Building a school's laptop DAW lab on a budget
- andrewlloydwebern
- audio school graduate
- Posts: 10
- Joined: Sun Jun 27, 2010 9:15 am
Building a school's laptop DAW lab on a budget
Hey all,
I want to start a music production club/program/class something at the high school where I'll start teaching in the fall. As you might imagine, budget/tech is an issue, so I was hoping the smart people here could help me brainstorm.
Right now they have one computer that the music and visual arts dept share - I presume it has ProTools on it, I don't know yet.
My dream is to have 7-8 computers with headphones - the kids can come in, plug in, and get to work. (The emphasis at this point would be on "production," not recording)
I was wondering if it would be feasible to have people donate their old laptops, and then we could run some software that's old and/or CPU light, like Acid Style or Reaper, or...any suggestions? It doesn't have to be ProTools - in fact I'd prefer it isn't, just to encourage a philosophy of "work with what you got and be creative."
What are the pitfalls? Most computers will probably need better soundcards - external ones, if they're laptops?
Anything else?
I want to start a music production club/program/class something at the high school where I'll start teaching in the fall. As you might imagine, budget/tech is an issue, so I was hoping the smart people here could help me brainstorm.
Right now they have one computer that the music and visual arts dept share - I presume it has ProTools on it, I don't know yet.
My dream is to have 7-8 computers with headphones - the kids can come in, plug in, and get to work. (The emphasis at this point would be on "production," not recording)
I was wondering if it would be feasible to have people donate their old laptops, and then we could run some software that's old and/or CPU light, like Acid Style or Reaper, or...any suggestions? It doesn't have to be ProTools - in fact I'd prefer it isn't, just to encourage a philosophy of "work with what you got and be creative."
What are the pitfalls? Most computers will probably need better soundcards - external ones, if they're laptops?
Anything else?
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- gettin' sounds
- Posts: 112
- Joined: Thu Oct 30, 2008 2:04 pm
- Location: NH
For nice program use audacity. It is free.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Audacity
why are you looking for used laptops? use desktops. More power for less money and most come with soundcard already.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Audacity
why are you looking for used laptops? use desktops. More power for less money and most come with soundcard already.
http://www.yourband.info great site to promote your band or music.
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- re-cappin' neve
- Posts: 699
- Joined: Thu Feb 09, 2006 5:00 pm
- Location: Allentown, PA
- Contact:
I'm assuming you want laptops as a space saving measure. Just about every laptop I've ever worked with had at least a headphone jack, so that shouldn't be an issue.
For software, check out www.sonicspot.com. They have a fairly extensive list of downloadable freeware, shareware, etc.
For software, check out www.sonicspot.com. They have a fairly extensive list of downloadable freeware, shareware, etc.
"TEMPUS FUGIT" the Novel -- Now Available!!
http://www.curtyengst.com
http://www.curtyengst.com
- casey campbell
- buyin' a studio
- Posts: 927
- Joined: Wed Sep 17, 2008 11:21 am
- Location: hammond, louisiana
i would also recommend reaper. it's a full fledged daw with some really great capabilities at a ridiculously low price.
emu makes some great little inexpensive interfaces too. i think it's the 0404 model that is usb based...this could be really nice.
also, i know that i have seen used ibm desktops at tiger direct for $150. i don't know if portability is an issue, but if not, that might be a good way to go...and if it's for a public school system, alot of times there are a large amount of crt monitors that have been put to the side after upgrades. perhaps check with your admin?
good luck.
p.s. - kvr also has a huge selection of free vst plugins (with reviews).
emu makes some great little inexpensive interfaces too. i think it's the 0404 model that is usb based...this could be really nice.
also, i know that i have seen used ibm desktops at tiger direct for $150. i don't know if portability is an issue, but if not, that might be a good way to go...and if it's for a public school system, alot of times there are a large amount of crt monitors that have been put to the side after upgrades. perhaps check with your admin?
good luck.
p.s. - kvr also has a huge selection of free vst plugins (with reviews).
- andrewlloydwebern
- audio school graduate
- Posts: 10
- Joined: Sun Jun 27, 2010 9:15 am
Thanks all - yeah, using laptops for space-saving. The room is weirdly shaped, but suffice to say right now there's no excess room for desktops (probably...hmm...)
Do you all think Reaper and Audacity lend themselves to "loop-based" production? I have Audacity, and I think if you made the loops in different software and then copy-pasted a bunch of times you could do it, but it strikes me more as a 'recording takes' kind of platform...
Do you all think Reaper and Audacity lend themselves to "loop-based" production? I have Audacity, and I think if you made the loops in different software and then copy-pasted a bunch of times you could do it, but it strikes me more as a 'recording takes' kind of platform...
Blog and music - NateTrier.com
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- re-cappin' neve
- Posts: 699
- Joined: Thu Feb 09, 2006 5:00 pm
- Location: Allentown, PA
- Contact:
If you have to buy any software, don't forget to ask about any educational licensing discount that might be offered.
"TEMPUS FUGIT" the Novel -- Now Available!!
http://www.curtyengst.com
http://www.curtyengst.com
have you considered linux yet?
http://www.murga-linux.com/puppy/viewtopic.php?t=57447
http://www.puppylinux.com/about.htm
http://puppylinux.org/main/index.php?file=Overview and Getting Started.htm
*edit* dodgy link, sorry, you'll have to copy and pasta that last one.
http://www.puppylinux.com/about.htm
http://puppylinux.org/main/index.php?file=Overview and Getting Started.htm
*edit* dodgy link, sorry, you'll have to copy and pasta that last one.
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