Modartt user forum - Good Laptop for Pianoteq live

Re: Good Laptop for Pianoteq live

null@example.com (music_guy) — Thu, 29 Mar 2018 02:57:02 +0000

skip wrote:

If possible, buy a laptop that others are using successfully, but the risk is low I think. Just FYI, I've just bought a powerful and current model (the Dell XPS 15 9560, Win10), and it has terrible latency using the integrated audio interface. This is the first time I've encountered this problem - even a VERY VERY slow old "netbook" from many years ago has good latency. I suspect I'll find a solution (found a post about switching to a different Realtek driver, for example). Worst case is always using an external audio interface, but I like being able to use the integrated interface as well. (and contrary to what many say, I think the audio quality from internal interfaces is absolutely fine)
Greg

These two tips (plus some ThrottleStop tricks) might help you reduce DPC latency on recent Dell XPS laptops:

http://forum.notebookreview.com/threads...t-10695984

These tweaks didn't help so much with older BIOS & drivers. The newer Dell revisions perform much better (finally).

Re: Good Laptop for Pianoteq live

null@example.com (marcos daniel) — Wed, 28 Mar 2018 23:03:22 +0000

Luc Henrion wrote:

if/when Linux works with your particular hardware... My (old, I admit) Acer couldn't run Linux because of a graphic card error.... XP runs (still) fine, but without PTQ 6 obviously. Too bad. ;-)

Generally speaking, laptops that come without Windows, work with Linux (at least this is my experience with the 4 laptops I had in my life, I must admit that 2 of them came with Linux preinstalled)

Re: Good Laptop for Pianoteq live

null@example.com (Luc Henrion) — Wed, 28 Mar 2018 18:50:11 +0000

if/when Linux works with your particular hardware... My (old, I admit) Acer couldn't run Linux because of a graphic card error.... XP runs (still) fine, but without PTQ 6 obviously. Too bad. ;-)

Re: Good Laptop for Pianoteq live

null@example.com (marcos daniel) — Wed, 28 Mar 2018 18:05:29 +0000

For me, GNU/Linux and Windows performance is quite similar (perhaps a little superior in Linux).
But Linux costs $0, and there are some laptops which come without operating system. In those cases, and if you only want to run Pianoteq, you save some money, so my vote goes to GNU/Linux.

Re: Good Laptop for Pianoteq live

null@example.com (EvilDragon) — Wed, 28 Mar 2018 10:01:48 +0000

Good!

Also yeah, screw all the "enhancing" stuff.

Re: Good Laptop for Pianoteq live

null@example.com (skip) — Wed, 28 Mar 2018 09:47:12 +0000

Phew - problem was indeed solved by a different driver. Installing the generic High Definition Audio Service per the instructions in a reply to this post has done the trick: https://www.reddit.com/r/Dell/comments/...o_garbage/
Latency now fine with both ASIO4ALL and Windows Audio (exclusive mode).

I don't care about losing the MaxxAudio enhancement thingy.

Greg

Re: Good Laptop for Pianoteq live

null@example.com (EvilDragon) — Wed, 28 Mar 2018 08:07:42 +0000

Well yes, there ARE in fact additional latencies around... the USB buffers and DAC latencies...

Re: Good Laptop for Pianoteq live

null@example.com (skip) — Tue, 27 Mar 2018 22:37:16 +0000

EvilDragon: thanks, but it's not that kind of problem - I don't have any dropouts at all. There is simply too much latency - literally, regardless of how small I set the buffer size. It's as if there is an additional, substantial buffer in the audio chain, in addition to the ASIO buffer. (btw, same problem using Windows Audio exclusive mode) As I said, I did find a post (elsewhere) about replacing the audio driver - haven't had time to try it yet. I don't know for sure the latency is being introduced in the audio chain - it's technically possible to be on the MIDI side, but I strongly suspect it will be audio.

Greg.
p.s I know it is normal for there to be a bit of additional buffering (and hence latency) in the audio chain, over and above the buffer that we have access to in the app/driver settings, but in this case, it appears that there might be way too much. This is just my initial thought - I haven't proven this to be the case yet.

Re: Good Laptop for Pianoteq live

null@example.com (EvilDragon) — Tue, 27 Mar 2018 22:22:53 +0000

Try LatencyMon on that computer, it should tell you what's creating the most DPC latency, which is the main reason of audio dropouts and such. Most often it's these things: network/wi-fi, graphics card driver, ACPI (battery/power savings). And of course, disable all means of CPU throttling using Throttlestop.

Re: Good Laptop for Pianoteq live

null@example.com (skip) — Tue, 27 Mar 2018 22:03:07 +0000

If possible, buy a laptop that others are using successfully, but the risk is low I think. Just FYI, I've just bought a powerful and current model (the Dell XPS 15 9560, Win10), and it has terrible latency using the integrated audio interface. This is the first time I've encountered this problem - even a VERY VERY slow old "netbook" from many years ago has good latency. I suspect I'll find a solution (found a post about switching to a different Realtek driver, for example). Worst case is always using an external audio interface, but I like being able to use the integrated interface as well. (and contrary to what many say, I think the audio quality from internal interfaces is absolutely fine)

Greg

Re: Good Laptop for Pianoteq live

null@example.com (Luc Henrion) — Tue, 27 Mar 2018 14:53:03 +0000

any i5 laptop should be more than enough... even my i3 with 4 GB RAM is working like charm. Moddart recommends any multicore CPU in the "FAQ":
"We recommend any multi-core CPU, listed on this page: https://www.cpubenchmark.net/high_end_cpus.html

Re: Good Laptop for Pianoteq live

null@example.com (steff3) — Tue, 27 Mar 2018 14:45:09 +0000

Microsoft Surface Pro - e.g. the new one with i5 (fanless) - here I am using a Pro3 (pianoteq in Tracktion or Bitwig) ....
Problem with Cubase might be the dongle though ....

just my 2 cents

Re: Good Laptop for Pianoteq live

null@example.com (helsywarner) — Tue, 27 Mar 2018 09:35:19 +0000

Most laptops come with one of three operating systems: Windows, Chrome OS or MacOS (for MacBooks only). Choosing the right one is a personal preference. Go with what you know. If you're used to one OS it'll be easier to continue with a familiar interface than give something new/fresh a chance. But don't let your first OS decide every subsequent OS and computer you buy. Try out as many different operating systems as you can in the store or on friends' computers. See what feels most innate and natural to your way of using a computer. Even within the same operating system, keyboards, track pads, etc., can feel very different under your personal touch. CPU: The "brains" of your computer, the processor has a huge influence on performance, but depending on what you want to do, even the least-expensive model may be good enough. In value-priced laptops, you'll also see Intel's Pentium® and Celeron® processors. These are adequate for basic e-mail, Internet and productivity tasks, but their speed and multitasking capabilities are limited relative to those of the Core family. Mac computers are a fundamentally different experience than Windows computers, so if you’re making the transition it can be easy to get lost. Mac touts a very user-friendly interface, and is a powerful media production operating system. Laptops by their nature are very public devices. Much like watches, purses, sunglasses, or any other accessory, laptops have style. Make sure the laptop you want isn’t one that you would consider ugly, or you might be less likely to use it on the go.

Re: Good Laptop for Pianoteq live

null@example.com (SteveLy) — Sun, 21 Feb 2016 00:07:47 +0000

As an update in addition to my earlier comment, I found AVLinux to be very good with old hardware. See http://www.forum-pianoteq.com/viewtopic.php?id=4192 for details

Re: Good Laptop for Pianoteq live

null@example.com (Neil) — Fri, 19 Feb 2016 12:26:08 +0000

I run Pianoteq on a Muse Receptor for live and in the studio, even though I have Cubase running on a fast Mac system.
The big advantage is that the latency is under 3ms with full polyphony.
It's been with me on the road around Europe for five years and never let me down.
Also no Displays to worry about, convenient rack mount design and it will run thousand of other virtual instruments as well.

Neil