VO-BB - 20 YEARS OLD!

whalewtchr · Posted: Fri May 04, 2012 5:57 pm Post subject:

Hi Mary. Like many here, I have a Mac Mini set-up as well, very little noise. Bought a mini Stack V3 external and unfortunately it makes a little noise, but I am only using when not recording (primarily for back-u Hobo Happy

Newertechnology does have the SSD and that's on my wish list.

There are Quiet PC options out there, EndPCNoise.com, QuietPCUSA.com, ADKProAudio.com, it will involve custom parts, more money and most likely an SSD and while I investigated all of that ad infinitum, I decided the move to Mac and the Mini was the way to go. Price was right and quiet as a mouse.

Posting your Room Tone will tell those in the know (George & Frank) a lot. Turn on your Mic to normal recording levels, punch record and leave the room for 60 seconds.
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georgethetech · Posted: Sat May 05, 2012 12:46 am Post subject:

@ Todd, it's just a 64GB SSD. OS and A Hobo Tounge

s on there, all documents and media are on a spinning drive. Still have almost 30GB free, since all of my email is in the cloud. I had Apple Mail synced with Gmail, and it filled up the drive! I don't have it for quiet, just for speed. My PC isn't quiet by a long shot with 6 fans and 3 hard drives. Might want to get one of these cases soon, NZXT H2 Classic Silent Midtower Chassis.
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Rognog · Posted: Sat May 19, 2012 9:16 am Post subject:

I've noticed a lot of great suggestions regarding Mac laptops, but are there any good PC-based laptops for recording? I'm looking to get a better mobile recording system while sticking with PC.
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heyguido · Posted: Sat May 19, 2012 2:17 pm Post subject:

Tom....

Some of the higher end Sony and Samsung models are pretty good about fans. For a Win-based rig, I'd recommend going I-7 processor and as much ram as possible. I'm running a Sony F series with I-7 and 8G of ram, and a whopping 640G hard drive. Minimal latency issues, and plenty of processing power. I chose a 17" screen for easy DAW use, so it's not small or light, but it's a number-crunchin' monster that's easy to work with. In that class you also get plenty of connection options, including usb3, hdmi, bluetooth, firewire, and wireless N. You will want to add an external mouse, as Touchpads suck for editing work. I don't even bother to work on a desktop anymore. It's so much nicer to be able to pick it up and take it where I want to be once the tracks are recorded. Mixdown on the deck rocks.
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Rognog · Posted: Sat May 19, 2012 3:45 pm Post subject:

Wow, Don, that's a lot to chew on. Thanks for the advice!
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Frank F · Posted: Sat May 19, 2012 8:04 pm Post subject:

The answer is simple: The best laptop is the best you can afford of the manufacturer you like with the OS you are familiar with.

I do not subscribe to PC/Mac wars or help them along. If you choose to go from PC to Mac, it is your choice. Macs can be and are as noisy as PC's.

As for creating a quieter environment (less fan noise) consider purchasing a long set of monitor cables, a wireless mouse and keyboard, and a second monitor (with graphics card to handle two heads). Doing this simple fix will allow you to keep the PC in a closet, or where ever, and move the mouse and keyboard as you please. The second monitor puts the screen in your face when recording.

Another option is to use a water cooled system with your PC and eliminate the fan noise altogether. Although you would be best served to have someone else install it in your box.

Frank F
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Rognog · Posted: Sun May 20, 2012 7:41 am Post subject:

Also good advice. Thanks, Frank!
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georgethetech · Posted: Mon May 21, 2012 12:55 am Post subject:

Find me a PC laptop that is as quiet as the Macbook Air with equivalent features for the $$, and I'll start recommending it to Windows users instead. I've been telling them to get a Macbook Air and Bootcamp Windows. It's always such a challenge locating the mythical "silent Windows laptop". That's why I still hobble along with a Dell Mini 10 with SSD. Zero moving parts, but very low CPU power as well (still enough to run Source Connect, though).
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If it sounds good, it is good.
George Whittam
GeorgeThe.Tech
424-226-8528
VOBS.TV Co-host
TheProAudioSuite.com Co-host
TriBooth.com Co-founder

melissa eX · Posted: Mon May 21, 2012 3:32 pm Post subject:

My Dell Latitude with SSD was super quiet for about 3 years - the fan rarely kicked on but it's kicking on more often now and getting noisier. I guess it.'s heating up more often. But the SSD is silent.

Ed Gambill · Posted: Mon May 21, 2012 4:59 pm Post subject:

heyguido · Posted: Mon May 21, 2012 9:24 pm Post subject:

Melissa....

Sounds like you could benefit from a checkup by a trusted pc tech.

Odds are, dust and dirt or other debris could be impeding airflow, causing higher operating temps, and making your fan work harder.... A good cleaning could help.

At worst, you might need a fan replacement.

Both relatively cheap, and worth doing.
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Don Brookshire
"Wait.... They wanna PAY me for this?"

georgethetech · Posted: Mon May 21, 2012 11:05 pm Post subject:

Ed Gambill · Posted: Tue May 22, 2012 6:19 am Post subject:

Ok George, with your information stating at 8db sound level at operators position. I did the following to find out as much as possible in a non scientific way the sound level of the Gateway laptop. I regularly use it for recording in studio and on location.

Cost under $500.00, CPU Intel Dual Core 1.6 GHz, Installed Memory 2GB, Fire Wire port (TI chip), USB 2.0

I have used it to record 8 microphones at one time at 48K/16bit

Using a measurement microphone and class II calibration system (not traceable to NIST) I set the recording level on the DAW to -6db. Then I recorded the test tone for reference. Then I removed the calibration device and positioned the microphone 1 meter from the laptop and recorded that sound with any room tone that existed.

The results I got were a recorded background noise of -50db on average at 1 Meter distance. Check out this link http://www.silent.se/iso-9296.php it is very informative.

I believe you have some PC’s to recommend now.

As one former Sag president often said” Trust but Verify”, incase you don’t recall who, his name Ronald Reagan.
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georgethetech · Posted: Tue May 22, 2012 9:03 pm Post subject:

Interesting info.
What model of Gateway laptop is it, Ed?
_________________
If it sounds good, it is good.
George Whittam
GeorgeThe.Tech
424-226-8528
VOBS.TV Co-host
TheProAudioSuite.com Co-host
TriBooth.com Co-founder

Ed Gambill · Posted: Wed May 23, 2012 8:31 am Post subject:

George

I would have to turn it over to see as I am using it now, I am sure it is no longer in production. What the heck, turned it over it’s a MT6705.

I had bought a Toshiba earlier but it was like having a siren running all the time. Gave it to my daughter and went shopping. Put my ear to models on display and running to find a quieter one and it was the Gateway.

I agree that the link I provided is very useful.

Have you ever noticed that all the standard organization charge to get copies of the standards they publish? Maybe it’s time to disregard any standard that is not publicly promogated?
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