RAM and recording 8 tracks

[Volrath]

Hey all,

Quick question. Picked up a computer with 8 gb of RAM, an i7 haswell processor, and a 5400 RPM harddrive. I'm wanting to record 8-10 tracks simultaneously. Is 8 gig of RAM enough? Also, do you suggest I upgrade to a 7200 HDD? Just want to know I'm either set right or not. Input is greatly appreciated.

Thanks,

Volrath

 

[ecc83]

Hey all,

Quick question. Picked up a computer with 8 gb of RAM, an i7 haswell processor, and a 5400 RPM harddrive. I'm wanting to record 8-10 tracks simultaneously. Is 8 gig of RAM enough? Also, do you suggest I upgrade to a 7200 HDD? Just want to know I'm either set right or not. Input is greatly appreciated.

Thanks,

Volrath

8 gig is probably twice as much as you will ever need unless you delve into video editing or huge sample scoring.

Likewise the 5k4 drive will be fine. My HP i3 laptop handles 20 tracks of Cubase just fine and that is the stock 5k4 drive.

If you do decide to change the HDD save up for a decently sized SSD. Meantime keep the original drive as spruced and empty as possible, keep at least 33% free. That means keep programs off it you don't need and dump audio files regularly to an external drive*. This will also make installing a new drive much less of a PITA.

*Or, usb sticks up to 16G or so are now so cheap, especially if you bulk buy, that you could keep a "stick a week" if, (unlike moir!) you are really organized!

Dave.

 

[DM60]

8 gig is probably twice as much as you will ever need unless you delve into video editing or huge sample scoring.

Likewise the 5k4 drive will be fine. My HP i3 laptop handles 20 tracks of Cubase just fine and that is the stock 5k4 drive.

If you do decide to change the HDD save up for a decently sized SSD. Meantime keep the original drive as spruced and empty as possible, keep at least 33% free. That means keep programs off it you don't need and dump audio files regularly to an external drive*. This will also make installing a new drive much less of a PITA.

*Or, usb sticks up to 16G or so are now so cheap, especially if you bulk buy, that you could keep a "stick a week" if, (unlike moir!) you are really organized!

Dave.

OP I 100% agree with Dave. The 16Gb USB sticks are pretty cheap, you can get them up to 64Gb, 5400 RPM is on the slower side, but I wouldn't buy a faster one unless you were upgrading anyway. You should be good to go.

 

[ecc83]

OP I 100% agree with Dave. The 16Gb USB sticks are pretty cheap, you can get them up to 64Gb, 5400 RPM is on the slower side, but I wouldn't buy a faster one unless you were upgrading anyway. You should be good to go.

"OP I 100% agree with Dave. " Ooo! Ta! (can you wait a week or so for the cheque!)

N.B. If you go for the bigger sticks always shut it down before removal (should be a little icon on taskbar) otherwise you can lose/corrupt the data. I think this only applies to 16G and bigger but I do it for everything now.

dave.

 

[Volrath]

Sweet. Thanks a ton guys for the info! Much appreciated!

 

[Chili]

Hard drive read/write speed is what limits the number of tracks. And hard drive speed is usually determined by spindle speed (5400, 7200, etc). CPU and RAM limit other things. Audio processing actually isn't very cpu intensive. Not until you start using sample-based libraries. For your 8 - 10 tracks, you should be fine, but if you have problems, look to replacing your hard drive first.

 

[ashcat_lt]

Byte for byte, any HD is significantly cheaper than any USB stick! It's to the point now where you can buy like 3TB of spinning disc for about the same price as a 64G dongle.

 

[ecc83]

Byte for byte, any HD is significantly cheaper than any USB stick! It's to the point now where you can buy like 3TB of spinning disc for about the same price as a 64G dongle.

Ooo! I don't know?...INFD64GBPASBLS - INTEGRAL - USB FLASH DRIVE 2.0 PASTEL - 64 | CPC

But I take your point. My meaning was that it might suite pro tem to pull audio data off the drive . Could be labeled up per drive.."Fred and the Farts at the D&D..." And I thought of 4 G drives or so. They are also pretty tough, portable, need no power. I have forked two usb drives in 7 years. I now use a NAS in a safe place.

Dave.

 

[miroslav]

I like the LaCie portable drives for my 2nd backup/storage medium. I've had a couple, and they just run and run and run.
The one I'm currently using is one of the "rugged" models with the orange sleeve. It's 1/2 TB yet small eneough that I can take it with me, so that way I have that 2nd backup in a different location.

AFA my HDs....I'm still spinning 10k RPM SCSI drives.
Got 4 in the DAW tower.
1-OS, 2-Work & Backup, 1-Final Mixes, and then another 2 in an external enclosure for 3rd backups when I'm feeling real anal....
...but, I guess all that is considered "old" technology.

 

[dainbramage]

I like the LaCie portable drives for my 2nd backup/storage medium. I've had a couple, and they just run and run and run.

I've been considering one of those lately. It seems you can fit them in a rack too, is that right?

 

[miroslav]

I'm talking about these they fit in the palm of your hand.
They have them with all different types of transfer formats/connectors...USB 2,, USB 3, Firewire, etc.....

LaCie 500GB Rugged Triple Interface USB 3.0 Portable Hard 301982

 

[dainbramage]

Ah, my bad. Thought you meant these:

LaCie - LaCie d2 Quadra USB 3.0



Anyway sorry for derailing the thread.

 

[miroslav]

Naaa....this is all on-topic.

Those tower drives are nice, but not really "small portable" like the Rugged line, in the sense you can just grab-n-go and slip it into a laptop bag and take with.

So I have ALL my audio recording files backed up on the 1/2 TB LaCie....that way, if my DAW tower was ever hit by a bus....I would still have all the project files with me.
When I leave the house to go to my day gig...I always take the LaCie with me. Plus, it's handy for transfering large files from computer to compter etc.
I have real fast Internet at work...so if I need to download lots of large files, I can do that there...then use the LaCie to transfer to my off-line DAW.

 

[dainbramage]

Naaa....this is all on-topic.

Those tower drives are nice, but not really "small portable" like the Rugged line, in the sense you can just grab-n-go and slip it into a laptop bag and take with.

So I have ALL my audio recording files backed up on the 1/2 TB LaCie....that way, if my DAW tower was ever hit by a bus....I would still have all the project files with me.
When I leave the house to go to my day gig...I always take the LaCie with me. Plus, it's handy for transfering large files from computer to compter etc.
I have real fast Internet at work...so if I need to download lots of large files, I can do that there...then use the LaCie to transfer to my DAW.

I see! That sounds really useful.

 

[Volrath]

Thanks for all the input guys. I've got a portable HDD for backups, so I should be good there (though the damn thing is 5 years old, but still rockin') I like that LaCie drive though. It does look like it'll take a beating and keep going as was stated. I've been contemplating the SSDs as well, but I'll take your suggestion and just see how the 5400 HDD works out for me. Thanks again all!

 

[dainbramage]

If that's not enough, then seems most machine can not. My old 2GB machines has recorded 16 tracks together, no problem.

Would that be 16 tracks at the same time or just 16 tracks in total?

 

[ecc83]

Not! That I wish the thread to descend into a "Monty Python. Eee! Tha' knows nowt about 'ardship!" debacle, I think I have a "baseline" minumum PC?

I had (till son sat on the screen) an HP Compaq with just 500M of ram and an 850MEG Hz CPU!

That would still record 24bits, 44.1kHz 2 tracks for an hour or so (20G hard drive!)

Dave.

 

[DM60]

Not! That I wish the thread to descend into a "Monty Python. Eee! Tha' knows nowt about 'ardship!" debacle, I think I have a "baseline" minumum PC?

I had (till son sat on the screen) an HP Compaq with just 500M of ram and an 850MEG Hz CPU!

That would still record 24bits, 44.1kHz 2 tracks for an hour or so (20G hard drive!)

Dave.

I wish I had a HP Compaq ....!

 

[Chili]

I wish I had a HP Compaq ....!

You want a Dell?? I've got an old D400 I'm about ready to put up on eBay.

 

[Mr Clean]

I have a HP Compaq 2.8GHz - 4Gb RAM - Win XP - This thing easily records 8 tracks simultaneously.

It was a bargain as well. £60 off eBay.