Re: using laptops for music

["Mark Smart" <mwsmart@insightbb.com>]

Well, I just decided to jump off the cliff and ordered one of these beasts:

http://underbid.com/cgi-bin/underbid/underbid.cgi?action=display&item=1090721

I plan to use this to replace my entire looping setup...

<http://www.marksmart.net/gearhack/jazzpedalboard/jazzpedalboard.html#V2>

...by building it all in Reaktor. I will now be able to use my Reaktor big 
band
horns live...

http://www.marksmart.net/sounddesign/windsounds/reaktorbigband/reaktorbigband.html

Also it will allow me to do much better Continuum demonstrations at the 
NAMM
show in January. The Neko is built like a tank and so should withstand 
live gigs
no problem.

What's weird is that I did a lot of research into using a laptop or a small
desktop PC, and the Neko actually ends up being CHEAPER for me, because 
with it
I can use my old Layla 20 sound card and my old version of Cubase (which
requires a parallel port for the hardware dongle). If I got a new laptop I 
would
have to get new Cubase ($600) and a new multi-channel sound card ($600).

The Neko hasn't arrived yet. I'll let you all know how it goes. If this 
thing is
as cool as I think it is going to be, I will have several looping devices 
for
sale soon!

Mark Smart
http://www.marksmart.net/

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Matthias Grob" <matigrob@terra.com.br>
To: <Loopers-Delight@loopers-delight.com>
Sent: Monday, October 31, 2005 7:14 AM
Subject: Re: using laptops for music


> I am mostly worried about the connectors:
> no matter how much metal they put in the box, the connectors are
> freely spread arround and stand out and when somebody walks by and
> touch it, you have the following options:
> - (best) the connector falls out
> - the connector breaks
> - the socket breaks
> - the socket and the PCB break
> - the socket and the chip connected to it break (as experienced with
FireWire!)
>
> I think Laptop is great to start and make experiences, but for a
> serious touring equipment, we should figure out boxes with big
> FireWire sockets, mobile processors, no ventilators and possibly
> Flash memory instead of HD
>
> >I have to throw in my couple of cents here, I agree totally that you
> >need to look for a commercial model. I'm still using my compaq m300
> >which would be about 6 or 7 yrs old. I have upgraded hard drives, cd
> >burners, memory and OS systems over the years but the laptop itself
> >is still chugging along. The m series was what compaq was calling
> >their business line back then, and the other main line was the
> >pesario which was the consumer line. Back then I chose the m300
> >because it had a lot more metal in the case compared to the pesario
> >and I was touring a lot back then. You still see quite a few of
> >these m300s on ebay working fine, but not nearly fast enough for
> >what we want it to do, and I must say that Travis was right on when
> >he talked about depreciation if that wants to factor into your
> >decision. My laptop would sell for maybe $150.00, while my 3 yr old
> >edp would fetch maybe $800.00 (which is more than I paid for it).
>
> -- 
>
>
>           ---> http://Matthias.Grob.org
>