What laptop for recording with firewire?

[Warheart]

I'm thinking about building a mobile recording platform using a laptop and a 4 space rack case. I'm not sure if this is a good idea or not, so please, if anyone can offer any advice, it would be greatly appreciated.

I want to run a digidesign 003 rack unit into a laptop using firewire. I have read that firewire is better than USB for recording, and I was thinking about going with a rugged/fully rugged laptop for this.
The ones I was looking at were:

Dell D630 Latitude XFR
Getac M230
Panasonic toughbook cf-30
and
Macbook Pro (not rugged at all)

All of these have dual core processors and 3-4gigs of ram or better, and some of these would need a pc card for the firewire. I was thinking about running windows 7 as I would like to move on from XP at some point in my life.

Basically, I want something durable and reliable. It is going to be dedicated solely to writing and recording music.
Also, is there anything else that would compare to the Digidesign 003 for recording? I know there is the Line-6 stuff, but I'd like to avoid USB I think?

As for recording software, I'm more familiar with nuendo than pro-tools. I wouldn't have a preference really. Is one better than the other?

Thanks in advance for any advice you can give!

 

[ksmith63]

Re: What laptop for recording with firewire?

Macs may be more rugged than you think. My first macbook pro went through hell for 5 years and was only replaced after a water accident crippled the r,f, and 4 keys. This has lasted longer than any Dell, Vaio, Toshiba that I or any of my friends have ever had. Now I have another Macbook pro. I still use both of them and often use Logic's "node" function to use both processors when recording multiple simultaneous tracks.

BUT

If you are running windows 7 and nuendo there really is no reason to buy a mac. If you wanted to use Logic that would be another matter.

 

[Reload in 5]

Re: What laptop for recording with firewire?

Basically, I want something durable and reliable. It is going to be dedicated solely to writing and recording music.
Also, is there anything else that would compare to the Digidesign 003 for recording? I know there is the Line-6 stuff, but I'd like to avoid USB I think?

Why no USB? I dont really understand why people are so against it. The digidesign has firewire 400, and USB 2.0 has more available bandwidth (480 vs 400).

Is there something I am missing?

I am a windows guy through and through, but for a recording only device I would consider a mac.

With windows 7, just be careful that whatever device you buy has good drivers.

 

[ksmith63]

Re: What laptop for recording with firewire?

Why no USB? I dont really understand why people are so against it. The digidesign has firewire 400, and USB 2.0 has more available bandwidth (480 vs 400).

Is there something I am missing?

Firewire 400 is actually faster than USB even though it has less "possible" bandwidth.

 

[Reload in 5]

Re: What laptop for recording with firewire?

Firewire 400 is actually faster than USB even though it has less "possible" bandwidth.

Huh? That would only be possible on a device vs device basis. Say your firewire 400 device used all 400 but my USB 2.0 device only used 350 of the 480 available.

The digidesign is supposed to be able to record all 8 channels simultaneously at full quality, and the POD Studio UX-8 is also supposed to be able to record all 8 tracks simultaneously at full quality. (24-bit/96 kHz on both)

SO unless the Digidesign has something extra yuou need, I dont see why I would pay $1200 instead of $300
Maybe it has better D/A converters, but at least for my use, I would never be able to tell the difference.

I am not saying you should get the UX-8, just using it as an example.

EDIT: So I see how the hardware and software are limiting USB, but all the tests I see are from 4-5 years ago, nothing recent. Should be much better now.
And USB 3.0 kills everything else (5G) and ultimately USB has won.

"The ultimate signal that this war has already been won is Apple's recent decision to ditch FireWire from its consumer line in favor of USB. Previously, Cupertino had been one of FireWire's greatest advocates."

 

[ksmith63]

Re: What laptop for recording with firewire?

I just started using firewire for connecting my two macs together for recording. I honestly prefer it to USB based pretty much on novelty. It is noticeably faster when transferring large files but for my recording needs it doesn't matter. Firewire will never be as big as USB but I don't think it will go away anytime soon.

 

[Virtual Kevorkian]

Re: What laptop for recording with firewire?

MBP not rugged at all? You should see the scars on my 15" from April of '08... dents, dings, scuffs and bruises all over.

 

[innerdreamrecords.co]

Re: What laptop for recording with firewire?

I think I would get a Mac, which I have, and use something like Reason Record or Logic with an external drive and a interface with enough inputs to do tracking. Then I would do the heavy lifting on a desk top, mixing etc.

 

[Warheart]

Re: What laptop for recording with firewire?

I've read that the quality of the recording is only as good as the A/D D/A converters you have, so that's one area I do not want to skimp on. I do know a guy that has used the Line6 UX8 to great result however, I'm not necessarily opposed to it, I just don't want to upgrade again in a year.

I have used windows for the entirety of my life, so I guess you could say I'm a windows guy as well. I would love to try out a mac, but I have noticed that they are a bit more expensive for the same hardware specs. VK, I'll take your word on how rugged they are!

USB 3.0 is theoretically a hell of a lot better, yes, but I haven't seen any computer that has it, or any recording interface that has it yet either. Its kind of a no-go in my mind.

I really don't know what to do here, I've talked to a few friends that know more about computers and I get mixed results, I have one telling me that mac is the end all be all, and the other telling me to get a HP laptop cause it'll be cheaper with the same specs.

Only 1 of the programs I use is really PC specific, but I don't think that would be an issue, I could just create a dual-boot on a mac for that, wouldn't matter really.

 

[Uk Ant]

Re: What laptop for recording with firewire?

I use a Macbook pro... USB only mind but works fine... ya just paying more for the privilege of the shiny design and not running windows.