Enough Computer?

[chabby]

Would a Toshiba L770 Pro with quadcore be enough to run these recording platforms you all discuss? its got 2x2.0 usb and 1x3.0 usb ports and other stuff too. 8GB ram and supposedly great applications platform configuration, but only entry level gaming type platform.

Anyone use one? Would i need to take all other programs off of it and never run the internet with it etc.?

[MillerMe]

Sounds like more than enough. The presence of usb3 means its new enough technology. And the 8GB of RAM would run the space shuttle.

[telleutelleme]

Should be fine. What you don't want is a lot of behind the scenes stuff running. As long as you aren't doing other things at the same time you will be fine. There are some streamlining threads on audioforum.com that tells you what to turn off if you get into serious recording with lots of channels and overdubbing where delays become an issue. I record 8 channels plus the mix and I use my system for everything. I just turn off certain functions when I'm recording. USB ports are good, especially the new 3.0 one. You may want to add a larger external monitor for some DAW applications. I tend to believe that recording is an issue of storage performance more so than CPU. You have plenty of RAM. Having an external USB 3.0 drive might be an add-on to consider for where you place your music.

[64Strat]

Originally Posted by telleutelleme

Should be fine. What you don't want is a lot of behind the scenes stuff running. As long as you aren't doing other things at the same time you will be fine. There are some streamlining threads on audioforum.com that tells you what to turn off if you get into serious recording with lots of channels and overdubbing where delays become an issue. I record 8 channels plus the mix and I use my system for everything. I just turn off certain functions when I'm recording. USB ports are good, especially the new 3.0 one. You may want to add a larger external monitor for some DAW applications. I tend to believe that recording is an issue of storage performance more so than CPU. You have plenty of RAM. Having an external USB 3.0 drive might be an add-on to consider for where you place your music.

It used to be laptops were 'iffy' because of their bus speed, I think it was called micro-channel. Anyway, with recording, it can stress data transfer. I haven't kept up with the latest laptops but this is some of the reason why most serious DAW's are full sized PC's. I am not saying typical laptops can't be used, just saying they will probably top out sooner than a full fledged PC. Later this year, I'll prolly build a new chassis with one of the top Intel uP's and a really good motherboard. Currently running a 6 core AMD and a Asus MB now and I've brought it to it's knees on a few occasions.

[TxTeleMan]

I have a PC with an Intel E2200 Dual Core Pentium and 2GB or RAM, and run Studio One via a PreSonus Firebox and it works great.

[woodman]

Plenty of muscle there ... it will boost your cause to record to a fast external hard drive too. USB3 would probably carry the day nicely.

A while back, keeping your recording computer separate from your general purpose Internet computer was an issue, but with the more modern machines, not so much. I've never had a problem with using mine as an all-purpose computer. (Full disclosure: I'm not running Windows.)

[chabby]

Thanks for the replies - according to everything I read this laptop should have no issues with "bus speed" like laptops of old. It's supposed to be very fast in tha regard and from what I've experienced so far, that is true. Its the fastest I've ever owned of any type of computer. And I have a fairly recent HP pavilion which is already trashed.

I even bought a new HD for it and ordered the recovery disks, but it's toasted.
I paid more for that PC than this new laptop. Think I paid about 800 bucks for the Hp at Costco. Paid only 500 for the toshiba. I hated that HP. It came loaded with vista home premium and supposedly a home entertainment TV package - what a joke.

That box worked well for maybe one year, then started going downhill.
Oh I'll maybe use the box to build or repair it if i can, but so far nothing has worked. I think my money might be better put into the external HD for this new Toshiba first however. Then I'll go ahead and maybe get a Pro tools package of some kind, maybe start off with the home studio version.

I'm a rank beginner, but if I'm going to learn, I want to learn on something universal enough to go around elsewhere. Protools seems to be the most used.
I can't even get it to boot to the bios screen yet.

[woodman]

Originally Posted by chabby

I think my money might be better put into the external HD for this new Toshiba first however. Then I'll go ahead and maybe get a Pro tools package of some kind, maybe start off with the home studio version.

That's a real good plan.