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After 9 years, it's time for part 2 [message #78306] Sat, 13 January 2007 10:57 Go to next message
Deej [4] is currently offline  Deej [4]   BRAZIL
Messages: 1292
Registered: January 2007
Senior Member
I'm in the process of building another DAW for some beta testing purposes
but now that I've finally achieved what I feel is something that can do 99%
of what I want in just about *any* possible recording situation (thank you
Creamware), I've got a hankering to get back into composing/songwriting and
I need a laptop.

I primarily compose on guitar and I used to use a midi based proggie called
Jammer for rough compositions. and I have figured out a way to use this with
the sound engine of NI Bandstand using Midiox. Christmas before last I
bought myself one of those cool little Fretlight strat lookin things meaning
to start getting my chops up to speed and getting out of a few ruts I've
been floundering around in for years.

I have an RME Multiface sitting here that I could interface with a laptop
via PCMCIA. I would like to have a media centric" laptop with a goodly
amount of horsepower/RAM/fast HD, that will work well with an RME PCMCIA
card for the Multiface This will need to be a windows machine since my apps
don't play with Macs..and of course, I want a good deal, whatever that is).
I have a Dell Latitude docking station here with an 18g SCSI cheetah that
works well with an older Latitude machine (a P2-400mHZ laptop). I'm
wondering if another Latitude might be the ticket. Not
imperative......................but any experience with these would be of
particular interest.

Thanks,

Deej
Re: After 9 years, it's time for part 2 [message #78308 is a reply to message #78306] Sat, 13 January 2007 16:42 Go to previous messageGo to next message
dc[3] is currently offline  dc[3]
Messages: 895
Registered: September 2005
Senior Member
Not trying to rain on your next gear hunt, but...

here is what I use when writing:

http://www.olympusamerica.com/cpg_section/product.asp?produc t=1153

My old model was 40 bucks at Costco. When I have a song idea,
I play the part into the little recorder, then put the guitar down
and pull out paper or Word on the comp and work on lyrics and
melodies.

Hell, I can't engineer and write songs. I can't even play guitar
and write songs. Writing compelling melodies and lyrics takes
being in a quiet creative space with nothing else to think about,
and letting the box play the parts.

When the tune is done, or mostly done, then I go to the DAW and
start developing it.

You may be different, but being good at recording is a totally
different act than being good at songwriting and one will crowd
out the other.

You don't need a computer to write songs. IMHO

best

DC


"DJ" <www.aarrrrggghhh!!!.com> wrote:
>I'm in the process of building another DAW for some beta testing purposes

>but now that I've finally achieved what I feel is something that can do
99%
>of what I want in just about *any* possible recording situation (thank you

>Creamware), I've got a hankering to get back into composing/songwriting
and
>I need a laptop.
>
>I primarily compose on guitar and I used to use a midi based proggie called

>Jammer for rough compositions. and I have figured out a way to use this
with
>the sound engine of NI Bandstand using Midiox. Christmas before last I
>bought myself one of those cool little Fretlight strat lookin things meaning

>to start getting my chops up to speed and getting out of a few ruts I've

>been floundering around in for years.
>
>I have an RME Multiface sitting here that I could interface with a laptop

>via PCMCIA. I would like to have a media centric" laptop with a goodly
>amount of horsepower/RAM/fast HD, that will work well with an RME PCMCIA

>card for the Multiface This will need to be a windows machine since my
apps
>don't play with Macs..and of course, I want a good deal, whatever that is).

>I have a Dell Latitude docking station here with an 18g SCSI cheetah that

>works well with an older Latitude machine (a P2-400mHZ laptop). I'm
>wondering if another Latitude might be the ticket. Not
>imperative......................but any experience with these would be of

>particular interest.
>
>Thanks,
>
>Deej
>
>
Re: After 9 years, it's time for part 2 [message #78310 is a reply to message #78308] Sat, 13 January 2007 17:03 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Nil is currently offline  Nil
Messages: 245
Registered: March 2007
Senior Member
For me the best solution is still a synth with a sequencer.

Write while you play, record it at the same time, no
engineering involved (I agree w/you there, Don), leave that for
later when you import the MIDI file to a computer & start the
real tracking.

How about that, Deej? A MIDI guitar hooked up to a synth
workstation? Too simple for ya? lol

Neil



"DC" <dc@spammersinhell.com> wrote:
>
>Not trying to rain on your next gear hunt, but...
>
>here is what I use when writing:
>
> http://www.olympusamerica.com/cpg_section/product.asp?produc t=1153
>
>My old model was 40 bucks at Costco. When I have a song idea,
>I play the part into the little recorder, then put the guitar down
>and pull out paper or Word on the comp and work on lyrics and
>melodies.
>
>Hell, I can't engineer and write songs. I can't even play guitar
>and write songs. Writing compelling melodies and lyrics takes
>being in a quiet creative space with nothing else to think about,
>and letting the box play the parts.
>
>When the tune is done, or mostly done, then I go to the DAW and
>start developing it.
>
>You may be different, but being good at recording is a totally
>different act than being good at songwriting and one will crowd
>out the other.
>
>You don't need a computer to write songs. IMHO
>
>best
>
>DC
>
>
>"DJ" <www.aarrrrggghhh!!!.com> wrote:
>>I'm in the process of building another DAW for some beta testing purposes
>
>>but now that I've finally achieved what I feel is something that can do
>99%
>>of what I want in just about *any* possible recording situation (thank
you
>
>>Creamware), I've got a hankering to get back into composing/songwriting
>and
>>I need a laptop.
>>
>>I primarily compose on guitar and I used to use a midi based proggie called
>
>>Jammer for rough compositions. and I have figured out a way to use this
>with
>>the sound engine of NI Bandstand using Midiox. Christmas before last I

>>bought myself one of those cool little Fretlight strat lookin things meaning
>
>>to start getting my chops up to speed and getting out of a few ruts I've
>
>>been floundering around in for years.
>>
>>I have an RME Multiface sitting here that I could interface with a laptop
>
>>via PCMCIA. I would like to have a media centric" laptop with a goodly

>>amount of horsepower/RAM/fast HD, that will work well with an RME PCMCIA
>
>>card for the Multiface This will need to be a windows machine since my
>apps
>>don't play with Macs..and of course, I want a good deal, whatever that
is).
>
>>I have a Dell Latitude docking station here with an 18g SCSI cheetah that
>
>>works well with an older Latitude machine (a P2-400mHZ laptop). I'm
>>wondering if another Latitude might be the ticket. Not
>>imperative......................but any experience with these would be
of
>
>>particular interest.
>>
>>Thanks,
>>
>>Deej
>>
>>
>
Re: After 9 years, it's time for part 2 [message #78315 is a reply to message #78306] Sat, 13 January 2007 19:47 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Jeff hoover is currently offline  Jeff hoover   UNITED STATES
Messages: 22
Registered: January 2007
Junior Member
DJ,

I have a laptop using and RME multiface for composition stuff. Setup
Acid for loops running through Rewire into Cubase. Been really stable
so far.

As far as brands of laptops go my experience is with the Dells and
toshibas. Placed over 100 Dell laptops (mostly latitudes) and they have
been EXTREMELY reliable. I've personally had three toshibas in a row
and have been pleasantly surprised with their reliability/ performance.
Macs are noe an option because you would have the best of both worlds.

With the Dells, I can only remember maybe 2 or 3 service calls. One of
my customers is still using a Pentium 133 Latitude! If you go consumer
channel (HP Compaq Toshiba) I would definitely get a three year onsite
warranty. If something goes wrong, you won't find the parts at the
corner "geeks are us".

If you want more info on recommendations PM me and I'll you know what I
know.

Hoov

DJ wrote:
> I'm in the process of building another DAW for some beta testing purposes
> but now that I've finally achieved what I feel is something that can do 99%
> of what I want in just about *any* possible recording situation (thank you
> Creamware), I've got a hankering to get back into composing/songwriting and
> I need a laptop.
>
> I primarily compose on guitar and I used to use a midi based proggie called
> Jammer for rough compositions. and I have figured out a way to use this with
> the sound engine of NI Bandstand using Midiox. Christmas before last I
> bought myself one of those cool little Fretlight strat lookin things meaning
> to start getting my chops up to speed and getting out of a few ruts I've
> been floundering around in for years.
>
> I have an RME Multiface sitting here that I could interface with a laptop
> via PCMCIA. I would like to have a media centric" laptop with a goodly
> amount of horsepower/RAM/fast HD, that will work well with an RME PCMCIA
> card for the Multiface This will need to be a windows machine since my apps
> don't play with Macs..and of course, I want a good deal, whatever that is).
> I have a Dell Latitude docking station here with an 18g SCSI cheetah that
> works well with an older Latitude machine (a P2-400mHZ laptop). I'm
> wondering if another Latitude might be the ticket. Not
> imperative......................but any experience with these would be of
> particular interest.
>
> Thanks,
>
> Deej
>
>
Re: After 9 years, it's time for part 2 [message #78324 is a reply to message #78306] Sun, 14 January 2007 10:16 Go to previous messageGo to next message
emarenot is currently offline  emarenot   UNITED STATES
Messages: 345
Registered: June 2005
Senior Member
Hey DJ,
I don't have any thoughts on the laptop, but I wanted to send a shout out as
you get back to playing. I've been writing right along -but mostly
electronic stuff. After talking about getting back into the
singer-songwriter gig for quite awhile, I finally did. I've got lots of
ideas on a dictaphone tape recorder thingy and a couple of tunes that made
it to the recording stage --so far. Getting back into writing lyrics has
been a challenge, but its bee a real fun trip to date. Great good luck as
you move forward, or re-forward. :-)
Cheers,
MR



"DJ" <www.aarrrrggghhh!!!.com> wrote in message news:45a9287e@linux...
> I'm in the process of building another DAW for some beta testing purposes
> but now that I've finally achieved what I feel is something that can do
99%
> of what I want in just about *any* possible recording situation (thank you
> Creamware), I've got a hankering to get back into composing/songwriting
and
> I need a laptop.
>
> I primarily compose on guitar and I used to use a midi based proggie
called
> Jammer for rough compositions. and I have figured out a way to use this
with
> the sound engine of NI Bandstand using Midiox. Christmas before last I
> bought myself one of those cool little Fretlight strat lookin things
meaning
> to start getting my chops up to speed and getting out of a few ruts I've
> been floundering around in for years.
>
> I have an RME Multiface sitting here that I could interface with a laptop
> via PCMCIA. I would like to have a media centric" laptop with a goodly
> amount of horsepower/RAM/fast HD, that will work well with an RME PCMCIA
> card for the Multiface This will need to be a windows machine since my
apps
> don't play with Macs..and of course, I want a good deal, whatever that
is).
> I have a Dell Latitude docking station here with an 18g SCSI cheetah that
> works well with an older Latitude machine (a P2-400mHZ laptop). I'm
> wondering if another Latitude might be the ticket. Not
> imperative......................but any experience with these would be of
> particular interest.
>
> Thanks,
>
> Deej
>
>
Re: After 9 years, it's time for part 2 [message #78341 is a reply to message #78306] Sun, 14 January 2007 12:16 Go to previous messageGo to next message
TCB is currently offline  TCB
Messages: 1261
Registered: July 2007
Senior Member
The Dells are always pretty good on the bang for the buck front. I'm thinking
of retiring my two year old 630m into being a DJ only machine and getting
a Core Duo model. One big problem now with RME gear. Pretty much all (if
not all, I don't have time to look at the whole Dell site) use ExpressCard
slots now, They're the update on Card Bus and, as the website explaining
the tech says,

5. Are PC Cards and ExpressCard modules compatible?
The two technologies are not compatible. The decision was made to take advantages
of advances in technology to simplify the design. The speed and size of the
new ExpressCard design outweighed the backward compatibility issues.

So your SOL on pretty much all non-USB and non-Firewire I/0 options. I wouldn't
sweat it, a pretty cheap Presonus Firewier box will get you 6 in 10 out and
MIDI to the laptop until RME comes out with an ExpressCard option.

TCB

"DJ" <www.aarrrrggghhh!!!.com> wrote:
>I'm in the process of building another DAW for some beta testing purposes

>but now that I've finally achieved what I feel is something that can do
99%
>of what I want in just about *any* possible recording situation (thank you

>Creamware), I've got a hankering to get back into composing/songwriting
and
>I need a laptop.
>
>I primarily compose on guitar and I used to use a midi based proggie called

>Jammer for rough compositions. and I have figured out a way to use this
with
>the sound engine of NI Bandstand using Midiox. Christmas before last I
>bought myself one of those cool little Fretlight strat lookin things meaning

>to start getting my chops up to speed and getting out of a few ruts I've

>been floundering around in for years.
>
>I have an RME Multiface sitting here that I could interface with a laptop

>via PCMCIA. I would like to have a media centric" laptop with a goodly
>amount of horsepower/RAM/fast HD, that will work well with an RME PCMCIA

>card for the Multiface This will need to be a windows machine since my
apps
>don't play with Macs..and of course, I want a good deal, whatever that is).

>I have a Dell Latitude docking station here with an 18g SCSI cheetah that

>works well with an older Latitude machine (a P2-400mHZ laptop). I'm
>wondering if another Latitude might be the ticket. Not
>imperative......................but any experience with these would be of

>particular interest.
>
>Thanks,
>
>Deej
>
>
Re: After 9 years, it's time for part 2 [message #78491 is a reply to message #78315] Tue, 16 January 2007 17:21 Go to previous message
Dave Geoghegan is currently offline  Dave Geoghegan
Messages: 8
Registered: June 2005
Junior Member
Hi,

Had great luck with Alienware , running 4 of them now.



Dave

Jeff hoover <jkhoover@excite-DOT-com> wrote:
>DJ,
>
>I have a laptop using and RME multiface for composition stuff. Setup
>Acid for loops running through Rewire into Cubase. Been really stable
>so far.
>
>As far as brands of laptops go my experience is with the Dells and
>toshibas. Placed over 100 Dell laptops (mostly latitudes) and they have

>been EXTREMELY reliable. I've personally had three toshibas in a row
>and have been pleasantly surprised with their reliability/ performance.

> Macs are noe an option because you would have the best of both worlds.
>
>With the Dells, I can only remember maybe 2 or 3 service calls. One of

>my customers is still using a Pentium 133 Latitude! If you go consumer

>channel (HP Compaq Toshiba) I would definitely get a three year onsite
>warranty. If something goes wrong, you won't find the parts at the
>corner "geeks are us".
>
>If you want more info on recommendations PM me and I'll you know what I

>know.
>
>Hoov
>
>DJ wrote:
>> I'm in the process of building another DAW for some beta testing purposes

>> but now that I've finally achieved what I feel is something that can do
99%
>> of what I want in just about *any* possible recording situation (thank
you
>> Creamware), I've got a hankering to get back into composing/songwriting
and
>> I need a laptop.
>>
>> I primarily compose on guitar and I used to use a midi based proggie called

>> Jammer for rough compositions. and I have figured out a way to use this
with
>> the sound engine of NI Bandstand using Midiox. Christmas before last I

>> bought myself one of those cool little Fretlight strat lookin things meaning

>> to start getting my chops up to speed and getting out of a few ruts I've

>> been floundering around in for years.
>>
>> I have an RME Multiface sitting here that I could interface with a laptop

>> via PCMCIA. I would like to have a media centric" laptop with a goodly

>> amount of horsepower/RAM/fast HD, that will work well with an RME PCMCIA

>> card for the Multiface This will need to be a windows machine since my
apps
>> don't play with Macs..and of course, I want a good deal, whatever that
is).
>> I have a Dell Latitude docking station here with an 18g SCSI cheetah that

>> works well with an older Latitude machine (a P2-400mHZ laptop). I'm
>> wondering if another Latitude might be the ticket. Not
>> imperative......................but any experience with these would be
of
>> particular interest.
>>
>> Thanks,
>>
>> Deej
>>
>>
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