Laptops - Quiet vs. Performance

[wen]

Still mopping up after my hard drive crash, but in the meantime I got a laptop, thinking it would alleviate some of the computer noise I get when recording with mics. Currently I have to put my computer in the closet on long cords in order to reduce the noise the mics pick up.

So I got a laptop - a Dell - XPS 15.6" 4K Ultra HD Touch-Screen Laptop - Intel Core i7 - 3.5Ghz processor - 16GB Memory - 1TB Solid State Drive - thinking it would be quiet. But the graphics card makes noise.

*****What do people who record with laptops using mics use for a laptop????? And/or how do you keep the noise to a minimum.

Looking into it, it seems you either get performance, or quietness. The Intel M series processor computers are quietest. M series processors are dual core, and at the fastest only comes close to a dual core i5 at 3.1 Ghz. The current generation is 6th gen. They are fanless computers not meant for heavy tasks that need high processing power, so people get them to have something light and quiet over a more capable machine. They are also more expensive. The Dell - Latitude 13.3" Touch-Screen Laptop - Intel Core M7 - 8GB Memory - 256GB Solid State Drive is $2202 (usually $2349).

Thank you Taxiers.

[Len911]

Tell Dell,lol!

I don't know your particular system, but there are numerous posts about noisy graphics and power supplies, etc. and Dell has fixed or replaced them.

As far as your old computer, I would try replacing the fans, "silent" fans are fairly cheap.

https://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductL ... ageSize=36

[Len911]

That's where the advantage of specing and assembling your own computer, other than laptop, shines. There are cases built for quiet with rubber grommet mounting screws, foam padded panels, silent fans... You can read reviews and check specs for loudness on the components of your computer.

Quiet is part of the performance, I don't see it as an either/or situation.

[Kolstad]

I don't use laptops anymore, I'd rather record with an iPad.

I have two Mac Mini's both 100% silent. My t-shirt makes more noise than that.
I also have a Windows pc in a silent cabinet. It is also very quiet, and due to the silent cabinet, high specs and a big power supply unit (PSU), very low noise.

An issue with laptops no matter what specs is the small PSU's, which cause the fans to work harder and make more noise.

You don't need all that much to record, so an iPad is less bulky, dead quiet and just as good as a laptop to record on, imo. For mixing I would turn to a desktop, unless you have a mac laptop with high specs that wont make the fans go crazy when pushed for performance.

As you can tell, I believe computer fans is the major noise issue to be solved or workaround.

[mobster85]

Well I have been recording a lot of Latin guitar while using a laptop. I use an MSI gaming computer and I don't have any problems. My acoustic stuff gets forwards. Some of the noise is placement of the mic and input volume. I try not to have the input volume too hot or otherwise the mic picks up cars driving down the road.

[wen]

That's where the advantage of specing and assembling your own computer, other than laptop, shines. There are cases built for quiet with rubber grommet mounting screws, foam padded panels, silent fans... You can read reviews and check specs for loudness on the components of your computer.

Quiet is part of the performance, I don't see it as an either/or situation.

Thanks Len!

My tower is also a Dell. I bought it a couple years ago but maybe it's worth contacting them.

I have one of the cases you describe, and put a water cooling system in the computer, but it still makes enough noise to pick up. I'll have to check on the fan but I thought it had a heat sink so as to be quiet... so what is still making the noise? the power supply?

The problem is recording the harp, one needs a far amount of gain. Mostly I was recording at -20 and my target is -12 or so. I just swapped my Presonus interface for a Focusrite Scarlett, though, and can push the gain without adding as much noise, perhaps because the converters are better.

In my test recording with the new Dell laptop, the noise from the graphics card doesn't seem to be coming through too badly. I only really hear it when I put my ear down next to the keyboard, so maybe this is an acceptable level of noise. I did a test recording of just the mics on, no music. But I need to check it again under waking circumstances, lol... I was pretty tired.

[wen]

Well I have been recording a lot of Latin guitar while using a laptop. I use an MSI gaming computer and I don't have any problems. My acoustic stuff gets forwards. Some of the noise is placement of the mic and input volume. I try not to have the input volume too hot or otherwise the mic picks up cars driving down the road.

Yes, sometimes I have picked up my own heartbeat, lol. I need a certain amount of input volume to get an acceptable level to record the harp, which tends to be quieter. I know I can compress, etc., to make a louder end product but I prefer to try to get the best signal up front. The Focusrite Scarlet I just got outperforms the Presonus interface I had and I can try moving the laptop further away from the mics, and using the big monitor. My test last night was encouraging.

I started with an MSI cuz I tried out the oculus and if you are getting quiet recordings with that, then bravo! Mine was VERY noisy. In comparison the Dell is at least half as loud or less.

[wen]

I don't use laptops anymore, I'd rather record with an iPad.

I have two Mac Mini's both 100% silent. My t-shirt makes more noise than that.
I also have a Windows pc in a silent cabinet. It is also very quiet, and due to the silent cabinet, high specs and a big power supply unit (PSU), very low noise.

An issue with laptops no matter what specs is the small PSU's, which cause the fans to work harder and make more noise.

You don't need all that much to record, so an iPad is less bulky, dead quiet and just as good as a laptop to record on, imo. For mixing I would turn to a desktop, unless you have a mac laptop with high specs that wont make the fans go crazy when pushed for performance.

As you can tell, I believe computer fans is the major noise issue to be solved or workaround.

Kolstad that is very interesting. I had not considered an iPad before. I am behind on technology

Do your Mac Minis have mechanical drives, or SSDS? If mechanical, I am surprised they are quiet. I looked and didn't see how much memory they typically have.

If I am doing a larger piece using orchestral vst's etc., I would need at least 16 gb of memory I would think. But I don't necessarily need big specs on the laptop or iPad etc., because I have those in the tower. I don't know much about iPads. So I could download Studio One to it, and record on it just like a computer? And attach external drives of my sample libraries? I'd have to get an external keyboard though, that would drive me nuts.

How would you transfer your audio files to the tower then, download them onto a flash drive as a wav, and then import them, I guess?

I have a "quiet" case I got from MicroCenter, which helps, and added a water cooling system and I thought it had a heat sink fan that is supposed to be quiet; so the noise I still hear might be coming from the power supply?

Thanks for all your info!

[Kolstad]

I don't use laptops anymore, I'd rather record with an iPad.

I have two Mac Mini's both 100% silent. My t-shirt makes more noise than that.
I also have a Windows pc in a silent cabinet. It is also very quiet, and due to the silent cabinet, high specs and a big power supply unit (PSU), very low noise.

An issue with laptops no matter what specs is the small PSU's, which cause the fans to work harder and make more noise.

You don't need all that much to record, so an iPad is less bulky, dead quiet and just as good as a laptop to record on, imo. For mixing I would turn to a desktop, unless you have a mac laptop with high specs that wont make the fans go crazy when pushed for performance.

As you can tell, I believe computer fans is the major noise issue to be solved or workaround.

Kolstad that is very interesting. I had not considered an iPad before. I am behind on technology

Do your Mac Minis have mechanical drives, or SSDS? If mechanical, I am surprised they are quiet. I looked and didn't see how much memory they typically have.
They are dead quiet, and both have mechanical drives. The internal HDDs are even just 5400rpm's! I use an external SSD (Samsung Evo850) for my Spectrasonics and orchestral libraries, though. Allthough both Trillian, Stylus RMX and Omni 1 worked fine from the internal 5400 drive. I did upgrade to SSD for Keyscape, though.

If I am doing a larger piece using orchestral vst's etc., I would need at least 16 gb of memory I would think. But I don't necessarily need big specs on the laptop or iPad etc., because I have those in the tower. I think that would depend upon which orchestal libraries you are talking about, as they are very different in how much they are taxating the system. I have 16gigs of ram in my i7 Mac Mini, late 2014 model and works fine, but I dont use things like East West (I use mostly ProjectSam, which are pretty light on the system in Kontakt), which I believe would require more. You could also consider putting your samples on a slave computer, install VE Pro and hook it up to your daw computer via ethernet. I don't know much about iPads. So I could download Studio One to it, and record on it just like a computer? And attach external drives of my sample libraries? I'd have to get an external keyboard though, that would drive me nuts.No I dont think you can really record a lot of midi tracks with an iPad. What you can do is to record audio tracks in Capture and transfer them wirelessly to Studio One, though. http://www.presonus.com/products/Capture-for-iPad . You can also use the iPad as an external controller for mixing in Studio One with Studio One Remote http://www.presonus.com/products/Studio-One-Remote . You can also compose midi tracks on the fly with Notion for iOS and then transfer those midi files to Studio One and finish the tracks there http://www.presonus.com/products/Notion-for-iOS

How would you transfer your audio files to the tower then, download them onto a flash drive as a wav, and then import them, I guess? Wireless or USB.

I have a "quiet" case I got from MicroCenter, which helps, and added a water cooling system and I thought it had a heat sink fan that is supposed to be quiet; so the noise I still hear might be coming from the power supply? That is hard to determine from a distance, can you open the cabinet and look closer while its on, to determine the source of the noise?

Thanks for all your info!

[mojobone]

You can do a lot with an iPad; there are DAW apps for the platform, but Presonus' Studio One isn't one of them, just yet; I don't know if they have plans. Interfacing can be kinda tricky, if you don't want to use the iPad's I/O. I don't mind using my laptop with its noisy fan at a gig, cuz playback is definitely gonna be plenty louder than the fan and will mask it, but for field recording I use a solid state handy recorder from Zoom; the latest H4N Pro has full onboard phantom power, two new upgraded mic preamps, can record up to four simultaneous tracks at professional BWAV rates and bit depths to a 64G smart card, and for mixdown, my laptop has a slot for said card, so transfers are relatively quick and simple. It runs on batteries, it's rugged enough to use outdoors, but if you use the phantom power, invest in a power supply, streets for about $219USD, maybe $250, including accessories.


If you're getting higher levels with less noise, that's usually down to a better preamp; most converters don't add noise unless there's digital clipping, which is either extremely subtle or glaringly obvious. You might consider upgrading to a Grace or Millenia Media type outboard preamp, but the least expensive option is ...longer cables. Of course, if you needed an excuse to buy an iPad, it makes an ideal remote for many DAWs, which will come in handy, using longer cables. A specially-damped laptop fan is pretty cheap and probably couldn't hurt.