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  3. Laptop questions

  • Laptop questions

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    As I am going to be travelling a lot, I'm looking into buying a laptop for two purposes:
    1. Keep in touch with my loved ones.
    2. Work on my scores on the move.

    The first point should be fairly easy to achieve with Skype and an integrated webcam.

    As for the second point: I want to be able to use Sibelius, VE Pro, VI Pro and VSE Bundle. Ideally, I don't want to be limited to VSE Bundle. So I guess more RAM and probably a second internal SSD would be necessary.
    On top of this, having worked on Mac for the last 7 years, I thought I would buy a new machine that would host MIR (and therefore Windows).

    Hence my questions:
    - How does MIR integrate with Sibelius?
    - Is there a super Windows laptop machine that would be powerful enough to run Sibelius, VE Pro, VI Pro, VSE Bundle, MIR and additional libraries (such as orchestral strings and complete winds)?
    - If not, what would the best machine-vs-software setup?
    - Any other thing that I need to take into account before buying my laptop?
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    I think getting Laptops with that much RAM will be a little bit problematic.

    However on quick search i found

    http://www.originpc.com/shop/pc/N17config-step1.asp

    up to 24GB RAM

    2 Hard Disks

    Intel Core i7 980X 3.33GHz LGA 1366 Hex-Core Processor (12MB L3 Cache)

    For approx 2600$

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    I think your biggest problem with this is that no laptop may offer the kind of CPU power that you'll need. Running MIR requires at least Quad processing abilities to run even a modest ensemble. RAM is also an issue but it's the CPU that I see as the main problem.

    I work exclusively on a 17inch Macbook Pro (3.06 ghz model with 8 Gig RAM) because I'm always on the move. And I do pretty well with this but of course there are limitations that I have to work around. Limited CPU overhead for instance. I use a combination of Logic to compose and Pro tools to mix with. And I'm using a very large VSL library.

    My point is to say that working with a laptop is more than possible if you're patient to work with the limitations. But if you're looking to run CPU hungry programs like MIR I think you will need a desktop system.

    Nothing says that you can't use a laptop to compose with and connect up to a bigger studio machine that runs MIR of course. That's what I intend to do later on .. to keep my Laptop is my primary studio unit, and just have it connect to bigger machines to run the VSL library through VE Pro and MIR of course.

    Any decent laptop machine will allow you to run your full VSL library. SSD is a good idea, but I'm not sure if it makes such a big deal at this point for the price one pays. Just make sure your HD is a good fast one. 7200 rpm at least. Avoid anything slower. IT's also worth thinking about what kind of sample rate you want to record your music in. Most laptops will choke from trying to work at 96 khz. But if you're happy to work in a more CPU friendly 44.1 or 48 khz then you'll be fine. It may sound like a shallow point, but believe me it's worth considering this quality issue as you'll have to deal with this problem sooner or later. Higher sample rates mean way more processing power needed.
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    I'm just getting my laptop setup together. I'm going to install the SE on a separate HD. Do I need a third HD to put my work files on, on can they be on the system HD?

    Thanks,

    Jet
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    It looks like MIR isn't quite for me yet due to laptops limitations.
    Thanks for your answers.
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    i would encourage you to just use the Sibelius built in sounds for reference if you must. If you know your tools , you will know what you can and can't do. If you are scoring for real orchestra, I think relying on software somewhat a tool but on the other hand a crutch as you compose unintentionally letting VSL limiting your expression. I would honestly just try to imagine how it will sound and just do that. It will be a good exercise and it will stop you from being so relient on external references when you are composing. sorry about not offering any solutions to your question. As much as VSL and other libraries make it possible to realize realistic orchestral scores without an orchestra, I really do think they are awful in that they sort of trap your mind in this boxed in world of what is and what isn't possible. Just my opinion. I would go so far to say that using a piano to compose is a bad habit and one should try and overcome the need.
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    This is what I have load in MIR with my laptop in a recent project: 

    18 instruments from the Special Edition plus and Vienna Appassionata libraries.

    CPU 58%

    RAM 6,10 gigas (That's all I needed for that project)

    The specs are:

    RAM 8 gigas, internal drive at 7200 rpm

    SATA external disc via Expresscard

    Firewire MOTU traveler buffer at 1024 (MIR buffer at 2x with 2 threads of 4)

     It worked very well indeed!

    Sibelius works very well with MIR
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    @Sergino Futurino said:

    This is what I have load in MIR with my laptop in a recent project: 

    18 instruments from the Special Edition plus and Vienna Appassionata libraries.

    CPU 58%

    RAM 6,10 gigas (That's all I needed for that project)

    The specs are:

    RAM 8 gigas, internal drive at 7200 rpm

    SATA external disc via Expresscard

    Firewire MOTU traveler buffer at 1024 (MIR buffer at 2x with 2 threads of 4)

     It worked very well indeed!

    Sibelius works very well with MIR

    Sergino,

    You ran your MIR test with both Sibelius and MIR running on the same machine using LoopBe?  I am also looking to do a mobile laptop idea and 18 instruments is plenty enough for me to do what I do.

    Thanks,

    Maestro2be
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     My laptop is just 1 year old, so you should get even more now!
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    Hi Sergino,

    You forgot to answer my question lol.  Did you actually run Sibelius and MIR BOTH on the same laptop at the same time for those 18 instruments at 58% CPU?  I want to be sure before I buy a laptop that you actually did everything on the laptop (no slaves etc).

    And yes you're right!  The laptops are even faster and better now so more would be possible :).

    Thanks!

    Maestro2be
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     I would never trust an Italian for anything, but if you dare,  my answer is:
    Yes, consider that all the instruments were playing at the same time, but the tempo was rather slow.
    I would add that it was a sort of  Viennese Walts, and maybe that helps in this case...

    It works with Sonar 8 as well.

    Seriously,
    for the hard disk, I use an express-card to leave the MOTU Traveler alone on the firewire bus.

    I'm waiting for MIR Pro and Sibelius 7 for trying Vienna Instruments Pro that is still on my desktop only.
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    lol thanks Sergino, I will keep that in mind whenever speaking to an Italian in the future lol!

    I really appreciate the update, I will be attempting this with Presonus Studio One, LoopBe and VSL.  It works incredibly well on my desktop.  I always try to keep the soundcard, record drive and samples drive on seperate busses.  It definitely does help a lot.  I will report back once I have one how it worked out for me.

    Thanks again!

    Maestro2be
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    This thread inspired me to look around for laptops that might be up to the task for serious work with Vsl and -possibly Mir.

    What i found:

    http://laptopia.de/ACER-18-Notebooks/Acer-Aspire-8943G-~-Quad-Core-i7-~-16GB-RAM::68.html

    ..It is a 2nd generation I7 Quadcore Laptop that has one Usb3 connection and e-sata, 16gb of ram and gigabit lan.

    price:1200 Euro

    I have Vienna Ensemble Pro and will get Mir pro when it is available.

    So, if that all works as advertised, it should give me a serious workmachine that I can connect with two older computers with 8 gb ram each.

    Any input and comments  on such a set-up  would be very welcome.

    I would buy this only if I can test-drive it for 2 weeks and be able to return it if it is not performimg various stress tests.

    -Does anybody have any idea what I can expect from a   i7-2630QM?

    -Is gigabit lan on laptops "usually" uncritical. If it doesnt work well with VE pro and my destops it would be an absolute no-go for me.

    -More detailed feedback from people working with laptops professionally would also be very welcome.
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     Maybe I'm wrong, but I think you should get the 1298 euro optin with Windows 7 professional to get the lan working at its best.

    I'm not sure so check it somewhere.

    (and you'll need an external hard disk for sure)
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    @Sergino Futurino said:

     Maybe I'm wrong, but I think you should get the 1298 euro optin with Windows 7 professional to get the lan working at its best.

    Not sure about this one.

    Anyway, I have a copy of Windows 7 professional here.

    If I go for it I would love to have an internal ssd 256 gb.

    any feedback on gigabit lan on a laptop?

    My other question would be if this cpu (Intel Core i7-2630QM) would

    be comparable to a - say-  i7 920 desktop processor or other 1st generation i7s.
  • S
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    i7-920XM  cpu Mark: 8044 -  rank 17

    Intel Core i7-2630QM cpu Mark:  6335 -  rank 40

    i7-920  cpu Mark: 5564 -  rank 55
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    [Y]
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    Well I ordered my new Laptop with the following on it.  I am still deciding on the memory (you might have seen my memory thread in the MIR discussions).

    Dell Precision M4600

    Intel Core i7-2720M Quad Core 2.20GHz 6MB

    AMD FirePro M5950 Mobility Pro Graphics with 1GB GDDR5

    15.6 Full HD (1920x1080)Wide View AG LED w/Prem Panel

    128GB Mini SD for system and MIR, 750GB SATA Seagate 7200RPM for samples (both are internal)

    Memory - 32GB of 1333 or 16GB of 1600MHZ (I haven't made my mind up on this so I ordered it with just the basic 2GB 1333 so I can buy what I want after the fact).

    Windows 7 Enterprise 64bit (if you're a home user, this would be called Windows 7 Ultimate 64bit)

    1GB Seagate external drive for backup of samples (eSata connection).  Also I can share the load if needed.

    Soundcard will use the Firewire port so no conflicts of bus to interfere with samples etc.

    I am very excited and will post in this thread the performance I get, once I decide what memory speed to buy.  I like the 32GB ability of the 1333, however I am not sure the rest of the machine has the throughput to keep up with 32GB of MIR instruments with effects etc.  Still undecided.  I might buy the 16GB of 1600 and just see if I run out of memory and resources.

    Maestro2be
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    @cgernaey:

    please post your results soon!

    This will be very interesting for me!