laptop recording

[Ben Langfeld]

To be honest I just saw an opportunity for 8 channels at barely any cost, so thought I'd try it. Does anyone see a reason why it wouldn't work?

[paulears]

I can't speak for Macs, but I've never come across a PC with adat optical ports. I did dig this up for Mac Powerbook

one audio line in and one headphone out port, each supporting optical digital audio;

which suggests that they are, like PCs, just 2 channel 44.1/16 bit ins and outs, and will not talk to an ADAT interface.

[stewart_Johnson]

The most important thing to consider in a laptop that is going to be used for recording via a firewire interface is the type of chipset used by the laptop maker for firewire.

The Texas Instruments chipset(TI created the firewire spec) is the only one to implement the full firewire standard. There are only a Fiew laptops than actually use this chipset

The mac powerbooks are one of them, along with most (but not all) laptops made by clevo. Clevo is one of a handful of odm laptop makers. There laptops re badged and sold by companies like alienware, exotic pc, voodoo pc and other companies.

Probably the best laptop to buy would be a Sager np9260 (sager is a US importer of clevo laptops this model is a clevo d900c) this laptop supports 2 hard drives and has TI firewire built in.

 

What ever laptop you decide to purchase MAKE SURE IT HAS TI Firewire chipset or you will most likely have problems.

I would also reccomend that they company you purchase from has a generous return policy so you can have some time to try it.

 

IF you are gonna record/playback lots of channels there are many os tweaks that can be performed that help the system run faster. Some companies sell laptops pre-configured for recording companies like Adk pro audio, www.rainrecording.com, http://www.shop-sonica.com/. I have never used any of these companies or reccomend them. Just giving you some references.

All of the current Apple laptops also use TI firewire and work with all of the major firewire recording gear. I hope this helps

Stewart