Do you carry a laptop in your live rig

[bone_scar]

I have been lurking around here for quite sometime and have gained a ton of knowledge from this awesome site. I finally made the jump, picked up an 11R and a Alto TS112 and just freaking love it. My question for you guys who use your modelers for live gig's that have a pc/mac interface, do you carry a laptop with you and if so how do you store it? I plan on carrying one with my rig due to the ease factor of making changes with the GUI versus weaving around through the on board config. That being said, weight and size are a factor as I don't want to be hauling a fridge around like I did back in my touring days.

So far this looks to be my best bet.

http://www.skbcases.com/music/produc...t=1&c=78&s=78#

Any other suggestions or ideas are greatly appreciated.

[Lolasaurus]

OK.
This could get me started on a rant so I'll try to restrain myself.
A- Yes, I bring my laptop. B- There is an entire professional genre of artists who do this; the idea of laptop's not being gigging material is absurd, ignorant, and naive *and >10 years late.
C- To me, the point of going digital is to do as much as possible with as little as possible, so I cut as many corners as possible. Something like that link you posted would only be viable if you absolutely need a rack, that is, I would absolutely not get it for the sake of putting your laptop on top - that's stupid. I would get it as a rack, if I were paranoid enough to spend money on such a small amount of rack space.
I'll be honest, I've never used anything in a rack format, but $300 for so little rack space is just a scam, especially if your doing anything less than a nation wide tour two times a year. Go to a thrift store and buy a $5 corner table stand to put the 11R on, and put the laptop on top of the 11R.
There's so much wasteful scamming the music production industry creates these mindsets for. Goes back to snake oil.
DIY.

[Strat]

I've used a laptop for a few years now and that case is perfect for my needs more often than not. Just depends on what you need to rack - some bands I use a 10 space rack

[bone_scar]

Lolasaurus, I can see where you are coming from, but I am looking for a system to house all of my rack gear AND a safe way to house my MAC since it is a dedicated part of my rig and used for nothing else. The one I listed is actually smaller than what I need, it was just the principle around the idea.


I'll go back to lurking.

[rezidentura]

Why not go to walmart and spend that 200 on a microbook. Sure its limited, and questionable build quality but, it should run any program you need battery last decent. Besides, it's small you could put it any where

[JubileeMan 2555]

Originally Posted by Lolasaurus

...I'll be honest, I've never used anything in a rack format, but $300 for so little rack space is just a scam, especially if your doing anything less than a nation wide tour two times a year. ....

So what you're saying is "I have no experience with this sort of gear, but I'll make a wild hyperbolic statement about how dumb you must be to use it..."

Axe-fx II - $2000
Matrix power - $800
Laptop - $1500

and you want to put all that on top of a $5 table?!

I'm not sure what gigs you play at, but the ones I run have high energy motion and lots of chaos both on and off stage. A rack where you have your expensive gear protected and easily setup/torn down and stored in car is priceless.

Also... Amazon has this case for $235 + free shipping.

Originally Posted by bone_scar

...
I'll go back to lurking.

I'm sorry for that forumites' judgemental reaction to your question. As you can see in my post, go to amazon.com and save yourself some money as well as saving your gear from damage.

[coderKen]

Originally Posted by JubileeMan 2555

Also... Amazon has this case for $235 + free shipping.

That is pretty sweet looking rack. I've actually been wanting something like this as I've also started carrying around a macbook to run Ableton on at gigs. I really like the idea of having everything in one box like that. Thanks for link!

[misa]

Doing some live recordings at gigs, I typically had preamps and recording equipment in a rack case and simply sat the laptop on top. As long as you don't have any wires that may get yanked connecting to the laptop, it should be fine simply sitting on a rack case. I would transport the laptop in a backpack with a special compartment along with headphones, tools, and misc. small items I needed.

[Lolasaurus]

Originally Posted by JubileeMan 2555

So what you're saying is "I have no experience with this sort of gear, but I'll make a wild hyperbolic statement about how dumb you must be to use it..."

Axe-fx II - $2000
Matrix power - $800
Laptop - $1500

and you want to put all that on top of a $5 table?!

I'm not sure what gigs you play at, but the ones I run have high energy motion and lots of chaos both on and off stage. A rack where you have your expensive gear protected and easily setup/torn down and stored in car is priceless.

I said that to recognize anyone could absolutely disregard what I was saying. But, as I did say, I do have experience with rack-like setups, just not specifically rack items. Specifically an audio interface and midi interface by the laptop, connected to a separate, modestly complex pedalboard. But with common sense, plopping down the money for such expensive, passive gear, I would keep it away from the edge of the stage and instantly tackle and douchebag that got near it. That intuitive caution already covers most of the protection something like THAT rack offers. That the formation that rack puts your gear in can be done without the case (in respect to convenience and portability). That the price = protection + convenience is a con. Speaking from having worked around way more complex live setups than 2 rack items and a laptop.
It's valuable as comforting reassurance, but it hardly anything more. I'll admit calling it snake oil was an erroneous stretch, but it wasn't completely wrong. Just with the strong connection to P&W this forum has, I was presumptuous when it came to the undoubted necessity of rack security when so many gigs are at church.

I used to use two large, (i can't think of the proper term) multi-staged/compartmental suitcases I got at a thrift store for $25 when I was moving.

[1wheel]

I use an old Sony small laptop with my HD500 (though I don't edit patches live, just pre-post gig).. I do play along with backing tracks from the laptop and also play MP3s for break music via same laptop. USB connected to HD for all.

It fits in my HD500 bag in a smaller outside pouch. I think I have a 49 key keyboard bag for HD and all the cables and junk other than the 2 QSC K10s, the Godin Nylon SA and JTV-69. Pretty small kit of stuff...

[JackJordan]

When I bring a laptop to a gig (I only bring it to edit patches), I simply put it onto my 4 space skb rack that I bought here at tgp for $40. Works great! I have even put some velcor on the top of the case and bottom of the laptop, just in case...

I carry the laptop in a laptop case... I do like the case you suggested though...