You could go to your nearest computer store and listen to the fans. The thing is, you won't know how loud it really is until you put it under load for it to get hot. If there is fan control on board, you may be able to run a test that ramps the fan up to 100%.

leebut
You could go to your nearest computer store and listen to the fans. The thing is, you won't know how loud it really is until you put it under load for it to get hot. If there is fan control on board, you may be able to run a test that ramps the fan up to 100%.

Yes, and I really won't know how wonderfully loud it will be until I'm about to sing that soft, soft note, with great feeling, and it harmonizes with me at a higher decibel level than my voice! :)

Also think about your mic. I have a Sure SM7B, I feel I could mount that thing next to a bunch of farting cows it is so directional (on the right setting).
 
(Second person in a week where somebody is buying their wife "a present").

CakeAlexS
Also think about your mic. I have a Sure SM7B, I feel I could mount that thing next to a bunch of farting cows it is so directional (on the right setting).
 
(Second person in a week where somebody is buying their wife "a present").

2nd time in a week I've been called a farting cow! And yes, I'm trying to work out my vocal room/booth setup to allow for optimal recording given my limited budget and know-how.

Another option I have used is to simply put a long lead on tracks you are working on... (like 10-15 seconds), then you can optimize your input mix first and take advantage of cables to (literally) distance yourself from the computer. Then arm/record, and tailor the clip ends in the mix cycle. Having those clip ends is also very useful for noise reduction (i.e. a "clean" long "background sample" to remove from the clip when mixing).

CakeAlexS,
 
Too much methane for me.
I'd like my wife to buy me a present, but I think she'd not be amused by what I'd like: a TLM 102/3. 

I have made plenty of recordings with my laptop running and it's almost never a measureable amount of noise relative to the music.
 
I'll bet one day they'll come up with a laptop fan noise plugin to replicate it in the box! ;-)
 
Best,
 
G

gswitz
 
I'll bet one day they'll come up with a laptop fan noise plugin to replicate it in the box! ;-)
 

 
Best used with the bedroom acoustics plugin.
 

sometimes dust can build up on the fan blades making it even louder when it does come on,i use a can of air and a vac to get as much dust off as possible works great for me.also works on your desktop fans as well.

chamlin

jscomposer If you go laptop, just make sure it has fast external connections for the audio drive.

Hmmm...what do you mean, fast external connections for the audio drive? My Fast Track Ultra is a USB 2.0 device.

It's good practice to keep the OS and Sonar on the main drive, and all your audio and VST libraries, etc, on their own drives. I have only used external drives on eSATA, but USB3 might be adequate if you're just recording basic audio tracks. If you opt for a mechanical drive, ensure its actually 7200rpm and not 5200.