Laptops and remote recording

[midnightsun]

I am considering getting a new laptop computer to do remote recordings in clubs-- rock, folk, jazz--- three to five piece bands with and without drums. I need to acquire gear from the ground up as I don't want to take my studio gear into the clubs-- my RADAR is physically heavy and I wouldn't want to risk something happening to it as it is my main set of converters for a analog 24 track console. I am familiar with Logic Pro which I have in my G5 Quad DAW.

QUESTION-- Are the current generation of laptops up to the job?

[t_chance]

I'm a PC guy and back five years ago or so when I started out it was an iffy deal. If I was a Mac-dude a powerbook with a metric-halo interface would do the job nicely. I havn't used them but I work with someone that does and he is very happy with it. There are different models, I'm just not that familar with them.
FWIW I ended up getting an Alesis HD24 and haven't looked back.

[travisbrown]

i use a 12" 1.5ghz Powerbook w/Digital Performer and two or three MOTU 828MKIIs or an Alesis HD24. Both work well. I can do 24 tracks of 24/48 on both, even on the internal hard drive of the laptop, but I like to use the HD24 because it frees up the laptop for other stuff, has greater capacity, and I like the principle of single purpose appliances -- it never crashes or fails.

[d_fu]

Originally Posted by midnightsun

QUESTION-- Are the current generation of laptops up to the job?

Certainly... I've been making recordings (8-16 track 24/48) on an old 650 Mhz Celeron machine with no problems (onto an external disk drive). Currently use a 933 Mhz Toshiba Tecra fro the purpose, and feel no need whatsoever to upgrade, it's purely a digital multitrack recorder and does the job just fine.

[Gerax]

I've toyed with the idea of a laptop based remote system several times, but so far I've been really satisfied with my current setup which is based around a Mackie SDR2496 and has never let me down in several years of use; powerwise the current generation of laptops is up to spec for sure, you only have to decide which app to use and which interface for how many channels you intend to record simultaneously, it goes without saying that you have to be absolutely sure about the OS and overall system stability and reliability (Mac or PC, it doesn't make much of a difference now); I guess there's pros and cons to both approaches, in that with a laptop you have acces to more than a stand alone HD recorder, you can do more on the road, like some instant editing of the just recorded tracks and stuff like that, it could also take off a few pounds of weight to lug around, and that can be convenient at times...but I did not want to deal with OS stuff and drivers...firewire and the likes, and I chose to stick to a dedicated machine which is so stripped down and barebones that it does what it does rock solid without hiccups or issues...to me a dedicated DAW is better in the studio: I do work with Pro Tools on the recorded tracks once I've brought them back to my studio so I'm not shy to use computers and know them inside out, but for remote reliability I chose the other route...I may add a laptop based system as a backup to my primary one (which is disk based too) someday, in the meantime I'm looking for a second hand SDR2496 to add to my rig.

Hope this helps

L.G.

[pkautzsch]

For live concert recording, I think a dedicated device is good. I myself do use a laptop with interface (2004 Toshiba Satellite and MOTU 896) plus external pre/AD for more channels if necessary, but if possible I'm always running a friend's Fostex D2424 as backup. Could do fine with just the D2424 except for having to import the stuff into the DAW later. For now, I'm fine with just one backup, but I recall Steve Remote writing about a "backup for the backup". Oh, I have an old DA-20, could actually use that one.
I'm also doing remote non-live production, and for that purpose a laptop is a lot better since it saves paperwork. Simply put markers for each take and note the marker ID in the music sheets. AND easier to re-listen to passages: mouse, cursor, click wherever I want playback to start. No "rewind" or "fast forward" stuff.

[henryrobinett]

I think a dedicated device is good too. But I use a 1.67 powerbook and couldn't be happier. I do this all the time. I bring too much stuff though and look to simplify soon.

I have a single rack that houses a Metric Halo 2882 and ULN-2 and Motu 2408mkII with two Millennia racks, an 8 channel one and a 4 channel one. I also bring the Millennia TD-1 direct box. 18 channels A-D I/O.

The best thing to do is to befriend the FOH guy. I actually give him a split (from the Metric Halo) and use my mics, for the most part. This isn't really practical in most club situations. But I do it mainly to record my bands when I play, so I have more leeway in how it's done. Our sound guy, when he's hired, brings his 24 channel splitter and makes him happier.

I've done this in concert halls, clubs and remote recordings where the band just preferred their rehearsal room or a jazz group had located a fantastic piano.

Oh yeah. I don't like the bloatedness of most DAWS for location recording. I've had things crash in the past. I use the Metric Halo Record Panel, if all I'm doing is recording straight. No frills. No overdubs. Simple. NO crashes EVER.

[neurosound]

I have a 1.5ghz powerbook that I use in clubs pulling up to 24 tracks via 3 x Metric Halo 2882's. I use the record panel tab in the driver window to capture the audio and then import to Logic in post. Absolutely rock solid, no problems ever.

Of course, you must treat the laptop as a dedicated machine etc, and pay attention to what's going on prior to the interface (splitters, preamps and the like). I use a Midas Venice 320 prior to the MH MIO's and find this to be a solid set up that sounds pretty good.

- -

John

[midnightsun]

The wealth of information you folks have contributed is much appreciated. I have my homework cut out for me researching the many ideas. I am especially glad to hear that you are confident with the new generation of laptops.

I just got my kids the barebones MacBook with an extra Gig of RAM and loaded Logic Pro into it. I can't give any benchmark scores but I can say I am impressed considering that it is the lowest end model! I will probably be looking at a high end PC or MacBook Pro.

Regarding PC laptops which brands and models would be the best to look at?

[ISedlacek]

I have an Acer laptop and Magma PCI expansion with Lynx AES-16 inside (removed the noisy power supply and fan, now Magma is completely mute). Thus I can easily connect preamps and AD DA to it, using my Samplitude. Very comfortable and easy to manage ... Serves also like a possible studio backup in case the main computer collapses ...

[forsooth]

midnightsun ......... here's what I'm using

I'm using a Apple G4 Ti powerbook 1gig of ram running Tiger 10.4.7 and Digital Performer 4.6, Glyph HD for back-up.

Recording 15-16 channels @ 44.1, 24 bit. Buffer settings usually at 512 for tracking. Work priority set at medium. One Motu 896HD with a Presonus Digimax LT litepiped in to the Motu. Computer runs for the complete session, I save on the fly and anytime there is a pause in the music. The most I have done in one week was 5 live gigs. All of the gigs were 2 1/2 to 3 hours. I use a Whirlwind 24 channel splitter (although the most I've used is 16 channels) I purchased the splitter through Steve Remote! Flawless performance from all the gear. Not a hitch.

I have a second rig with 2 Motu 896 HDs and use it with the same computer and splitter. Same set-up, same software. I use a Lacie 120 gig firewire drive for the files, again flawless, completely reliable. The combination of the Mac and Motu hardware and software just simply works together. 58 gigs in the last year and it has always delivered the goods.

The files are dumped into a Mac G5 and processed and mixed in my home studio. I'd like to use higher end pre-amps sometime but these are live gigs and I ccouldn't afford to drag high dollar pre's around like this. All of the gear fits into a 5 or 6 space MTB rack. Computer and splitter are seperate. I use good quality Whirlwind snakes and get excellent results every time. I'd post photos but I don't know how. PM me and I'll send photos of the rigs.

A MacPro will be my next step-up but for the moment this rig just keeps on going and going. I love it ........ and of course for me, 'live music' is what keeps me ticking!

Cheers

forsooth

[midnightsun]

again, the input is appreciated

[noamraz]

Hi there,

In the last several months i've been recording with my Studio rig.
That's an PC which is racked (4u 19") - 001/Fireface 800/Motu 828MKii
Regarding the interfaces, I've been trying several. I've had good recordings with most of the interfaces - Some stable and some less.

I've came to a this conclusion - All PC based recording rigs can Crash and they do crash from time to time.
As i see it, If it's not a soundwise MUST i should use an HD recorder (Alesis/Fostex/Mackie whatsoever).

If editing is important or any kind of special routing is needed I can allways bring the PC rig getting litepiped returnes from the HD recorder and Record the show direct to the PC rig as well (Which will help me Monitor during the show/Editing and sending the Raw material as soon as the show ends/Saves time in the morning after when you start to Edit anyhow).

Radar system for small budget recording is an over-killing as i see it - But i am probably dealing with different industry/budgets than yours.

Best regards, Noam.

[forsooth]

noamraz........ I think bringing another PC rig and recording on to that at the same time is overkill....... and a whole other pile of gear to set up. You won't be able to watch both systems at the same time when there is a lot going on stage. I sort of ride the' faders' when needed although technically they are knobs on the Motu's. I can not say enough about the performance of the Mac and Motu's during sessions......... they honestly have NEVER let me down ( I need to knock on wood now!)

I have a template set up before the show and I give it a trial run at home just to check everything is OK. I come back from the gig and transfer a copy of the session to the G5 and keep the origiinal file on the Glyph HD until I have edited and mixed the session on the G5.
The only thing I have lost is when one of the HDs on the G5 died and I had to replace it ......... I still had the original file on the Glyph so all was well!

I have a PC as well .....but would never ever risk doing a session with it. It's for AutoCad only!

If you were using Motu gear you can give monitor or headphone feeds using CueMix on the from the same system you are recording with.


Good luck

forsooth

[tenor39]

Originally Posted by ISedlacek

I have an Acer laptop and Magma PCI expansion with Lynx AES-16 inside (removed the noisy power supply and fan, now Magma is completely mute). Thus I can easily connect preamps and AD DA to it, using my Samplitude. Very comfortable and easy to manage ... Serves also like a possible studio backup in case the main computer collapses ...

I also run a Magma PCI expansion chassis with the new ExpressCard interface into a HP zv6000 laptop. I have the Lynx AES 16 and a new Maxtor Diamondmax10 250GB drive with 16MB cache. The HD runs on a Firewire interface to the computer. I run Nuendo and love this setup.