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Travelling Producers

Hey all.
Im going to be traveling all over europe in a few months time, but i face a problem. Im not sure of what equipment to purchase so that i can take with me. I need something small and compact yet powerful. I have my eyes set on a Macbook pro but i need help with headphones and anything else you guys can think of. ie. do i really need an external sound card or will the laptops core audio do the job.

Re: Travelling Producers

quote:

Originally posted by catalystG5 Hey all. Im going to be traveling all over europe in a few months time, but i face a problem. Im not sure of what equipment to purchase so that i can take with me. I need something small and compact yet powerful. I have my eyes set on a Macbook pro but i need help with headphones and anything else you guys can think of. ie. do i really need an external sound card or will the laptops core audio do the job.

Headphones: AKG 240s
Soundcard: Yes get one.

anyone in particular?
So i take it that the onboard sound would not be sufficient? is that right

quote:

Originally posted by catalystG5 anyone in particular? So i take it that the onboard sound would not be sufficient? is that right

Echo Audiofire 4

but do i really need all thoes inputs and outputs? im not going to take any external devices.
Do you all think there is a real need?

Headphones: Sony MDR7506

The built-in soundcard of the macbook (pro) is ok but for specific recordings get something else. Look at m-audio for example. Or better, get a novation xiosynth 25 s you have the keyboard and the soundcard in one piece of hardware.

L.

im not sure how easy it will be carrying a keyboard with my backpack. I guess my main question is "Do i really need a external soundcard to produce?"

quote:

Originally posted by catalystG5 im not sure how easy it will be carrying a keyboard with my backpack. I guess my main question is "Do i really need a external soundcard to produce?"

you dont NEED it but if u want extremely low latency and exceptionally better sound quality and if ur coming across a pair of monitors and maybe some mics then yes you will want an audio interface.

They arent very big. I have an M-Audio Firewire Solo and it is very portable and sounds excellent.

Also AI's take quite a load off your computer since the computer doesnt have to generate AND reproduce the sound on its own. Having the computer generate the sound and the AI reproducing it will allow for significantly less CPU usage in any DAW which means you can load a significant amount more of effects and generators than you can using an internal sound card without underruns.

another problem is the power supply. where am i going to be able to plug it in? I dont want to have to be next to a power point every time i want to play around

quote:

Originally posted by catalystG5 another problem is the power supply. where am i going to be able to plug it in? I dont want to have to be next to a power point every time i want to play around

Not to worry my friend. Most if not all AI's generate their power from the computer itself. Mine does and I was quite happy about that because im running low on power outlets.

I don't know what your budget is, but if you get a Macbook you can make use of its six pin FireWire port for a soundcard (bus powered).

I recommend:

MOTU Ultralite
Sony MDR7505

quote:

Originally posted by Watts I don't know what your budget is, but if you get a Macbook you can make use of its six pin FireWire port for a soundcard (bus powered). I recommend: MOTU Ultralite Sony MDR7505

Im not sure if its worth paying that much for a sound card that i will use for 6months.

have you looked at the echo indigo series? They're express card or something I think, so its small and powered. Alternatively the MOTU ultralite is supposedly brilliant, as is the presonus stuff. MOTU has the quality but Presonus has the price. The Mbox 2 micro is also crazy small and probably low latency, which is all your really looking for in the circumstances - and the reason I'd stay away from M audio and their reputation.

u say 6 months, take a look then http://www.m-audio.com/products/en_us/Transit-main.html

cheap, very low latency and good sound quality

I found zero difference in cpu usage using an external sound card. If it's one that comes with plugins, etc, so provides external effects and so on, then yes, that will save CPU usage. But if it's just playing back, then a good soundcard will make the sound better/ allow you to hear more, but it won't give you any speed increase at all. I've never come across this - if you're expecting a speed increase, take a project in which is right at your CPU's limit, go to the store and try out the sound card, see if it makes the project run ultra smoothly.

Depending on the stage of producing you're at, there may be no need to get an external soundcard. The internal one should be fine for composing, putting sounds together on the road. Depending where you're travelling, if you find you're lacking something compared to your home setup, there'll probably be heaps of soundcards in the local computer/ music stores, so you can make the decision then.

Do a comparison before you head off - you know what you're used to at home. If you don't notice a difference producing on the laptop, an external soundcard could well be pointless in the next 6 months. Try it out and see what feels right for you.

I recommend the:
AKG K240S - They are just that bloody good, and highly recommended by a large number of people.
PreSonus Firebox - This thing is built like a brick. Throw it against a wall, jump on it, whatever, it will still work.

quote:

Originally posted by Lolo Or better, get a novation xiosynth 25 s you have the keyboard and the soundcard in one piece of hardware. L.

+1

YES

Stupid recommendations.
If its only temporary or to use on the road, then you do not need an external soundcard- its another box to carry, break and lose.
Its only for use as a sketchpad and for some ideas rather than mixing down...

Your comp and software, as much ram as you can get, and a pair of sony 7506s is all you need.
Get a UDG courier deluxe bag, and a UDG headphone bag which attaches into the shoulder strap.

If you feel the need to, and can find a small one, maybe a controller keyboard then that will fit in the bag too- maybe one with mini keys as opposed to full size?

Its nice and compact and is exactly what I travel with.

Oh- and if you can forsee periods with no power outlet, then consider a spare battery.. instead of this, personally I carry a plane seat power convertor- useful when your battery runs out 3 hours into a 7 hour flight

quote:

Originally posted by derail Depending on the stage of producing you're at, there may be no need to get an external soundcard. The internal one should be fine for composing, putting sounds together on the road.

I have to agree with derail here. I have been putting together rough mixes and arrangements with my MacBook Pro with just the internal soundcard and its been working fine. You'll probably run into a few hiccups, but as long as you are smart with your resource usage (read: BOUNCE things), then you can definitely get by with just a stock MacBook Pro.

Having said that, I am also moving these tracks to my big studio once I get a rough draft finished and finishing the tracks there. Under no circumstances should you attempt to mix the project on headphones, but for getting ideas together it should be fine.

you dont need an external sound card for the mac...promise. if your want though get something with at least 2 audio ins, phantom power for condensder mics and midi in and out. the m-audio fast track pro is perfect for that.

quote:

Originally posted by Lolo The built-in soundcard of the macbook (pro) is ok but for specific recordings get something else. Look at m-audio for example. Or better, get a novation xiosynth 25 s you have the keyboard and the soundcard in one piece of hardware. L.

+1
and the AKG 240s

thanks for all the advice. It seems that i wont be going for the soundcard. Now i have to choose the headphones, what do you reckon of the sennheiser hd 595

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