Portable Recording, WHICH POWERBOOK TO GET Options

[azkid]

Hi and HAPPY NEW YEAR!

It's me again. (formerly jce44 - I STILL can't change my email address to my new yahoo email, because I can't receive the validation email when I try to log in as my former self. The web site won't let me change it because it's "Pending Validation", and the validation (when I try to resend it, will only go to my old self... I'm stuck in that loop.)

I've got my home recording studio up and running. My trusty Power Mac G4, new Sonnet 1.8 CPU upgrade, maxed RAM and OSX 10.3.9

I love the Mackie Onyx 1220 with firewire, still learning the Tracktion 2 software, but, I need to take it this mixer on the road.

I've been looking at refurbished or used Mac laptops, (my budget is limited) but have some questions? And I'd like to use the same OSX 10.3.9, I think?? because that's what I'm using on the G4?

I know that slow HD speeds can be problematic, and that Powerbook HD's are usually 4200 RPM.

1. Do I need to get an external, faster HD as well as a laptop?
2. With Firewire?

If so, most of the Powerbooks only have 1 firewire port.

3. How do I hook up my firewire Onyx and the external firewire HD at the same time?
4. Do they make firewire hubs for this and will they work well? (Will the Powerbook "see" both?)

I only need to record 4 to 6 channels/tracks at one time.

5. How fast should the processor on the Powerbook be?

My budget is poor, but I'm silling to save up. I'd like to keep the expense under $600.00?

6. Is there any other, better way to use my Mackie Onyx to record portably, and still load the tracks into my G4 desktop for editing and CD burning once I get home?

Thanks much,

Judy

[mortalengines]

You really want to go ahead and get that external HD. Laptops are okay for running a track or two at a time but recording 6 to 8 tracks may cause some notable problems for the incoming audio. There were some posts on Mackie's Onyx Forum noting dropouts & the like for people who recorded with a mobile rig straight to their laptop's HD. External HDs are cheap but you also want to get one that is optimized for audio work (look for the Oxford 911 chipset external HDs) a good place to start looking is at www.pacificproaudio.com they have very reasonably priced HDs of all sizes.

[Jim Hoyland]

You can use a firewire hub, but as it will drain power from the firewire bus you would probably be better of daisy-chaining your FW devices.

[azkid]

You can use a firewire hub, but as it will drain power from the firewire bus you would probably be better of daisy-chaining your FW devices.

Thanks for your reply!
To make sure that I'm clear on what you're saying... Do I need to get an external firewire hard drive with 2 firewire ports? Although I've seen Powerbook models with 2 ports, The Powerbooks I'm looking to buy, refurbished, only have 1 firewire port. And connect them so-

Powerbook-><------><- HD-><-----><-Mackie Onyx

Will the Powerbook "see" the Mackie Onyx through the external HardDrive?

Power will not be a problem on these remote recording sessions. I assume that with AC power available, I'll be able to run the laptop, HD and Mackie without using the 5-6 pin on the firewire bus.

You really want to go ahead and get that external HD. Laptops are okay for running a track or two at a time but recording 6 to 8 tracks may cause some notable problems for the incoming audio. There were some posts on Mackie's Onyx Forum noting dropouts & the like for people who recorded with a mobile rig straight to their laptop's HD. External HDs are cheap but you also want to get one that is optimized for audio work (look for the Oxford 911 chipset external HDs) a good place to start looking is at www.pacificproaudio.com they have very reasonably priced HDs of all sizes.

Thank you for your input MortalEngines. Much appreciated!

I've checked out Mackie's Forum also, Mike Rivers, moderator there, is the best! But he's not a Mac guy... I will check out Pacific's web site.

Any responses for my other questions on the original post?

[azkid]

I'm still looking for recommendations on which (refurbished with OSX10.3.9) Powerbook model (with what attributes?) to buy, but I did come across a Mackie Forum thread which pertains to using an external hard drive for portable recording with a Powerbook.

http://forums.mackie.com/scripts/forum/ult...t=000849#000000

Topic: usb 2 hd to free fw bus?

Mackie recommends using an external, 7200 RPM, USB 2 hard drive to free up CPU usage. (When your Powerbook has only 1 firewire port)

What do you think?

Thanks!

[arvidtp]

Yo

Yes - the computer will see the HD fine through the interface. I think you can do up to 63 devices in a chain, though i dont recommend it.

just to warn: even powerbooks with 2 firewire ports have only one firewire bus, unless apple has changed things in the last line of macbooks. So if you have a FW 400 device plugged in, the FW 800 port slows to 400 speeds. I've tested it. I have a FW 800 OWC harddrive with the Oxford 912 chipset and a Presonus Firebox. If i attach the FW 800 drive and the Firebox to the computer on separate firewire plugs, or if I daisy chain them with the HD closest to the computer, I get dropouts in audio with heavy disk usage. It may just be the firebox, and apple's FW audio driver, but my advisor had similar problems with a motu ultralite and his FW hard drive... Wish the powerbooks has two separate FW busses like the desktops... maybe its a power or space saving feature.

Anyhow the only way I ca get it to always work reliably is when the chain goes Powerbook <==> Firebox <==> Hard Drive, all using FW 400 cables.

Oh and i also wanted to note that I have successfully recorded 8 channels (@ 44.1, 24bit) to my powerbook internal drive no problem. Its and 80GB 5400rpm I think. Playing back like 18 channels is where I've gotten into troubles.

This post has been edited by arvidtp: Sun 7 Jan 2007, 16:26

[azkid]

Here's what I've learned after 2 days of research on this topic.

1. I can't edit my posts after I "Add Reply"
2. Titanium PowerBooks don't have USB 2.0
(only PowerBook G4, 1.0GHz-DVI-AL and later models do)
3. $600.00 may not be enough bucks to cover this need
4. ebay has many (post santa claus) PowerBooks and PB accessories for sale- like 33 web pages!
5. Most ebay sellers have no clue of what a model number or USB 2.0 port is nor how to find out.
6. About 50% of these ebay sellers don't reply to the above questions when asked

Does anyone in this forum have an alternative portable recording recommendation, besides a Powerbook? I only have Tracktion 2 on my desktop and would like to take my Mackie Onyx with firewire out of the home studio, record, take the files back home and edit them on my desktop PowerMac G4.

Is there some DAT or DAW or portable multi-track recording device that will let me do this?

Still.

[rickenbacker]

A few thoughts…

If eBay sellers don't reply, don't buy from them.

Two minutes on the web will tell you from which generation of PowerBook USB 2.0 was included as standard. In fact, just download MacTracker, which details the spec of all Apple products ever released. It's really cool!

There is still only a single FireWire bus on the MBPs, just as there was in the PBs. The beauty of the PBs is that expansion via the PC CardBus slot means you can add a second, dedicated FireWire stream via a card, such as the LaCie FW800 card (three slots - two 800, one 400) which is still available cheaply. I got mine from Other World Computing recently. I hang a WD MyBook FW800 hard drive from the card and my audio interface from the built-in FW port.

What about recent iBook G4s? I know professional engineers who still use a G3 iBook for location recording, whilst using microphones and preamps costing thousands of pounds, simply because the G3 is still capable of handling the job.

[azkid]

A few thoughts…

If eBay sellers don't reply, don't buy from them.

I totally agree! And I wouldn't buy if I didn't know exactly what I was getting. But from exchanging email questions and answers, there about 30 ebay sellers that NOW know what USB 2.0 is and how to find the model number of their laptop. LOL

Two minutes on the web will tell you from which generation of PowerBook USB 2.0 was included as standard. In fact, just download MacTracker, which details the spec of all Apple products ever released. It's really cool!

I was using Apple Supprt sites and everymac.com Thanks for MacTracker, I'll give it a go!

There is still only a single FireWire bus on the MBPs, just as there was in the PBs. The beauty of the PBs is that expansion via the PC CardBus slot means you can add a second, dedicated FireWire stream via a card, such as the LaCie FW800 card (three slots - two 800, one 400) which is still available cheaply. I got mine from Other World Computing recently. I hang a WD MyBook FW800 hard drive from the card and my audio interface from the built-in FW port.

(I'd forgotten about a PC Cardbus! The last MAC laptop I owned was a 5300ce from work. I'm a little rusty on them)

What about recent iBook G4s? I know professional engineers who still use a G3 iBook for location recording, whilst using microphones and preamps costing thousands of pounds, simply because the G3 is still capable of handling the job.

I also checked out ibooks. Only problem is that fewer models come with firewire and USB 2.0, and they weren't quite as popular, a little harder to find for resale. BUT, I'm keeping my eyes open for an ibook also.

Thanks a bunch for your help. Very much appriciated!

[azkid]

I've purchased and received my used Powerbook & since this thread is getting some "reads", I'll sum up what I know (Currently- 01/15/2007)-

Most of the used, PowerBook G4's are going for between $580.00 - $800.00 on auction websites. Variables are amount of installed RAM, HD size and whether or not it has a Combo drive vs Super Drive. Additional installed software, beyond OS X, adds $$ to your costs also.

I found a used PowerBook G4, M9183LL/A ,1.33GHz, 60GB w/Combo drive, from a dealer, for a very decent price. It was refurbished with a new hard drive and new DVD/CD RW and still has Applecare till Nov. 2007. (I just finished registering with Apple.) Came with OS X 10.4.8.

I was amazed that it was just like new! Upon start up, it acted like a brand new baby! I Love it! I had to order a 1GB RAM stick (Crucial) so add about $140.00.

After looking at many external hard drive models online, and reading various recommendations, I found one that comes with it's own firewire and USB 2.0 bus. It's made for the Mac mini & called the "miniStack". The miniStack has various models... I got the 300GB, 7200RPM with 16MB buffer. It does have the latest Oxford chipset. (What the hey! I'd alread blown my budget!)

It cost more than what you could build, but with the bus included, I figured that I could use either the FW or USB 2.0 connection in different settings and figure which one works best. (Mackie recommends using USB 2.0 connection to an x-HD's to free up the processor firewire bus?? I can't remember the specifics.)

So if anyone else is dreaming of this portablility, in this way, plan on spending about $1,000.00 at this point in time.

Thanks to all that replied! I haven't received the miniStack or new RAM stick yet......

BTW- Rickenbacker - Thanks for the info on "Mactracker"! What a great utility!