Audio Production & Graphics Tasks?

Intended Framework computer use:

• podcast
• conduct interviews via conferencing via online software
• continue voiceover/audio production (adobe audition)
• continue with some graphic/website design (adobe)
• Running a second monitor during all functions (a TV/monitor actually)

Does anyone in the community currently use their Framework for these tasks?

I’d deeply appreciate your experiences with the machine (details on how it’s worked out)?

Among my biggest concerns is how quiet the Framework will be?

My current machine, Lenovo t540p 16 gb ram/500 gb SSD, inserts/drops all sorts of clicks/pops and stutters into an audio track while recording, screwing up the final product: artifacts I cannot edit out. It has been adding these noises for several years (I was on a hiatus from production and am getting back to it.)

I’ve been shopping laptops for over a year and have yet to find anything that I’m comfortable pulling the trigger on and Framework keep coming up as a strong contender.

Lastly, any word on DDR5 compatibility with the new Gen 13 model?

Thanks very kindly.

I can confirm that you can record from this laptop, both the internal mic and higher-end external ones through an audio interface, without artifacts. However, you mentioned noise. If you’re on Zoom, using OBS/Audacity/Audition to record, and driving a second monitor from the integrated graphics all at the same time, the fans will probably be running at max rpm. There are reviews that compare fan noise, so you should look into those before buying for podcast work.

Graphic design may be a problem if you go for a lower-spec CPU, but I don’t have personal experience with Adobe on this laptop. Audio production will be totally fine, I actually produced a podcast on the 11th gen i5 for about three months after purchase.

Be_Far,

Thanks for such a quick reply. If I may press a bit? Only 3 months with the 11th gen with regard podcast production? Was it simply that you ceased doing the podcast, did away with the Framework in favor of something else, or just did away with the Framework?

I was thinking of going with one of the i7 chipsets in the 13th gen.

Also, thank you for the reminder, I wasn’t actually thinking of using OSB unless I were to record a webinar (I’ve a coaching practice, which come to think of it, you can hear an audio sample of what I’ve been producing on the homepage (www.MountainPeakCoaching.com). The voice track was recorded separately from the video. BTW, the fan is constantly running on my Lenovo even without driving my tv/monitor, which I’m beginning to hate the sound of.

Also, I’m running an outbound analog effects chain for background noise suppression and a bit of vocal texturing which is all summed by a Focusrite 2i2 or an outboard Creative soundcard, then into a DAW. Because I work relatively simply, all raw audio is captured by Ocen Audio’s software, raw edited and all post is done in Audition.

I think all of this keep load down in general?

As an aside, as I’m sure many others feel likewise in this community: I’m reading some very sketchy reviews overall with regard to major name laptop makers. I’ve only had Lenovo computers since the butterfly keyboarded version back in the late 90s. I’ve generally been very happy. I can’t bring myself to get another given the very questionable reliability and quality concerns.

Again, my gratitude for your quick reply and assistance.

I have an 11th gen i5 frame.work that I use for podcast record/editing. I use Jitsi meet (a WebRTC chat client) for the meeting software, and record my side using a USB mic and 3.5mm headphones with Audacity on Windows 11. I just record locally, but the entire stream audio/video + works fine. My fan doesn’t go crazy - it stays pretty quiet. Just to flesh out my setup, I use a BT keyboard and trackball, wired ethernet (via 2.5g module) and a 1440P display connected via HDMI.
The only potential issue I’ve come across is one time my 1TB USB storage module stopped responding for a bit during one recording, so now I only record to the internal storage and use the 1TB to hold the project when I’m editing.

Cool. My gratitude for your feedback. I’m finding this encouraging to move in this direction.

Is there a slot on board for a second memory device? I know there are interchangeable module addons, but under the hood is there a slot for secondary storage?

There’s only a single NVMe socket on the board so you’d need to use external storage through one of the USB ports if you want to keep your data separate from your OS.

I have done video editing on the 11th gen i7 on davinci resolve, definitely recommend at least 32 gb of ram (and if you don’t mind the bigger laptop the new 16 model for the dedicated gpu, it makes a big difference in rendering times)

1 Like

@Gary_S thanks for the info. It’s a shame that an additional internal socket is not available. Seems like it would be a solid addition, though I have to imagine would also muck about with the internal layout/architecture. Hoping the new larger laptop will have an additional internal socket.

1 Like

@yessikg Thanks for sharing your experience. I’d more than likely be all over the 16, my current machine is 15", the additional size would really be an issue and I’d prefer the screen size. I don’t think I can get by that long with what I’m suffering with now.

Also, yes, any investment I make in a new machine would have 32 gb of ram. I’m running 16gb now and have some minor issues from time to time with recording.

My thought is invest in a bit more headroom and be comfortable instead of not having enough and getting bogged down.

2 Likes

I left my podcast editing position, but I had no problem with the Framework for podcast production while using it.

This will absolutely be enough power for running a DAW.

That’ll keep it low-load for sure, and if you have a gate or a filter at any point in the chain you won’t have any issues with fan noise.

Thanks for your kind assistance.