Laptops for Music Production

mini_molko

Member
Joined
Mar 7, 2008
So, I've decided to purchase a laptop for all my music producing needs and was just wondering if anyone had any reccomendations...

I've spent quite a lot of time researching different models, and at first I decided on a Dell Studio laptop, but after doing a bit more research I was warned that they've been known to have some serious overheating issues and their components are quite cheaply made.

Now that I've searched around a little bit more, I've come across the Lenovo Thinkpads and have had my eye on this particular model http://shop.lenovo.com/SEUILibrary/controller/e/gbweb/LenovoPortal/en_GB/systemconfig.runtime.workflow:LoadRuntimeTree?sb=:000000F0:00000178:&smid=66F66714E46F4ED690CF063E34731127

I've heard that Thinkpads are quite sturdy, so has anyone who's had any experience with these laptops back me up on that?
Also, in regards to the specs, what's the difference between the Intel Core i7-620LM Processor (2.00-2.80GHz, 4MB L3, 1066MHz FSB) and the Intel Core i7-640LM Processor (2.13-2.93GHz, 4MB L3, 1066MHz FSB), will it make a world of difference depending on what one I choose?

Anyway, any help is appreciated... It's taken me a long time to save up the money for a new setup and I just wanna make sure I'm making the right choice. :)
 
do you have to move it around? I really wouldn't want to use a lappy for production unless that was the case personally
 
Yeah... This is the thing! I was originally gonna get a desktop, but at the moment I flit between my house and my girlfriend's quite a lot, so I just never have the time to sit down and get a proper music sesh on the go. The portability thing is pretty essential.
 
i see bro. im not really in the know with the i7 stuff yet but from the specs, (same level 2 cache, fsb etc) i dont think you will notice much differernce if any bettween those two processors

the think pads are defo pretty solid, they are probably the most widely used laptops in the coporate sector so they have had alot of testing lol

good luck man!
 
I hear talk that some firewire chips cause problems with audio interfaces. This is a pretty random thing and there's not much info on it, but the only thing I seem to find is that using Texas Instruments manufactured firewire chips helps. Of course that only applies if you have a firewire audio interface.
 
Yeah but it looks mad powerful too.

I've been looking to get a laptop as well to get a dedicated music machine that I can do DJ gigs and go live with it as well. I'm pretty much fed up with upgrading a desktop all the time, but not enough that I'd get a mac. I still enjoy a game every now and then, so I'll leave the desktop to serve as a gaming/internets/pr0n/media/whatevez rig. And once it's old enough for the Old Computers Graveyard, I'll get a console to satisfy my gaming needs.

So let me know how it turns out when you've bought it.

---------- Post added at 21:52 ---------- Previous post was at 21:38 ----------

Damn man, just came across this while researching the subject, check the 7th post down.

http://www.gearslutz.com/board/music-computers/518924-i7-laptop-firewire.html
 
Yeah but it looks mad powerful too.

---------- Post added at 21:52 ---------- Previous post was at 21:38 ----------

[/COLOR]Damn man, just came across this while researching the subject, check the 7th post down.

http://www.gearslutz.com/board/music-computers/518924-i7-laptop-firewire.html

Fucking hell! I'm not too up to date on my computer lingo, so I could barely get the gist of what they're talking about... Are they just saying that pretty much no ready-made laptops are compatible with firewire interfaces? Or are they saying that unless you get a specialist made laptop, they're gonna be useless for music production...?

I should be alright with the firewire thing, I'm gonna be buying a USB sound card, but I'm a bit worried if I end up buying a laptop and it can't handle the software and VST's being pushed to the max... :/
 
As technology progresses with every minute, u better be off with a Desktop pc, easy'r to upgrade and its cheaper.

Like I said, portability is pretty essential... Until I've found my own place, it's pretty pointless buying a desktop.

This is just getting ridiculous now, I've spent god knows how long trawling the internet for a decent laptop that I can just make music on and I'm even more undecided and confused now than when I started looking!

Maybe a specialist is the way forward, anyone had any experience with these guys? - http://www.music-pc.com/?gclid=CIHNpd6j8KMCFYr92AodW2Oe0w

I might just fuck off the laptop idea and settle on an Inta-Audio desktop setup... Could set it up at my girlfriend's and move in permanantly! :S
 
Most of the laptops above 1000€/$/£ magic line give or take, can handle pretty much anything you throw at them now. It's gonna be outdated in a few years time but so will any computer. The main thing with the laptops are the intereference problems with power saving features and built-in wifi chips, gfx and whatnot.

The best idea would be to get the program that they talk about on that link (http://www.thesycon.de/deu/latency_check.shtml) and ask to try it on a machine before you buy (or make sure that you can get a refund in case your usb audio interface doesnt work good with it etc). You can say in the dealership that you are gettign this machine for some heavy realtime audio stream/edit stuff so that you need to know if everything is compatible. Also test your audio interface with maximum load. There's been problems with usb as well but much less so.
 
buy 2 desktops and an external hardrive, failing that.. i have a macbook pro and it does the job no problem.. i use reason though and have no vsts runnin at the same time
 
Ever considered getting an MPC 5000/2500 instead of a laptop??...

Personally, I've been down the portable studio route... bought the laptop... the external HD... the remotes25... the soundcard... then the pro headphones... didn't feel that portable to be honest! We have had akai samplers since the day we started but feel most are channeled into the laptop route without even considering this an an option.

It has pro audio connections within the device... no external soundcard needed. It has internal/removable storage solutions... no external HD required. It has built in pro drum pad triggers... no controller keyboard required. Best of all, when you get home you can still hook it up to the PC and edit/transfer files across or use it as a sampler for your sequencer and its easy to take with you to a mates studio or out for a gig. No software required to start making tunes... so no money spent there and no installation hassles. Cost is reasonable in comparison to a laptop, if not slightly cheaper. I appreciate you can do a lot more with a laptop... eg watch movies, play games etc. But for truly portable music production solutions it can't be overlooked.

I appreciate its not everyones thing but for me, it would have to be a strong consideration. Spare kettle lead in the bag, pop a couple of audio connections out, grab the headphones... gone!!!

Peace
 
I sometimes use an acer aspire(netbook 160gb hardrive 1.6ghz processor) to goof around on fruity loops. There isn't any lag and I can use it with z3ta and some other vsts.

Good Luck in production!
 
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