Defrag
(5) Test. Adjust buffers. Test. Stress Test. Test. Test.

If (5) works without crashes, don't install any more software on it. Don't surf either.

Oh, and make sure you do NOT have any anti-virus software installed. If you have an isolated machine it shouldn't be an issue for you...

[norbury brook]

I've been putting the internal sound card through the PA for the last 3 years no problem. In actual fact I tried it one night because i was getting terrible interference from my MAudio FW card, i switched to the onboard just to check and the sound was a lot cleaner.

The M.D for don't forget the lyrics used the on board sound into the p.a and studio directs for all 3 series we did for SKY here in the UK,no problems at all :D

Give it a try you might find it OK, if not get an external interface.

MC

[phas3d]

You also have a solution with Macbook Pro and Mainstage 2 that is included in Logic Studio. Works pretty good, too...

[viberunner]

Originally Posted by norbury brook

I've been putting the internal sound card through the PA for the last 3 years no problem. Give it a try you might find it OK, if not get an external interface.

Interesting. Mine certainly has horrific hum, and a lot of other people have said the same thing too.

What brand of laptop are you on?

[Dysanfel]

I use my Macbook Pro as the nerve system of my show.

I have 6 hardware synths either played or triggered via MIDI from Ableton Live. Live handles all the patch changes, automation, and mixing. Live also processing (reverb, compression, EQ, delay, modulation) of the audio from vocals, acoustic guitar, electric guitar, and the hardware synths in real time. All my audio is routed to a 8 channel XLR snake that I hand to the sound man, or I submix to my QSC powered 3-ways plus subs.

I also trigger Modul8 from Ableton for a MIDI controlled video show.

The interface could be any FW interface with 8 analog ins and outs, plus SPDIF. I was using a Presonus FP10. I am looking now at the Focusrite Saffire 40 since my Presonus is out for repair.

[audioscream]

Ok here wat i thought......an i5 with 3 gb ram and 500gb hdd and an external hd as well....and external m-audio soundcard.....now is tht gud enough for a run...???....im no mac user so i will pass the mac stuff out of it.............so is there any kinda tutorial or sumthin where i can get form the very beginning of getting started till the performance.....im nt tht much gud onto this technical stuffs......so please lemme know if u guys can find this questions answers....thank u all....looking forward....!!!!!


i had installed ableton over my current pc....and tutorial as well....and it seems really hard....is tht possible i can use any kinda daw like cubase or sonar for live performance...????

[viberunner]

Originally Posted by audioscream

i had installed ableton over my current pc....and tutorial as well....and it seems really hard....is tht possible i can use any kinda daw like cubase or sonar for live performance...????

Spec seems fine. You have been told once, now be told again. RUN CANTABILE LIVE. You can get a fully-functional version for free, and if you want to make strange midi triggers and keyboard splits, the paid version is really cheap.

Really. Cantabile is the best secret-weapon for live performance there is.

It's a pro-tip.

Read the review.

Visit the site.

[Bill@WelcomeHome]

Originally Posted by audioscream

I am looking for few suggestions....i wanna buy a laptop for my live performance....like nightwish and kamelot used to do with their orchestration and few choir and backup stuffs......so what is the best configuration for a laptop to use in live...????....and is it necessary to add a sound-card like m-audio at live with the laptop as well..???...if so what is the best one to hold the vst sounds....????.....i hope i will get a positive reply soon......thanks in advance.....

Really depends on how complex you want to be or how simple you want to keep it.

Loopazoid is free. Any laptop will run a 2 channel output, right from the existing sound card. So, if you build the cues and mix them into 2 channel wave files, you can trigger them from Loopazoid.

Downsides? Built-in sound cards can be a problem, in that some buzz or whine when connected to a PA. It is often to your advantage to have an external sound card instead. Again, if you keep it simple, an MAudio Tranzit runs around $80 new, though they have been discontinued and you'd have to get one NOS or used. It is a little USB device, no controls, just I/O jacks.

I bought a cheap Compaq/HP laptop, came with Win7 64 bit and a 320 gig internal hard drive which would do this with ease, cost me about $350. The Tranzit comes with a DAW software for building your cues, Loopazoid is free, so the entire thing could go out the door for under $450, not counting cables to get to the PA and a direct box, should you want one.

[audioscream]

Well i wanna to use the vsts like my custom made lead tones...pianos and some synths through my midi keyboard......and will gonna use the pre-sequenced orchestration a live alongside with real guitarists,bassist and drummer......here i found a configuration please let me know if its more than enough to handle such big vsts like omnisphere and vienna and ewql stuffs....

Acer Aspire 5745 Core-i5 430M
CPU - Intel Core i5 430M
CPU Clock Rate (GHz) - 2.26
Display Size (Inch) - 15.6
Display Type - HD LED Backlit
RAM (GB) - 4
RAM Type - DDR3
HDD(GB) - 320
Optical Device - DVD Writer
Network - Wireless LAN
Bluetooth - Yes
WebCam (MP) - Yes
Speaker - Yes
Card Reader - Yes


and lastly gonna add M-audio soundcard.......thanks in advance.....

[viberunner]

What speed is the hard-disk?

[audioscream]

Originally Posted by viberunner

What speed is the hard-disk?

didn't asked abt it....could u please gimme the suggestion that how much speed hdd do i need..???...beside that is the configuration ok...????