Dedicated computer recording

Noah Timan wrote:
> We've all talked a bit about it in the past, and it's understandable
> that in a direct-to-computer recording scenario utilizing Metacorder,
> Boom Recorder, or another such program, one wouldn't want internet,
> messaging, photo, music, graphics, and other applications running on
> the same computer. I am curious, though, if there are any other
> workarounds besides buying two separate computers -- one for recording
> and the other for general computer use. I generally like to have an
> all-purpose computer on the cart for mixed-purpose usage -- playback,
> edits, invoices, file transfer, disc burning, RAMPS reading during long
> lighting setups, what have you. But I'm wondering if there's any way
> to have a recording computer as well without having to compromise the
> recording computer with all the other stuff or have to drag around (and
> power) two different computers. Would a dedicating recording partition
> do it? (I doubt it). Any other ideas out there from those more
> computer literate than myself, or those with experience recording
> direct-to-computer, would be greatly appreciated -- thanks!
>
> Regards,
>
> Noah Timan

You can create two disk images, both bootable, and install your base OS
(Mac or PC) onto both images. While this will take up alot more space
it means it will function as if it is two different computers. If your
not familiar with this process I would seek professional help.

~Marque
 >> Stay informed about: Dedicated computer recording 

filmsoundmixer DeleteThis @gmail.com wrote:

> You can create two disk images, both bootable, and install your base OS
> (Mac or PC) onto both images. While this will take up alot more space
> it means it will function as if it is two different computers. If your
> not familiar with this process I would seek professional help.

Thanks, this sounds like it might be the best way to go. Come to think
of it, I have two different "identities" on my current laptop (an older
Powerbook G4). The one I generally log into has become pretty
sluggish, with lots of time spent watching the "colored spinning
wheel", but now that I think about it, the other one does not. I
wonder if a solution could be as simple as this, but not knowing enough
about what's under the OS X hood, I'm not sure. At any rate, now that
you mention it, I have experienced making a bootable disc from a
partition on an external drive before which has always worked -- I
never considered that there could simply be two bootable partitions (or
do they even need to be partitions?) on the existing internal system
drive. Thanks for the tip!

Regards,

Noah Timan
 >> Stay informed about: Dedicated computer recording 

Thanks for your input, Steve. I have little doubt that many can (and
do) get away with recording on their busy computers without problem. I
do, however, notice that at least in my experience, such exhaustive
computer usage and multitasking tends to eventually make the system
sluggish. I'm less concerned about "glitches" and more concerned about
lockups and general slow performance -- I can't have a film set waiting
on me to call "speed" while I wait for the cursor to unfreeze.

nvt


Steve King wrote:

> I have a laptop that I carry, when I travel to record VO and upload sound
> files to my web site. Admittedly, mono recording is not heavy lifting in
> computer based recording. However, I also use the same laptop for Internet,
> MS Word, E-mail, Outlook calendar, Excell, and many other business aps. I
> do not have instant messenger activated, nor do I have any auto-launched
> 'update' programs and such. I have had 0% audio glitches, when recording,
> playing back, or multi-track mixing (simple Music-SFX-Voice stuff). The
> laptop is a Dell Inspiron running a dual Centrino CPU @ 1.8 Ghz, with 1 Gb
> of RAM, a 60 Gb 7200 RPM internal drive, and, often, various external USB 2
> and IEEE1334 drives.
 >> Stay informed about: Dedicated computer recording 

"Noah Timan" <dontwritemehereok.RemoveThis@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:1151700687.567204.280240@h44g2000cwa.googlegroups.com...
> We've all talked a bit about it in the past, and it's understandable
> that in a direct-to-computer recording scenario utilizing Metacorder,
> Boom Recorder, or another such program, one wouldn't want internet,
> messaging, photo, music, graphics, and other applications running on
> the same computer. I am curious, though, if there are any other
> workarounds besides buying two separate computers -- one for recording
> and the other for general computer use. I generally like to have an
> all-purpose computer on the cart for mixed-purpose usage -- playback,
> edits, invoices, file transfer, disc burning, RAMPS reading during long
> lighting setups, what have you. But I'm wondering if there's any way
> to have a recording computer as well without having to compromise the
> recording computer with all the other stuff or have to drag around (and
> power) two different computers. Would a dedicating recording partition
> do it? (I doubt it). Any other ideas out there from those more
> computer literate than myself, or those with experience recording
> direct-to-computer, would be greatly appreciated -- thanks!
>
> Regards,
>
> Noah Timan

I have a laptop that I carry, when I travel to record VO and upload sound
files to my web site. Admittedly, mono recording is not heavy lifting in
computer based recording. However, I also use the same laptop for Internet,
MS Word, E-mail, Outlook calendar, Excell, and many other business aps. I
do not have instant messenger activated, nor do I have any auto-launched
'update' programs and such. I have had 0% audio glitches, when recording,
playing back, or multi-track mixing (simple Music-SFX-Voice stuff). The
laptop is a Dell Inspiron running a dual Centrino CPU @ 1.8 Ghz, with 1 Gb
of RAM, a 60 Gb 7200 RPM internal drive, and, often, various external USB 2
and IEEE1334 drives.

I have two computers in my studio: one dedicated to sound and video and the
other primarily for business purposes. On the business machine I also have
audio and video software. It is the back-up in case my 'media' machine goes
belly up. Same 0% audio glitches on both of these machines, even though the
business machine does have instant messaging up and running, as well as auto
update for several programs. The media machine is a P-4 2.58 Ghz, with a GB
of RAM, 2 internal 7200 rpm SATA drives, and various external drives. The
business machine has an AMD3200 based motherboard with 1 Gb of RAM and dual
7200 rpm internal drives in a RAID 1 array.

All of my issues with audio glitches, various clicks and pops, and the need
to tweak things like video accelleration, buffers, etc. went away as clock
speeds increased and with the changeover to Windows XP. I am so bold
nowadays that I often have a large file upload going to my ftp site, while
recording VO.

The only thing I would suggest, other than the fastest machine you can
justify and a bunch of RAM, is to record audio to an external USB 2 or
Firewire drive.

There is one other caution. My AMD based machine --- I forget the
chip-set --- simply would not accept a Digital Audio Labs CardDeluxe. I
owned the card and I wanted to install it. I tried everything. Same with
an old Gina. In the end I gave up. If I have to use the machine for
recording I'll run an external AD to the digital in on the built-in sound
card.

Steve King
 >> Stay informed about: Dedicated computer recording 

you can use a firewire drive as a bootable drive for your audio
recording needs as well


Noah Timan wrote:
> Thanks for your input, Steve. I have little doubt that many can (and
> do) get away with recording on their busy computers without problem. I
> do, however, notice that at least in my experience, such exhaustive
> computer usage and multitasking tends to eventually make the system
> sluggish. I'm less concerned about "glitches" and more concerned about
> lockups and general slow performance -- I can't have a film set waiting
> on me to call "speed" while I wait for the cursor to unfreeze.
>
> nvt
>
>
> Steve King wrote:
>
> > I have a laptop that I carry, when I travel to record VO and upload sound
> > files to my web site. Admittedly, mono recording is not heavy lifting in
> > computer based recording. However, I also use the same laptop for Internet,
> > MS Word, E-mail, Outlook calendar, Excell, and many other business aps. I
> > do not have instant messenger activated, nor do I have any auto-launched
> > 'update' programs and such. I have had 0% audio glitches, when recording,
> > playing back, or multi-track mixing (simple Music-SFX-Voice stuff). The
> > laptop is a Dell Inspiron running a dual Centrino CPU @ 1.8 Ghz, with 1 Gb
> > of RAM, a 60 Gb 7200 RPM internal drive, and, often, various external USB 2
> > and IEEE1334 drives.
 >> Stay informed about: Dedicated computer recording 

Another good idea. Thanks, Scott!

nvt

Scott Farr wrote:
> you can use a firewire drive as a bootable drive for your audio
> recording needs as well
 >> Stay informed about: Dedicated computer recording 

If switching logins does the trick, this is the most ideal solution:
one because it takes up less space than a separate boot partition, and
two because it makes it faster to get back and forth between the two
setups. As much as one tries to keep background tasks to a minimum,
internet and wireless activities always tend to end up adding on stuff
one isn't aware of, so I like the idea of a lean, mean recording sector
that does little else. Any experiences along these lines, positive or
negative, under OS X with simply changing the login? I have some
myself that would seem to indicate that this does the trick, but I
don't consider either the experiences or my knowledge of the OS
thorough enough to make any proclamations one way or the other.

nvt




Martin Harrington wrote:
> Just set a new log in or boot partition that only has the programs that you
> want to be running.
> --
> Martin Harrington
> www.lendanear-sound.com
>
> "Noah Timan" <dontwritemehereok DeleteThis @yahoo.com> wrote in message
> news:1151700687.567204.280240@h44g2000cwa.googlegroups.com...
> > We've all talked a bit about it in the past, and it's understandable
> > that in a direct-to-computer recording scenario utilizing Metacorder,
> > Boom Recorder, or another such program, one wouldn't want internet,
> > messaging, photo, music, graphics, and other applications running on
> > the same computer. I am curious, though, if there are any other
> > workarounds besides buying two separate computers -- one for recording
> > and the other for general computer use. I generally like to have an
> > all-purpose computer on the cart for mixed-purpose usage -- playback,
> > edits, invoices, file transfer, disc burning, RAMPS reading during long
> > lighting setups, what have you. But I'm wondering if there's any way
> > to have a recording computer as well without having to compromise the
> > recording computer with all the other stuff or have to drag around (and
> > power) two different computers. Would a dedicating recording partition
> > do it? (I doubt it). Any other ideas out there from those more
> > computer literate than myself, or those with experience recording
> > direct-to-computer, would be greatly appreciated -- thanks!
> >
> > Regards,
> >
> > Noah Timan
> >
 >> Stay informed about: Dedicated computer recording 

Just set a new log in or boot partition that only has the programs that you
want to be running.
--
Martin Harrington
www.lendanear-sound.com

"Noah Timan" <dontwritemehereok RemoveThis @yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:1151700687.567204.280240@h44g2000cwa.googlegroups.com...
> We've all talked a bit about it in the past, and it's understandable
> that in a direct-to-computer recording scenario utilizing Metacorder,
> Boom Recorder, or another such program, one wouldn't want internet,
> messaging, photo, music, graphics, and other applications running on
> the same computer. I am curious, though, if there are any other
> workarounds besides buying two separate computers -- one for recording
> and the other for general computer use. I generally like to have an
> all-purpose computer on the cart for mixed-purpose usage -- playback,
> edits, invoices, file transfer, disc burning, RAMPS reading during long
> lighting setups, what have you. But I'm wondering if there's any way
> to have a recording computer as well without having to compromise the
> recording computer with all the other stuff or have to drag around (and
> power) two different computers. Would a dedicating recording partition
> do it? (I doubt it). Any other ideas out there from those more
> computer literate than myself, or those with experience recording
> direct-to-computer, would be greatly appreciated -- thanks!
>
> Regards,
>
> Noah Timan
>
 >> Stay informed about: Dedicated computer recording