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Post subject: setting up super cheap laptop portastudio
Posted: Wed Dec 09, 2015 3:20 pm
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Aspiring Musician
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Joined: Sun Jan 04, 2015 7:18 pm
Posts: 463
Location: Tucson
Hi there! I am getting frustrated with the limitations of my Tascam DP-006 multitrack pocket studio and looking at upgrades, see that better versions are going to start getting expensive pretty quick. I want something really portable, but easy. My DAW is Reaper which is very lightweight, so I was wondering about a super cheap laptop and usb interface box. Specifically, I've found a referbed Dell Latitude 2100 Black Laptop Atom 1.6GHz Processor 2GB Memory 60GB Hard Drive for $99 shipped from Sears and was thinking of mating that with a PreSonus AudioBox USB which is also $99. Anyone have any experience recording on this extreme low end? Part of the reason I want something totally portable is because I record most my vocals sitting in my car while parked in a dark quiet alley -- it's kind an aesthetic choice. Anyway, opinions of best sub-$200 recording options appreciated! I mostly do guitar plus vocals. Thanks!!!

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Post subject: Re: setting up super cheap laptop portastudio
Posted: Sat Dec 19, 2015 10:36 am
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Aspiring Musician
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Joined: Tue Oct 08, 2013 2:11 pm
Posts: 820
Location: Iowa, USA
Audacity is a free download on the net. And the Blue Snowball costs right around $70.00 (US) on your favorite gear site and hooks directly to your laptop via USB.

However...everything is done externally through the Snowball...and even as a 'Condensed' mic, unwanted background noises are picked up easily if you aren't careful.

That worked good for me for a while. Moved on to Studio One (PreSonus) and an Audio Interface to cut down on background noise. MUCH more expensive...but the sound quality and mixing options are ten-fold.


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Post subject: Re: setting up super cheap laptop portastudio
Posted: Sun Dec 20, 2015 6:52 am
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Aspiring Musician
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Joined: Sat Apr 23, 2011 8:44 am
Posts: 604
Location: Richmond, VA
+1 on the above post about Audacity. I use it on my Lenovo laptop and it works incredibly well for being free. However... Ever since Windows 10's upgrades, Audacity will get funny and start cutting in & out when multi-tracking (recording a new track while a backing track plays). I contacted Audacity and they are well aware of it:

"Yeah, we know... we know... we're working on it... In the meantime, you have to do this"
1) Right click on your recording devices and then right click again and go to "Properties"
2) Click on "Advanced"
3) Uncheck the following:
-----a) Allow applications to take exclusive control of this device
-----b) Give exclusive mode applications priority
And
-----c) Enable audio enhancements
4) Click OK

Don't reboot... Just close out of everything and reopen Audacity. It will then work until they can get the updates done to handle Windows 10...

Important, when you're done with Audacity, go back into the settings above, and recheck a), b), and c), or just click "Restore Defaults".


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