Audio Recording

[Paul Caldwel]

Looking to help a musician friend with a laptop recommendation for audio recording. Primarily need recommendations for (input)microphone/line in and associated software.

 

[Blain]

We need some more information...
* Does your friend prefer "PC" or Mac?
* What's the total budget for everything?

 

[Paul Caldwel]

looking at PC
budget $500+

 

[stahlhart]

For analog "recording studio" type work, the $500 would be better invested in a less expensive (or even an older second-hand) PC and a professional grade sound card (e.g. mAudio Delta) than a laptop.

You don't need a lot of horsepower for audio; people have been doing it successfully since back in the 1990s with Pentium 1s and ISA cards. Obviously you'll need something newer than that today for proper software support, but the hardware requirements are pedestrian at best.

 

[stahlhart]

Unless portability is a strict requirement.

 

[Ken g6]

For recording software, I'm going to have the audacity to suggest you start with Audacity. If that's not enough for you, you still have plenty of money left over to buy something else.

 

[T_Yamamoto]

I use audacity to make ads and stuff

easy to use and has some nice effects

 

[Harvey]

We need some more information...
* Does your friend prefer "PC" or Mac?
* What's the total budget for everything?

^ This ^

There are a number of usable programs with varying features, quality and ease of use. Pro Tools is the default professional and high end standard, and aside from its cost, it is very demanding for hardware compatibility.

Your friend should start by knowing the software he wants to use and choosing hardware that the software manufacturer specs as qualified and compatible.

Pro Tools 9 compatiblity info.

 

[JSt0rm]

what other recording equipment does he already own?

 

[oynaz]

For a PC, I would get Reaper or Cubase instead of Pro Tools.