Looking at getting a laptop. Recommendations?

[SmilesLots]

With this heat wave, I am looking at getting a laptop for doing my audio recording and editing. Mostly simple stereo voice stuff, but I do want good quality since the cd's I create go out to a number of people. Does anyone here use a laptop for their audio recording and could perhaps share what to look out for, what not to get, and that kind of thing. I was thinking of a 15 in refurb like this:

http://store.apple.com/us/product/FC372 ... TgwOTc3MTg" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

I notice that it has both audio line in and line out. Handy, but I do have usb and firewire interfaces if necessary. TIA for any pointers.

[FMiguelez]

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With this heat wave, I am looking at getting a laptop for doing my audio recording and editing.

Why, do they come with ACs now?

That machine is better than mine in every spec (except screen size).
You say you want to do some recording and audio editing, so this computer will easily do that.

The only weak thing I see from those specs is the HD. If you are planning on doing SERIOUS recording work (in terms of track count and speed) you'll need one faster, 7200 RPM at least, and, ideally, this HD would be used IN ADDITION to the system HD.
You can get an external enclosure with eSATA (ideal) or FW800 (less ideal) for this purpose.

You should have all your DP project files and audio in this faster external disk. If you can ALSO replace the system disk for a faster one, then everything will be even greater and faster.
That decision depends on what exactly you expect from the machine today and in a couple of years from now.

[MIDI Life Crisis]

If you are only doing recording, a laptop is overkill. Look at a portable digital recorder. It's cheaper, easier to use and carry around, doesn't generate light, yadda yadda yadda...

[SmilesLots]

If you are only doing recording, a laptop is overkill. Look at a portable digital recorder. It's cheaper, easier to use and carry around, doesn't generate light, yadda yadda yadda...

I do have a Zoom H4n which can be used for the recording, though the mics are less than optimal. So I am actually thinking of using the laptop for editing with maybe SparkME or DSP-Quatro. I could also use DP, Sound Track Pro and a couple of others. But mostly I use SparkME. It was free when I got it and is still the easiest and simplest stereo recorder/editor that also can be used to create play lists and output to Toast for burning a master cd. So the basic idea here is to move the reord-edit-burn master off the Mac Pro onto a cooler (hopefully) laptop.

[SmilesLots]

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Why, do they come with ACs now?

That machine is better than mine in every spec (except screen size).
You say you want to do some recording and audio editing, so this computer will easily do that.

Thanks. Since my recording does not require the robustness of a DP, my biggest regret is that it is missing the AC. But maybe in the future an upgrade will be available. Maybe OS XX.

[mikehalloran]

Your Zoom can be used with better microphones. But you already know that, don't you?

Seriously, you don't need that much computer to do field recording. That's ok. If you need that much horsepower for other things - or just because it is sexy - don't let anyone here talk you out of it.

One note of caution: Do not run a laptop on battery power with bus powered devices if you are doing any critical recording. Have AC handy or use your Zoom.

[MIDI Life Crisis]

Heck, I won't talk him out of it. I LOVE to spend money on new toys, but if you want chicken, don't buy lobster...

[timriley]

Definitely go for a 15 inch. 17 inch is too bulky and awkward!

I've just been round a mates house doing some 'location' recording with my 3yo MBPro..

Power supply and some form of decent monitoring system is all you need.

Great, stress free way to record music IMO...

[SmilesLots]

I am not doing field or location recording. I do not care to disassemble my studio mics just to plug them into the H4n, and yes I have tried it and it is a pita on my current setup. What I do want is another computer to take the place of the Mac Pro so as not to generate so much heat in the room where I do recording and editing. It will probably never see battery operation. I was hoping for some recommendations in that regard.

I am also considering another 2010 Mini. And Yes I know the hard drive is slow, but it is more than adequate for 2 tracks. I've already tried. I have plenty of external firewire drives if necessary. If I get the Pro Book it will probably be with an i5 or i7 processor, so that way I do not buy obsolete equipment and I maintain some degree of flexibility as to how the computer can be used later if it becomes necessary or expedient.

Money is not a problem. I'm looking at function. I'm also looking at moving to a new location (underground) where it is much cooler, but that is about a year away at present. Hope that helps clarify a little beyond my initial post. And thanks for all the suggestions.

[timriley]

The 17 inch Macbook pro is the most expandable of the mac family, aside from the Mac Pro that is. As well as its standard firewire slot and usb slots, it has an ExpressCard/34 slot which can be used for additional external drives and UAD cards and so on.

If expandability isn't an issue then basically any of the current range of MBPs, i-macs or mac minis will do for what you're talking about i'd say. Although you can't get an i5 or i7 processor for a mac mini as far as i'm aware.

Do current Mac Pro's really generate that much heat then?

[SmilesLots]

"Do current Mac Pro's really generate that much heat then?"

No, not at all. Mine is just in a small room with little circulation and two windows that let in way too much morning light and heat. And we've been having a heat wave here, so even with the AC running it gets up to almost 90 with no computer running. Too much for me.

[timriley]

That's good to hear about the Mac Pros.

We've had a fairly warm stretch here in London this summer. Although I doubt it's up to West Virginian levels!

My macbook pro gets hot sometimes, especially in a warm room.. I've not used the latest iMacs but i've heard they're very quiet, which could mean they run fairly cool.

I dare say all Macs, like most electrical gear, will get hot in warmer surroundings. Perhaps some kind of isolation booth for your computer is another option to think about?

[mhschmieder]

Just to clarify, the Mac Mini Server, and the regular Mac Mini (if you don't mind doing it yourself or paying a third party to do it), as well as some MBP's, can replace the optical drive with a second internal drive, and this is generally superior to an eSATA drive.

The expansion slot in the 17" MBP can also be used for a UAD card, however, so in that sense, it is the most expandable Mac aside from the MacPro's.

With the current lineup of MBP's, the premium for the 17" edition with expansion, is no longer as large as it used to be, so it seems like the logical choice vs. an amped-up 15" at this point.

[MeisterEckhardt]

Don't mean to be devil's advocate here, but you can get a gorgeous screen Powerbook 1.67Ghz G4 for a song ($350 or less on Craigslist if it's a 12") and run DP 4, DP 5 or DP 6 on it and it would rock with editing stereo files too. You'd get USB 2.0, FW 400, FW 800 ports on it and with a PCMCIA slot you would be able have e-Sata if you wanted, all at a budget price. DP 4.6 with Tiger is super-stable on this machine.

Cheers,
Meister

[SmilesLots]

For the time being I ended up getting the new 2010 Mac Mini server. I really like the expandability of the 17 in Mac Book Pro, and I love that new 27 in i7 iMac. Right now it's one computer at a time, and the mini seemed to be the most useful, cost efficient and space efficient, and functionally adequate. So that's what I got. Getting a new refurb Time capsule to go with it, which should be here literally in minutes.

The Mac Pro, even though mine is a 2006 1.1, is a monster machine when it comes to music and audio. Since I have not quite yet gotten into HD video and creating my own blu-ray disks, and since I have some 3000 audio tapes to archive first, the mini seemed appropriate. So thanks to all of you for your suggestions and wonderful tips. They will be very useful when the time comes that I do get that portable.

As for the H4n, I am amazed at the voice quality of this little gem. I would not call it studio pro, or even close, but for voice, and to go out into nature, it is actually pretty good. I recently recorded a thunder storm that came out really well, with a little editing that is. Thanks again everyone.