What Non-Computer Equipment Do I Need For Recording & Mixing?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Doctor Varney
  • Start date Start date
Thanks, Bobbsy. I really do appreciate what you're saying there. I just don't know how else you could explain away the thousands of cries for 'HELP!' on computer forums. The evidence seems quite clear to me. People often get confused and feel intimidated by error messages they don't understand.
 
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It's a hell of a long shot, Varney, but once in a while my computer just decides to use built in audio instead of the interface.
Now because I know this, it takes about ten seconds to switch back, but I can imagine tearing my hair out if I didn't know.

I don't mean to underestimate your knowledge, but could your problems be as simple as something like this?

I think this thread's gone the wrong way because people are taking it as "computers are crap and never work - recommend something better" and everyone's saying "well, mine works just fine".

I'm not criticising, just observing, but "I'm not really a computer person, can someone recommend a simpler recording solution" might have flown better.
 
I say give computers one more shot , maybe try an intel based system?

All i know is that i use a dell now nearly 4 years old , that has been dropped, with a first gen I5, 8 gb ram that has never blinked. The other day i was running reaper with 20 tracks all with effects, burning a cd, and surfing the internet off and on all with no problems.
 
dreib said:
I i was running reaper with 20 tracks all with effects, burning a cd, and surfing the internet off and on all with no problems.
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Yes, this is another thing I don't understand. It has nothing to do with Varney, but I often read people talking about a dedicated computer for music, shutting off all other applications,etc....Man, I have the internet running while I record, other music players, videos, you name it. I never have a problem with any of that. I guess I just got lucky because I wouldn't even know how to fix a problem if I had one.
 
RAMI said:
Yes, this is another thing I don't understand. It has nothing to do with Varney, but I often read people talking about a dedicated computer for music, shutting off all other applications,etc....Man, I have the internet running while I record, other music players, videos, you name it. I never have a problem with any of that. I guess I just got lucky because I wouldn't even know how to fix a problem if I had one.
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I built my own machine and totally over-specced it so it lasts as long as possible. I can run Reaper with around 50 tracks playing all with VST effects; VSTi drums and piano playing while simultaneously dicking around on the web and my CPU doesn't go above 7 or 8% utilised; Windows 7 is rock solid and is yet to crash on me; and my soundcard/audio has yet to stop working.

Varney, it seems to me a hardware option is sensible if you have the issues you do, but perhaps the Zoom unit could be the backup for if and when the PC fails??? Then your workflow is simpler when it's working well, but you have a fall-back when you have artists in the room and your PC lets you down.
 
RAMI said:
Yes, this is another thing I don't understand. It has nothing to do with Varney, but I often read people talking about a dedicated computer for music, shutting off all other applications,etc....Man, I have the internet running while I record, other music players, videos, you name it. I never have a problem with any of that. I guess I just got lucky because I wouldn't even know how to fix a problem if I had one.
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Yea I looked at that article describing all the crap you supposedly need to do to your computer for music production and said screw that! I would go to stand alone recorder if i had to do all that stuff!!
 
Doctor Varney said:
Blimey, what a little charmer! I often wonder whether some people would actually say these things to strangers in real life or whether it's just a keyboard thing?
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Hey, 'doc', come over hear and I WILL say the same thing to your face. You are whining and complaining about 'computers break' when people are going out of their way to try to help you. You're the one stating things that don't add up - now your latest posts say tha tin fact, that the computer you are using was built by someone else, and you have used commercial computers. :facepalm:

After 5 pages of posts, you 'think it could be a soundcard problem'. Well, what are you using for a soundcard? Do you have a spare one of those? You can get a 1-preamp USB interface for less than $100 off ebay, and if your problem was your built-in soundcard, or external device, then the replacement should work. Sounds like you need to learn basic troubleshooting.

You make this whole thing sound like it is a business for you, but a spare set of equipment is not affordable? "Contingency plans" are necessary for any good business. 'What if?' always needs to be asked.
 
Doctor Varney said:
Just what are you suggesting is going to be more complicated here? Because, as far as I can tell, this is just a noiseless, portable solution with far less on it to go wrong.
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Well...by your own admission, you will STILL end up using a computer to complete your audio books projects....so your are STILL faced with the same "computers go wrong" scenario you keep going on about even if you have some other recording device in addition to.
 
jonny deep said:
Yeah, what's it about. I hope it's about vampires. There's not enough stuff about vampires.
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:laughings:

I'm SO sick of the vampire/zombie trend in films/TV. :rolleyes:
Like how many more ways can they come up with fresh new storylines that include vampires or zombies...?

Like WTF????
 
RAMI said:
Yeah....... but......

......he's saying his computer doesn't allow him to get sound in and out of it. All the room treatment in the world won't help that. :eek:

:D
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but that's the easiest thing in the world to fix.


just takes money.
 
GONZO-X said:
but that's the easiest thing in the world to fix.


just takes money.
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I agree. But your post didn't have anything to do with his problem. I actually thought you mistakenly posted in the wrong thread.
 
miroslav said:
:laughings:

I'm SO sick of the vampire/zombie trend in films/TV. :rolleyes:
Like how many more ways can they come up with fresh new storylines that include vampires or zombies...?

Like WTF????
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Warm Bodies. Zombie turns human. can't wait.
 
Manslick said:
Warm Bodies. Zombie turns human. can't wait.
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I'm sure there will be at least two follow-ups.

1. Zombies turned human, then turned into vampires after getting bitten.
2. Zombies turned human, became vampires, then turned into vampire zombies.

I'm waiting for them to find a way to work Alien and Predator into a zombie/vampire mash-up......followed by another Terminator movie where Arnold kills everyone off and then his power cell runs out and he also dies.

Done....finished...over......
 
miroslav said:
I'm sure there will be at least two follow-ups.

1. Zombies turned human, then turned into vampires after getting bitten.
2. Zombies turned human, became vampires, then turned into vampire zombies.

I'm waiting for them to find a way to work Alien and Predator into a zombie/vampire mash-up......followed by another Terminator movie where Arnold kills everyone off and then his power cell runs out and he also dies.

Done....finished...over......
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Prolly a trifecta, the actors look very young, lots of miles in those mules.
 
Steenamaroo said:
It's a hell of a long shot, Varney, but once in a while my computer just decides to use built in audio instead of the interface.
Now because I know this, it takes about ten seconds to switch back, but I can imagine tearing my hair out if I didn't know.

I don't mean to underestimate your knowledge, but could your problems be as simple as something like this?
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No, it isn't that. All of the setting were checked to make sure. I know what you mean, I have had a computer do that in the past but I make a point of disabling on board sound whenever I set up a computer these days. It hasn't been an issue lately at all, until this. It seems the most likely cause is that the sound card has just given up the ghost.

I think this thread's gone the wrong way because people are taking it as "computers are crap and never work - recommend something better" and everyone's saying "well, mine works just fine".

I'm not criticising, just observing, but "I'm not really a computer person, can someone recommend a simpler recording solution" might have flown better.
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I completely agree. It literally has spiraled into a circular thing and that is partly my fault for the way I initially worded my frustrations. Someone took the question on face value - "What gear?" and recommended something. I'm happy with that because it gives me a starting point for researching the various units on offer. Now it's just a case of thanking those who stepped up to the question and clearing up some loose ends in here, to dispel some of the notions about me that have arisen from misunderstandings.
 
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