Re: Using a laptop onstage: Dominic Frasca's take is misguided

[Travis Hartnett <travishartnett@gmail.com>]

So your PowerBook could handle the real-time signal processing for ten
guitarists running ten individual looping instances without bogging
down?  Out of curiousity, exactly what software would you recommend
for that, and what software are you using for personal performance
needs?

Thanks!

TravisH

On 1/5/06, Stefan Tiedje <Stefan-Tiedje@addcom.de> wrote:
> Travis Hartnett wrote:
> > If anyone out
> > there is doing all their signal processing and looping on a laptop,
> > I'd love to hear the specs of what they're using.
>
> I run a 12" Powerbook, 1,5 GHz, and could do ca. 10 times more than the
> rig you described in your example. (I'd build all what I need in
> Max/MSP) The display is small compared to a 17", but shows also 10 times
> more than any of the small displays of the hw gear all together. (And
> would sit a bit higher and easier to watch than the average looper
> displays, be it rack or footpedals.)
>
> > Someone else has already answered regarding the lower cost of a
> > Windows laptop, which isn't surprising, but I'd want to be sure that
> > this is a proven-workable configuration for the audio tasks at hand.
>
> I have not seen any windows based computer which could compete with a
> mac mini in size and price. Attach a transportable flat screen and
> you're still lower in price than the cheapest powerbook.
> Apples do not drop in price that much as PC's either, I just sold a
> completely broken 5 year old 15" Powerbook (literally nothing was
> working) for more than 200 Euros. For what you need to replace any
> average hardware rack you'd be fine with a previous generation modell.
> (Though I'd not recommend it.) With that in mind and just considering
> not needing to carry the racks it pays off very well for me. I still
> have that huge rack I used to schlepp back in the 80's, its in my room
> and was not moved for many years, I am very glad about that.
>
> One point to outdated gear: I transferred all my sets thru several OS
> transitions. From Apple II's DOS to CP/M to a Gepard (a german product
> which was not long around) to Atari to Mac OS 6-9, to OS X. The only
> concern I have with software is the danger, that the company which sells
> the software might die. (This is actually worse with hardware, because
> even if the company does not die, it might not be willing to deliver
> replacement parts). The solution for the future is open source software
> which (very/too) slowly move towards usable tools.
>
> There is Pd as alternative to Max/MSP already quite impressive, there is
> Ardour as alternative to ProTools (not quite as usable yet, but its only
> a matter of time), there is Audacity as replacement for various audio
> editors... These tools canot die. Even in a far future, it would be
> possible to compile a running version on a future processor/OS.
> But if you use them now, you need some extra time to get deep enough
> into them, but you do not need to pay any introductory or upgrade ever
> in terms of money.
>
> Stefan
>
> --