does anyone carry around a laptop instead of a workstation

mwalker wrote:lappy and software thing, well if you do not have any experence with software (real experence) how can you tell which is better. i am not talking about playing around with fruityloops but experencing multiple hosts (cubase, live, sonar,etc), multiple vsti (trilogy, battery, lounge lizard, sampletank, etc) and multiple vst effect over a period of time (4 to 5 years). i brought my first piece of hardware in 1985 and have brought $1000(s) of dollars worth of hardware since then so what i am talking about is from experence. i thanks GOD i could afford whatever music stuff i ever wanted if for some reason you have not experenced hardware or software for a reasonable amount of time how can you know what is better. no flames here but the truth. i own akai mpc2000, s2000 and s01 but mpc2000 as a drum machine not a sequence is not better than battery, battery2 (which i order last nite), intakt or stylus rmx (which i should have by today or tomorrow). the s2000 or s01 is not better than reason nn-xt sampler, gigasampler, kompakt, komtakt, or sampletank 2xl (all of which i own).

the point i am making is that on a lappy you could have a full blown project studio on it.

how many pieces of hardware will it take to have:


trilogy - bass module
lounge lizard - electric piano
atmosphere - string and stuff
stylus - drum machine
battery - drum machine
battery 2 - drum machine
hypersonic - sound module
sampletank 2xl - rompler
proc-53 - synth
reason - rack module
b4 - organ
fm7 - fm synth sounds
absynth - synth

well i have this on a lappy with cubase sl2 and live4. also i have a firewire harddrive with about 100 gigs worth of samples. \

in conclusion, FROM MY PERSONAL EXPERENCE WITH HARDWARE AND SOFTWARE (and i am talking about 20 years with hardware and about 6 years with software) the lappy is the way to go.

if you got your first piece of equiment in the last couple of years what experences are you drawing on? simple question. huh?

where are your beats at..

i feel you on going with software, whatever makes it easy for you
jus have fun and make music

i'm open to both and see the need/use for both

especially if you have a nice soundcard

yo binger, i am consistant, which in the hiphop world means "keeping it real". when i talk you do not have to check the wind, i am coming straight. i am proud of my setup and there are someday where i just look it and say damn "that sh!t came out of there".

no flames but the truth (as allways). about the broken record, check your posts here and on other forums, there are times when you have to check the wind. i hope you know what i mean ...

plus binger, would you like to have a lappy setup? keep it real, would you?

lappy, trilogy, atmosphere, stylus, stylus rmx, battery, battery 2, lounge lizard, fm7, b4, reaktor, absynth, kompakt, komtakt, intakt, model e, ppg wave, sampletank 2xl, hypersonic and reason. host - cubase sl2 or live4 soundcards - tascam 428, echo indigo i/o, moblepre and ozone. shure sm57 mic. wave plat. bundle vst effect and about 100 gig of samples/loops.


just for a day? keep it real.

yo butch, you said "where are your beats". well i just came from your site where are you beats?

i dont need a "lappy setup" cause i have almost all what u said in my studio on my diesel music PC. I am always here so i dont need to travel and make music on a lake. I also like using my hardware to sequnce my software modules and samplers. But i also do have hardware samplers and synths. I agree with u, but u to tell everyone that they need to use pcs and ditch hardware, like on this fanatical rant. Everyday its the same thing. I believe in the "use what is most comfortable to u" setup. I, and this is just me, like to use a pc and my hardware all at once. But others may just need pc or dont have a nice fast music pc that can support about a thrid of that software u metioned wtihout latency, which is the biggest hassle u can have, limited track counts, limited plug ins, etc.... Its a real old argument. some cats like to be more vintage, some like to be with all the new technology and trends, others perfer a middle ground like myself. thats really bout all it comes down too. we heard ur point and understand where ur at. so stop pushing "what" everyone should use and just do u. This guy here just asked if anyone uses a laptop for live scenarios, not if he should sell all his gear and get ableton

your like a broken record. why dont u just put what u own and ur opinions in ur sig so we dont have to see these threads anymore. Its always the same argument.

word!

this thread started with lappy and mobility

yeah, he asked if it would be a good idea for shows!

digi, on stage there is nothing like hardware because it is dependable. i would never use a lappy at a live gig. i rather lug my mpc (with a drumkat)which i have done in the past.

hmmm, contradictory statement ? ? ?


And still you praise your wonder-software-land.

how many pieces of hardware will it take to have:


trilogy - bass module
lounge lizard - electric piano
atmosphere - string and stuff
stylus - drum machine
battery - drum machine
battery 2 - drum machine
hypersonic - sound module
sampletank 2xl - rompler
proc-53 - synth
reason - rack module
b4 - organ
fm7 - fm synth sounds
absynth - synth

well i have this on a lappy with cubase sl2 and live4. also i have a firewire harddrive with about 100 gigs worth of samples. \

sometimes it should be quality over quantity ! ! !



And before you make an effort to tell me how much experience you have with all your software/technology. (and all your non-verifiable 20+ pro-biz knowledge)


Yes, I know quite a few sequencers (and I never used Fruity-loops).
And I know a lot softsynths and VST's, and most of them can't compete with good hardware.

I'm sure you know the old sayin': You get what you pay for.

I would rather use a mpc over Battery anytime.
It sounds very digital/plastic-wise. And as soon as you start to tweak your sounds it gets really ugly.

And all those soft-synths don't cut it for me - any "monophonic" analog synth will kill any of them in an A/B test.

mwalker wrote:yo butch, you said "where are your beats". well i just came from your site where are you beats?

thats funny cuz i remember gettin positive feedback from you on my beats...but thats cool, i guess i touched a nerve asking you where ur beats are.... but u didnt answer my question.. where are your beats???

wow......this is almost turning into an hardware vs software thred.

not for nothing but both are good to have because you can have the best of both worlds.

I have fantom rack the motif rack and the mpc 2000xl ,the rest is all software and man life is good

but at the end of the day its not what you have its how you use what you
have .


oh j.m ? with the new release of battery 2 I would say the mpc has a lot of catching up to do when it comes to features becuase even though battery has no sequencer it still blows the MPC out the water.. with that said battery 2 and the mpc combined is the ultimate killer drum machine. Also with the speeds computer are reaching today , hardware will need to catch up to software. if you think about it 15 years ago computers could not even touch the power of hardware.

I'm just saying, if a powerbook running a Rhodes virtual instrument is good enough for Herbie Hancock to tour with, it's good enough for anyone.

oh j.m ? with the new release of battery 2 I would say the mpc has a lot of catching up to do when it comes to features becuase even though battery has no sequencer it still blows the MPC out the water.. with that said battery 2 and the mpc combined is the ultimate killer drum machine. Also with the speeds computer are reaching today , hardware will need to catch up to software. if you think about it 15 years ago computers could not even touch the power of hardware.

might be - might be not!

who knows? you know, a few years ago people where sure that adat is gonna be the future!


don't get me wrong, I'm not bashing software itself but MY experience was that 9 out of 10 times hardware wins hands down.
you should really try some A/B tests with analog EQ's/native software EQ's - analog Comp's vs. native software Comp's - so on & so on.
as long as you don't KNOW and experienced it for yourself - all you are able to contribute is hearsay and marketing-b.s.

Software is not used because it IS the SUPERIOR product soundwise - but for convenience and price aspects.
And other than that - I don't care what software maybe will be capable in 5+ years. I want to make music now.

I don't know much pro people who fell in love with pro toys (or any other DAW) because of the SOUND. It was CONVENIENCE and MONEY that killed tape, period!!!

It is very conspicuous, that most "hardcore" software users are ALWAYS tryin' to justify their software with arguments regarding FEATURES and SPEED or sheer Processing POWER. - should really go to your nearest audio pimp and play with some of them "good" stuff.

My music is about SOUND, and if stuff doesn't sound good then it's useless.
It brings me no advantage that tool/software "X" can "bend" my audio 100 times when after the second bending it starts to sound like poo.

That is why people still using OBSOLETE 10+years old samplers with "sh*tty" 12BIT ? ? ? converters. Some people care more about what they actually HEAR then SPECS.

BUT that is just MY experience! I have started with music-recording based solely on software and every time I had the chance to A/B stuff - I've always chosen the hardware.
I still use software - for stuff where the hassle isn't worth it, like I said "convenience" - but for critical stuff (preserving good sonics) it's hardware all the way.

Regarding Battery 2, I hope you don't "assume" that it will blow the mpc away.
I hope you really "heard" it - because I didn't and can't comment on that.
I just know Battery 1 - and it has a lot of features, too - but soundwise in no ballpark with the mpc !!!

And a little anecdote about N.I. and their products - Dave Smith the man who created the real Pro5 - heard their software-version.
He thought they did an ok job but it could have been done better - he tried to contact them and give them input how they could get closer to the original - but N.I. didn't have any interest because they thought their product is "good enuff" for the "target group" they're tryin' to sell to.


I'm really open to every TOOL there is out there and really try to incorporate everything in my music as long as it benefits from it!

You know, they did not invent the TT for scratching - so new technology is always good - to be used and misused!

But CONVENIENCE should never be predominant!!


So to make the transition back to the TOPIC -
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
It makes sense to keep your traveling equipment as small as possible - but convenience should never excel quality.

And with tools like the MPC1000 and synths that are actually very small and good to transport - I would rather suggest to get a laptop as a supplement.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
just my 2cents.

jm, you have alot to say but all of my comment states "software makes a great project studio". you and your a/b comparson, well do you know know what the differents between a project studio and a full blown studio? when you do open your mouth please read the previous posts. ok? software makes a great project studio, ok. i prefer having live drums instead of mpc, battery, intakt you name it. ok. i rather have a real rhodes instead of lounge lizard. ok. i rather have a real guitar instead of virtual guitar. ok. i rather have a real grand piano than a sampled grand piano. but sinse i do not have these instruments at my finger tips the software get the job done. period. and to have all this on a lappy takes it to the next level (in my opinion).

now battery, do you own it? how long have you played with battery? do you make your own samples and load battery with them? have you ever use studio drums with battery?

in my "project studio" battery does not always cut it, that is my i have intakt, stylus, stylus rmx, drum refills for reason, kontakt (sampler), kompakt (sampler), sampletank 2xl (sampler) and akai/giga/loops (that i chop up) drum samples.

in none of my threads i never said that "this software or that software is the answers to all your needs". what i am saying is that with a collection of software you could have a excellence "project studio". period.

inclusion, until you have/use (for a decent period of time) all the software that i have i do not think you can comment on it because i do own 32 input mackie mixer, mpc, s2000, s01, r5, roland u220, alesis s4, alesis d4, roland r5, korg m3r, nanobass, nanosynth, proteus fx, eq, effect boxes and all the other hardware sh!t for a "project studio" and my software can do exactly the same things and sound just as good if not better. period.

ooh, I struck a nerve!

jm, you have alot to say but all of my comment states "software makes a great project studio"

I don't have a problem with that but - - - -

noooooo, you even go further!

lappy and software are only way to go but this is the mpc forum.

"ONLY", you see this IS YOUR statement.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

you know, to be honest!

I really don't care what YOU use! I really don't care how much years of your life you wasted to find out that software is the ONLY way to go.
That is your decision and your problem. best of luck to you.


One main point why I jumped on this thread was because of your somewhat futile comment (even some of them regular posters/contributors remarked it).

So, Mr. I-had-them-all, this:

now battery, do you own it? how long have you played with battery? do you make your own samples and load battery with them? have you ever use studio drums with battery?

is not a viable argument!

BTW, do you read the WHOLE thread before you comment and talk b.s.??

Let me recall! Hmmm, I think I wrote somewhere that I KNOW Battery - and not only by the name!

So ? ? ? are you illiterate or why are you keep asking me a question where my answer is already written?

Ok, I will take the time to answer your question moooooore precisely.

1. yes, 2. long enuff to know what I'm talking (and no, It didn't take me 20+ years to exercise/grasp the ART of software-samplerism - some people just get it quicker! ), 3. yep, like most of them hip-hop producers (my neighbor just wasn't available to do it for me!)
and finally 4. yes, still doesn't make no difference - as soon as you start to tweak sh't, it starts to sound like poo. (and sadly enuff - I still didn't find my All-great-drum-and-sample-sounds-instant-hit-Sample-CD - so tweaking is essential.

inclusion, until you have/use (for a decent period of time) all the software that i have i do not think you can comment on it because i do own 32 input mackie mixer, mpc, s2000, s01, r5, roland u220, alesis s4, alesis d4, roland r5, korg m3r, nanobass, nanosynth, proteus fx, eq, effect boxes and all the other hardware sh!t for a "project studio" and my software can do exactly the same things and sound just as good if not better. period.

So what???

I do own a big old A&H mixer - a lexicon 300 - a few analog eq's, comps & preamps, analog synths, etc. - and software can't substitute ALL of them!

I know what a full blown studio is - and it has nothing to do with my previous statements!!!

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


Now I honestly want to apoligize to DENNISON for hijacking his thread.

I'm out - and in my best Ali G. impression - talk to the hand, cuz my face don't listen no more!

yo jm, you could never get on my nerves you are half way around the world. plus you are from munich, what is the last exciting thing that happen there '72 olympics?

mwalker wrote:yo jm, you could never get on my nerves you are half way around the world. plus you are from munich, what is the last exciting thing that happen there '72 olympics?

that was a good one

but really who gives a flyin fu*k. I just made a beat five seconds ago with intakt and ableton with the mpc sequncing it. WHAT NOW BITCHES? this is a pretty dumb argument though. Software is hot and hardware is hot. it depends on what u do with it. the end.

oh and using refills i think is mad cheezy. i just prefer to go out and find my samples on vinyl. i dont call layering someone elses loops "your music". its just some cute amatuer collage work. so have fun with the gigs of rex files and acid sample cds. Im cool on that. i would rather get a few mics and get my own samples. or dig up old samples off records. but i dont want to hear no arguments. I myself dont really try to use sample cds, but i have. so i aint hating.

Definately not bucking the fact that you can make dope sounds with your laptop. Yo it's hard to carry a bunch of hardware around, but if you the main event on stage, you better have more than an iBook and a mouse, or you look silly, just on the performance side of things. It's kina like a battle DJ with one cd player.