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Looper's Delight
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On Jul 24, 2005, at 0:34, Risto Paalanen wrote: > reconsider the PC option. Risto, Since I'm using a powerbook myself I think I should just post why I picked that one instead of an equal pc laptop that would give more processing power. It was just because I don't plan to use very much processing power live (I do have a G5 for studio work). I plan to record my live playing as audio chunks and manipulate them, witch is not as CPU demanding. And I plan to use a lot of software cross connections, side chains and nifty tricks to control the plug-ins from external MIDI and have plug-ins being controlled by each other as well as by random scripts controlled by me as I play. And the answer to that was OS X with its built in support for streaming of both MIDI and audio within the computers operating system, between open applications. No need for Hubi's Loopback and those similar third party add-ons I used on the pc. And when I looked at prices I found that a pc lappy that equals a powerbook in build quality (for example the sony vaio) was just as expensive. I must say I'm very happy with the 1,25 mHz powerbook I have (2 GB RAM). I'm looping mostly in the plug-in Augustus Loop (AU only for OS X) together with recording loops on one track in Ableton Live 5. This equals using two stereo looping devices and is as much as I can handle in an improvising live situation. I can build up stuff in Augustus, by layering with carefully controlling loop feedback from a MIDI pedal, and dump it into a loop on the Live 5 track and then start building new stuff in Augustus. Both Augustus' loop (playing completely in RAM) and the Live 5 loops (recorded to the hard drive) can also be pitch transformed by foot pedals (this is new in Live 5, but it does only work by external MIDI control for the selected track. So as long as you keep that track selected you can re-pitch all recorded loops). While Augustus does not time stretch to keep loop length intact during pitch transformation Live 5 does this. I find that a very good combination, equalling the classic combo EDP/ Repeater. At least for my needs. But if buying a lappy right now I might look into a super cheap one like Acer or Toshiba, just to get the horsepower running for two years (if they do not crap out before that) until maybe a better alternative will be the new powerbooks that run Intel processors. I'm really into the way OS X lets you look at software as an open system, similar to sitting in a traditional studio with a bin of effect pedals and a huge patch bay to set up whatever crazy sound design idea you dream up (most sound bad or do not work IRL, but it's fun and you learn by making mistakes). A pc lappy with Live 5 and the VST plug-in Lexicon PSP42 would be nice too. A tip on buying a powerbook - or any lappy - for audio application is to get it with the full RAM stuffed inside. Please remember that when calculating the prices. Greetings from Sweden Per Boysen www.looproom.com (international) www.boysen.se (Swedish) ---> iTunes Music Store (digital) www.cdbaby.com/perboysen