Which laptop for SL24.4.2/Ipad remote mixing?

J

JOSEPH DIXON

Freshman
Jan 16, 2011
21
0
0
Indiana
I really would've loved to been able to use an Ipad this past Saturday night. I had to side mix a killer band that played a Super Bowl after party. Things could've been better if I could've been out front with an Ipad. Ugg.

So, I've been asking around trying to find out what I need to buy. It seems I need to buy an Ipad 2, an "Airport Extreme wireless router", and a laptop. The issue I'm having is nobody seems to be able to tell me EXACTLY which laptop to get. They all pretty much say,"just buy a Mac!"

Now, keep in mind, I'm not very "computery". So I get on the phone with my very good friend who's a sales manager at HH Gregg and I tell him, "Hey, I need to buy a Mac laptop with firewire to mix remotely with that digital mixer I've been telling you about!" He says, "Great! Which one? There's several to choose from." So I'm like, crap. I had no idea what to tell him.

So, can you guys please tell me what exact words I need to tell him? I would like to use this to use an Ipad to mix, check on what the I-Tech amps are doing, play music from it, record live bands with it, check my email, and get on the internet when I'm at the crib.

Thank you for your help.
 
Re: Which laptop for SL24.4.2/Ipad remote mixing?

System Architect only runs on Windows, so buy a Windows laptop. It needs Firewire. Preferably a Texas-instruments Firewire chipset. You can get Firewire Expresscards for most laptops as well, meaning just about any laptop will work. I recommend this card which can be had cheaper on Amazon.
 
Re: Which laptop for SL24.4.2/Ipad remote mixing?

Silas Pradetto said:
System Architect only runs on Windows, so buy a Windows laptop. It needs Firewire. Preferably a Texas-instruments Firewire chipset. You can get Firewire Expresscards for most laptops as well, meaning just about any laptop will work. I recommend this card which can be had cheaper on Amazon.
Click to expand...

A sound buddy sent me this message yesterday:

"I have a similar set up as far as console and i-Tech's. You'll need to set up two wireless networks, one for your SL @ FOH and a second for your i-Tech's @ the amp rack. System Architect does not run on Mac OS (laptop) but their is an app and can be run from the iPad, below is the link to Harmon.
iPad Control Application
"
 
Re: Which laptop for SL24.4.2/Ipad remote mixing?

JOSEPH DIXON said:
A sound buddy sent me this message yesterday:

"I have a similar set up as far as console and i-Tech's. You'll need to set up two wireless networks, one for your SL @ FOH and a second for your i-Tech's @ the amp rack. System Architect does not run on Mac OS (laptop) but their is an app and can be run from the iPad, below is the link to Harmon.
iPad Control Application
"
Click to expand...

Wow, your buddy talks really loud!
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Re: Which laptop for SL24.4.2/Ipad remote mixing?

Jay Barracato said:
Why would you need access to system architect at the same time you are mixing remotely?
Click to expand...

I use a Mac Mini. Not the newest generation but back one generation.

1.8mHz Duo core intel (PPC will NOT work)
2GB RAM
80GB HD
Snow Leopard OS

I paid $400 for it. I also bought a 2TB portable drive to jump files over to. Bought an N-Band 5mHz router
An iPad 1 will work as well, instead of a 2.

I mounted the computer and router mounted in the back of my light controller.

Brackets I made:
4db0ab31.jpg


918176cb.jpg


Picked up a cheap monitor for $35 from Best buy (demo model)

Good to go!
ccbfb51d.jpg

2d6e916b.jpg

63f7acbe.jpg
 
Re: Which laptop for SL24.4.2/Ipad remote mixing?

JOSEPH DIXON said:
I really would've loved to been able to use an Ipad this past Saturday night. I had to side mix a killer band that played a Super Bowl after party. Things could've been better if I could've been out front with an Ipad. Ugg.

So, I've been asking around trying to find out what I need to buy. It seems I need to buy an Ipad 2, an "Airport Extreme wireless router", and a laptop. The issue I'm having is nobody seems to be able to tell me EXACTLY which laptop to get. They all pretty much say,"just buy a Mac!"

Now, keep in mind, I'm not very "computery". So I get on the phone with my very good friend who's a sales manager at HH Gregg and I tell him, "Hey, I need to buy a Mac laptop with firewire to mix remotely with that digital mixer I've been telling you about!" He says, "Great! Which one? There's several to choose from." So I'm like, crap. I had no idea what to tell him.

So, can you guys please tell me what exact words I need to tell him? I would like to use this to use an Ipad to mix, check on what the I-Tech amps are doing, play music from it, record live bands with it, check my email, and get on the internet when I'm at the crib.

Thank you for your help.
Click to expand...


Get a MacBook Pro - you won't need a separate wireless router - just create a network on the laptop and use the laptop to send the signal - it works fine.

I just got an external firewire hard drive for recording - the Thunderbolt types are still too pricey for me right now.

I also have a separate PC/Windows laptop for the System Architect and my Crown Xti's.

The PreSonus software can be used with PC or Mac - too bad Crown won't do the same.
 
Re: Which laptop for SL24.4.2/Ipad remote mixing?

OK, here's the computer I'm gonna buy off a local sound/computer buddy today. He sent me a list of all that's in it. I don't know what a lot of this stuff is, but I guess I'll learn about it later. So, is this a good deal?


15" MacBook Pro Unibody
2.4Ghz Core 2 Duo
4GB DDR3 Memory
320GB Hard Drive
10/100/1000 Ethernet
802.11 b/g/n Wireless
Bluetooth
CD/DVD DL reader/burner
15" high gloss screen
Backlite Keyboard
USB
FireWire
MiniDisplay
85W Power Supply
7hr Battery
OSX Lion
MS Office and other software
Mic In/headphone out
IR remote compatible
Original Box.

$1000.00
 
Re: Which laptop for SL24.4.2/Ipad remote mixing?

It's a decent deal considering a similar model new is more than double that. And it's great if you've got licensed MS Office on there too for the deal. I'm assuming it's Office 2011.
 
Re: Which laptop for SL24.4.2/Ipad remote mixing?

It depends on the condition of the machine. The 2.4ghz Unibody MacBook Pro is a 2008 model, so you're looking at a machine that could be 3+ years old. The trade in value of that machine is about $550, if you were to trade it in to Apple for a new one. $1000 from a known friend is reasonable, but not a steal. From a dealer that provides a warranty on it, that would be about what I'd expect the price to be. I did just sell one with those exact specs for $1100 last week that was under 3 years old with a couple months of AppleCare remaining on it.

The new machines, with Thunderbolt and i7 processors start at $1799. For just running the SL remote app, the used machine would be more than enough.
 
Re: Which laptop for SL24.4.2/Ipad remote mixing?

I think it would work just fine.


I use a Macbook, time capsule router (5ghz network, 2 tb hard drive) and an iPad. I've had much better stability on the 5ghz network than the 2.4.



Here's an older pic I've posted before....
IMG792.jpg
 
Re: Which laptop for SL24.4.2/Ipad remote mixing?

Brian jojade said:
The 2.4ghz Unibody MacBook Pro is a 2008 model, so you're looking at a machine that could be 3+ years old.
Click to expand...

Maybe, maybe not. The base model 15" MBP in the Apple store right now is a 2.4GHz (i7 of course). I think the biggest thing to worry about if it is a 2008 model (which I'm typing on this moment) is that the lower powered graphics chip of the dual GPU set (GeForce 9400M) has a tendency to cause the screen to flicker intermittently. The higher powered one (GeForce 9600M) doesn't do that but it sucks down your battery a lot faster and makes the laptop get pretty hot. You can set which one you want to use in the Energy Saver settings. Apple is aware of the issue. But getting it repaired is no guarantee it won't still happen from what I've read. It's a flaw in the chipset or the logic board design.
 
Re: Which laptop for SL24.4.2/Ipad remote mixing?

Hi Y'all,

I'm still using an old, hopped-up, Thinkpad X41 Tablet, which does most of what I need.
It will soon be replaced by a newer Thinkpad X61S, with some significant modifications.
I like the compact size, and the Trackpoint is fast for getting around, no mouse needed.

Thanks and good health, Weogo
 
Re: Which laptop for SL24.4.2/Ipad remote mixing?

Weogo Reed said:
Hi Y'all,

I'm still using an old, hopped-up, Thinkpad X41 Tablet, which does most of what I need.
It will soon be replaced by a newer Thinkpad X61S, with some significant modifications.
I like the compact size, and the Trackpoint is fast for getting around, no mouse needed.

Thanks and good health, Weogo
Click to expand...

Me too on the X41. Set up correctly you get 5 plus hours with the extended battery pack and the stylus touch screen control is very accurate and unlikely to overshoot or accidently push a fader. It is old, it is heavy, but it always works.
 
Re: Which laptop for SL24.4.2/Ipad remote mixing?

Greg Cameron said:
I think the biggest thing to worry about if it is a 2008 model (which I'm typing on this moment) is that the lower powered graphics chip of the dual GPU set (GeForce 9400M) has a tendency to cause the screen to flicker intermittently. The higher powered one (GeForce 9600M) doesn't do that but it sucks down your battery a lot faster and makes the laptop get pretty hot.
Click to expand...

Good news about this flicker issue. Apple released a firmware fix this week. It only took them 3 damn years to do it. But it appears to work, finally!
 
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