Laptop Computer

[seanmoore]

Anyone use a laptop that they take with them to plug into a radio station studio via rca jacks? If so, what is your set-up, how well does it sound/work, and what type of computer and sound card do you use? I'm considering a purchase.

I'm doing some extremely part-time production at a station I used to have a regular gig at. Their production room is decent, but often occupied. I want to use the all-automated AM station's studio for production, but most of it's equipment has been stolen for the still functioning FM station's studio. So, I want to bring in a laptop with Audition on it just to plug into a vacant RCA jack, and use it. Crazy eh? BTW, the station's board is an on-air type console, not a production board, as this studio was once used for live stuff from time to time.

Any advice is greatly appreciated, especially since I have NO CLUE!

Thanks

 

[mattthepm]

Pick up something like an M Audio MobilePre USB preamp/audio interface (or similar. . about $130 street price). Don't use the built in audio on the laptop if you can help it. You'll have quite a bit of noise from the computer's fan and hard drive bleeding through. Plus, an outboard interface has better converters and preamps than the cheap on board sound card a laptop has.

If you can find a Firewire based interface, that'd be even better (if your laptop has a Firewire port). . .much faster data throughput and a bit more stablity.

Also, while you're at it, get a Rolls Buzz Off HE18 box. This will solve any ground loop issues that may occur. A bit pricey, yes ($40.00 to $60.00, depending on where you look). Try your setup with out the box first; if no ground loops, great. . .if there are ground loops, insert the box into your audio path as follows:

Board Out Left/Right --->IN --- Rolls Buzz Off Left/Right --- OUT ----> Audio Interface Line In Left/Right

Are you going to come from your PROGRAM out or AUDITION out on the board? I recommend using the AUDITION out, considering any potential feedback loops that could happen. However, most audio interfaces will allow you to mute the LINE-IN if monitoring back through the same mix buss to prevent a feedback loop.

Make sure you get an audio interface that uses the ASIO sound driver, as opposed to WDM. ASIO has lower latency (great for proof monitoring whilst recording or overdubs) and sounds a bit better. I've found WDM cuts the low end off the audio spectrum.

Also:

-Disable Windows system sounds.
-Set your audio hardware settings to 'Do Not Map Through This Device' on your audio interface.
-Disable your on board sound card (frees up resources and tells your recording program not to use the on board sound).
-Disable any unecessary Windows services (task scheduler, Alerter, Messenger, etc).
-Disconnect the laptop from the 'Net when recording (again, frees up system resources).
-Set Windows' default sampling rate to 44.1 kHz 16 bit stereo (performed in the registry, won't get into that here).


Hope this helps a bit! Good luck!

-M

 

[seanmoore]

That help a ton! You are the best. I will be using the "audition" side of the board. Thanks again for the advice!

 

[m_c]

Before messin' with the Master Control Board check with the stations Chief Engineer to see what he (or she) advises. Better to be safe than sorry!
I used a laptop while on the air for drops many times, but I went via the output cable for a cassette deck which had a pre-amp connected and I always wondered why it sounded mono, well the Chief Engineer installed it that way.