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Laptop for Music

post #1 of 16
7/5/12 at 3:37am
Thread Starter 
I was wondering if I could get a decent laptop for mobile music production before deciding to invest in a MacBook. The main reason is because I've been using FL Studio for over 5 years now and it's Windows only. I'm thinking about switching to Logic but I don't really want too.

I've found sites to customize laptops but I don't feel like paying for overpriced RAM, GFX cards I don't need, etc.

I have a list of what I'm aiming at but would like some more "professional" help. I've built plenty of desktops before so I know what I'm doing/asking for, just can't find the right one.

>Intel 3rd generation CPU. Quad-core. 2.6GHz or higher.
>Atleast 8GB RAM. 1600MHz or better. No higher than 9CAS.
>Around 500GB SSD space
>2-3(or more) USB 3.0
>1 FireWire
>13"-16" screen

Anything less than $2,500 sounds about alright. If not, I will just go with a Mac and try to adjust my workflow.

Been looking at HP Elitebooks and Toshiba Tecras but wondering if there is something better.

Please no 12 year olds mentioning Alienware.

And, welcome myself to the forum.
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post #2 of 16
7/5/12 at 5:19am
Well if you want to use a macbook, you can always install a fresh copy of windows on it :DD

There are also compatability suites that mimic W7 and let many windows programs run on Mac OSX platforms.
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post #3 of 16
7/5/12 at 8:16am
Thread Starter 
Of course.

But why spend so much for underrated hardware just to run Win7 in boot camp?
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post #4 of 16
7/5/12 at 8:27am
The biggest performance increases Ive noticed in FLStudio is decent amount of RAM, 4GB+, a fast dual core or better CPU, 3ghz+, and a GOOD sound card, which you wont get in a lappy. I mean one that can handle 1 - 4ms delay in ASIO w/o bogging down. ASIO is very important to me as a guy who uses a midi controller, USB or MIDI interface, dont matter. I want the sound to play and note to record WHEN I play it, not 50ms later. If you have no precise need for a midi controller to be quick and responsive, then an everyday laptop should be fine, given its decent / up-to-date.

Ya dig? lol

EDIT: i also like my projects to play back at 100% most accurate, best sound quality possible, so 256 point sync or better is required for realtime monitoring. YOU might not be so picky, and I doubt a laptop that cost less then $1000 could do it, to be honest.

And $2500 should be MORE then enough for a decent FLStudio machine. My biggest prob would be the ASIO thing, and what kind of sound card its gonna have. Have you researched into any music production BASED laptops, ones DESIGNED for it? They might have better sound cards. That would be my biggest obstacle.
Edited by SwishaMane - 7/5/12 at 8:33am
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post #5 of 16
7/5/12 at 8:34am
Thread Starter 
My old desktop was a 2.3 GHz AMD QC that ran NI Maschine, M-Audio Oxygen49, and a M-Audio Axiom 25 just fine with 4GB just fine. I used a M-Audio Fast Track Pro running FL & PT. Now I downsized to the regular Fast Track because I didn't need a huge box to carry around using none of the I/Os.

I'm positive a 3rd Gen Intel CPU in a laptop could handle that?

Just to clarify, this is just for mobile production. Nothing really 24/7. I have a custom desktop which I use for recording. This would be mainly for sketching beats on the fly.
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post #6 of 16
7/5/12 at 9:40am
Thread Starter 
I think this is worth every penny.

Plenty of space and turbo to 3.3GHz when I need it. Can handle without a FireWire port.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16834131270
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post #7 of 16
7/5/12 at 11:29am
That laptop is a gaming monster, but not for music. You dont need 16GB RAM, or a gtx 675 to make music. Id save $700 and get something minus high end graphics. Its all good tho, do what you gotta do. What genre of music do you produce? Live record? Sing? Whats up? smile.gif
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post #8 of 16
7/5/12 at 11:42am
Thread Starter 
Well just typed like 4 paragraphs and my iPhone ****ed up as always.

Just going to make it short this time.

Can I upgrade the CPU in an UltraBook. ASUS ZenBook specifically.

And I make instrumentals for Hip Hop and Pop artists mainly.
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post #9 of 16
7/5/12 at 3:07pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Drtro View Post

Well just typed like 4 paragraphs and my iPhone ****ed up as always.
Just going to make it short this time.
Can I upgrade the CPU in an UltraBook. ASUS ZenBook specifically.
And I make instrumentals for Hip Hop and Pop artists mainly.

No, you can't upgrade CPUs in ultrabooks, they're all soldered. Not that it would matter - Ultrabooks can only take 17W CPUs, and the fastest 17W is an i7- dual-core. You could go with a 35W i7 dual-core in pretty much any (non-ultrabook) laptop, might be fast enough. But i7 dual-cores are only ~10% faster than i5 duals, and they cost about $150+ more usually.

Otherwise this is probably the only 13" laptop with an i7-quad, and it also has a 1080p screen. http://store.sony.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/SYCTOProcess?catalogId=10551&storeId=10151&langId=-1&LBomId=8198552921666449279&categoryId=8198552921644863998

For something reasonably priced at $1130, perhaps $1300 with a 1TB HDD and 8GB of RAM, this Vaio SE 15" with an i7-3612QM and a 1920x1080 IPS panel is the lightest laptop with a quad, at 4.46 pounds. RAM is only DDR3 1333, but I doubt you'll notice the difference in bandwidth. http://store.sony.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/SYCTOProcess?catalogId=10551&storeId=10151&langId=-1&LBomId=8198552921666452158&categoryId=8198552921644870001
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post #10 of 16
7/5/12 at 3:25pm
Thread Starter 
So I really like the 2nd one. Might go for it.

Would you suggest the HP DV7 /w upgraded to a SSD memory?

I'm really looking for something thin like you suggested. I've had a Sony before years ago and it came with a bunch of bloatware and anti-virus trials that were impossible to get rid of. Can I prevent all that crap by re-installing Windows with a new disc. Or would that lose all the Sony drivers?

Also, I have a clunky audio interface that would take up a lot of space carrying around. Do you know of any small sleek audio interfaces? I had the Apogee Duet2 in mind but it's Mac only.
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