Ableton Forum

I couldn't see a computer related section in the forums so if I'm posting in the wrong place then many apologies.

Here is my confession... I have a mis-match of products. I've got a Steinberg soundcard, a PC laptop with Vista OS on it, I'm running Sonar as my main DAW software and Ableton Live for gigging with. Yikes!!!

This system is giving me so much grief, for the sake of my sanity I'm asking for help.

I've run DPC latency checker and switched things off to improve performance and prevent audio dropouts.

So I'm considering the following options:

1.Install XP on the laptop I've got and be happy.

2.Install Windows7 on the laptop I've got and magically Syeinberg drivers will be compatible with the audio architecture in Windows since Vista.

3.Buy a new i7 Laptop with windows7 installed.

4.Buy a Mac laptop of some description because Microsoft products make your hair fall out and leads to an early death.

I would love the power of an i7 based laptop but I'd have to stay with PC as there is no Mac laptop with an i7 yet and when they do go i7 I'm sure I will need a mortgage to buy it as it will be only in the top of the range MBP's.

Would taking a step back into using XP make the best use of multi-core processors?

Which option would you pick and why? My priority is running a computer that can make nice with my Steinberg 816 CSX soundcard and run Ableton Live at gigs.

Peace,
Pimpleburger

I don't run on PC since a few years, I'm now loving macs and OS X so you guess what could be my advice

rather than beeing a joke, I'll advise you to buy / build a desktop PC that would be your AUDIOMIDI-ONLY workstation.

and, whatever windows version (dunno what's the best, and what's compatible with your gear), get a legit copy, and clean it (uninstall every useless stuff).

it's PC, so NO INTERNET on this workstation, please.
and no DIVX or MP3s from friends. No games, etc.

ONLY YOUR AUDIO MIDI GEAR AND LEGIT SOFTS.

and scheduled maintenance of course.

well, my 2 cents may not be really useful to you...

good luck

What's your current laptop (make, model, spec) and what kind of grief are you getting, could be a important factor.

Why do you think your set up is a mis-match?

I would first check this article before making any decision of the ones you mentioned.
http://forum.ableton.com/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=107364

My laptop is a Toshiba Satelitte A200 with 4gigs of ram with Vista Home 32. The CPU is a centrino duo 2ghz.

I s'pose I mentioned that it is a mis-match because well... if I ask about this on a Cakewalk forum because I use Sonar the soundcard hardware is from a rival company. Whereas Ableton Live is dual platform with no soundcard products of its own there is less of a sense of mis-match.

Yup all my music software and OS are legit. I'm not into the downloading of such things, maybe I'm too old and proud! LOL

I have checked out your article zigzag and I'll give it a go. And why not.

Thanks for the comments and advice guys.

Pimpleburger

pimpleburger wrote:I've run DPC latency checker and switched things off to improve performance and prevent audio dropouts.

I actually know what this means, have done it myself, and understand your frustration.

pimpleburger wrote: So I'm considering the following options:

1.Install XP on the laptop I've got and be happy.

2.Install Windows7 on the laptop I've got and magically Syeinberg drivers will be compatible with the audio architecture in Windows since Vista.

3.Buy a new i7 Laptop with windows7 installed.

4.Buy a Mac laptop of some description because Microsoft products make your hair fall out and leads to an early death.
...
Which option would you pick and why?

I did option 4. It ended up being more expensive than I anticipated, and OSX has its own fair share of headaches and hurdles to work through, yet I am so grateful and happy to finally be free of Windows.

Having said that, if your interest is more with making music and performing live now, and making the most of what resources you have, then I would encourage option 1. Considering the specs of your machine, what you want to accomplish and your knowledge of Windows (which should be considered to have high value when adding things up) in my opinion WinXP SP3 would be the best OS.

There is always the option of getting a Mac and running WinXP SP3 in a dual boot as you learn OS X, which is what I did. However I can't really recommend this... whatever Mac you get likely won't be a considerable leap in hardware from your current laptop, which will run WinXP just fine. And the best way to become a Mac expert is to just simply dive all in and never look back.

Edit: Ugh... just glanced at zigzag's article and hit close. Seriously, that kind of thing is just a bad memory now. Maybe a Macbook isn't such a bad idea.

Hey thanks Akshara for sharing your opinions and experiences. I'm gonna try the most affordable option first so XP SP3 here I come.

Peace,
Pimpleburger