All I got is a red guitar, three chords . . and 3,000 dollars.

  • Thread starter Thread starter Squashboy
  • Start date Start date
Hey Squashboy,

All that sound good--but weren't you gonna go one track at a time? The ADAT LX is an 8-track machine. Kind of redundant if you're planning on mixing down on a computer.

My advice--get the Darla for you computer, assuming it's not some archaic ISA-only piece. Don't worry about processor power unless you plan to do more than about 4 or 5 tracks including effects.

Get yourself a copy of CakeWalk Audio (start small) and go from there.
 
Hey Squashboy,

All that sound good--but weren't you gonna go one track at a time? The ADAT LX is an 8-track machine. Kind of redundant if you're planning on mixing down on a computer.

My advice--get the Darla for you computer, assuming it's not some archaic ISA-only piece. Don't worry about processor power unless you plan to do more than about 4 or 5 tracks including effects.

Get yourself a copy of CakeWalk Audio (start small) and go from there.
 
Check out this thread https://homerecording.com/ubb/Forum3/HTML/001454.html

I would go for computer recording. I don't know the first thing about DAT recording but I know that I don't really miss winding tapes and not seeing the tracks nicely laid out on a screen. Also, you would have to get a computer in addition to the pack so add that cost as well, as I presume you'll buy one even if you don't record on it. I don't know how much stand-alone CD writers for the pack cost but add a few hudered bucks there as well.

I don't know about the track limitation on the pack but I guess it's lower than on a regular DAW. Also, you have to pay mucho for new effects if you go for DAT. With DAWs, you just download some plug-ins. Most of them are free or at least really cheap.

I feel that the pack is really a case of wetting yourself but as I said, I don't know jack about DAT recording. Maybe it's heaven. I doubt it though. The pack is surely a good start but if you outgrow it and want more tracks or whatever, it's going to be expensive to update.

I'll see if I can come up with a "cheaper" computer spec. this weekend.

Just my two cents

/Ola
 
Squashboy,

I'd recommend active monitors rather than the Monitor Ones plus power amp. For roughly the same price as those two (three) items, you can get the Alesis M1 Actives. There are also similar ones in this price range from Tannoy, Event, Vergence, and now I think JBL and Yamaha too. Read up on it; powered monitors offer many advantages over the traditional amp + speakers. Home Recording Magazine has a series on Monitoring 101 and in the first or second of these articles it spells out what the advantages are.

-AlChuck
 
Thanks AlChuck,

Whatever I decide to do I'll get the Alesis M1 Actives ($499 at L&M music online). Now if I could just figure out this computer thing . . .

Another week or so and I'll be home. Eventually I'm gonna have to just get something. It's good to be getting so much advice.

Squashboy
 
Search the "other equipment..." forum for "monitors" and you'll get some opinions on the 20/20 and M1. The general concensus is to stay away from the M1 and get the 20/20 instead.

/Ola
 
For my money...I'd go with the ADAT. Use a computer for E-mail and posting on this BBS.

You will run out of hard disk space too soon, but with ADAT you just buy anew tape!

If your computer crashes you will lose your songs!

Sincerely;
Dom Franco
 
A 30Gb disk can hold over 1700 track minutes of highest reslolution (24/96) uncomressed audio or three times that of CD quality audio. If you run out of space, buy another disk or burn your old stuff on CD. When was the last time you needed over three hours of 8-track (or an entire record of 24-track 24/96 resolution) available at once? Also, 60Gb disks aren't too expensive. Next year, 200Gb won't be expensive... That's a huge ammount of songs at once.

If your computer chrashes (what part btw?, you can usually restor most of the data without any bigger problems. Aslo, you do back things up dont you? You could also have a system with mirrored disks. Sure, you waste one of the disks on backup but it might be worth it.

Maybe I'm too partial but I would go for computer recording.

/Ola
 
Ola,

You have me convinced. And as far as the planning goes, I think I'm almost there. Here's a big list of all the stuff, how much, and where I think I'll get it. Also, I decided to just bring this dumb computer home, use it for email, word processing, and then build another computer strictly for audio purposes. That also means I'll be getting a bigger monitor, which I notice in several posts you have recommended highly. So here goes:

Part I. The DAW (Digital Audio Workstation)

1) ABIT BE6-II 440BX ATA66 Slot 1 Motherboard ($136 at Jinco.com)

2) CPU: Intel 566 Celeron II overclocked to 850 with Global Win Cpm-32 Heatsink Fan w Iwill SlocketII ($210 at Advance Design)

3) Certified PC133MHz DIMM Sync DRAM 128MB, 7.5NS, 168-pin. Name-brand chipset only. Physical length: 5.25". Also runs at 100MHz and 66MHz. LIFE-TIME warranty. OEM. ($155 at "Directron.com" Is this the right stuff, Ola? It didn't say CAS 2 RAM, but I don't know what CAS 2 Stands for anyway).

4) Floppy drive ($20 Local computer place)

5) CD-RW: Plexwriter 8X4X32 ($204 at egghead.com)

6) Graphic card: ATI All-n-Wonder Pro 8 Meg AGP video in, tv-out, video capture ($110.00 at Advanced Design)

7) Hard disk drive: Jinco.com has the exact thing Pete was talking about in his article: The Maxtor DiamondMax 30.7 GB U/ATA66 Hard Drive (though for some reason, they don't say what the price is. I'm assuming it's around $200)

8) Case ATX Mid Tower Case ($80 at Jinco.com)

9) Modem. Aopen FM-56sm PCI/Software winmodem ($29.00 at Advanced Design)

10) Gaming soundcard: Creative Sound Blaster PCI 128 oem ($37.00 at Advanced Design)

11) Monitor: Syncmaster 750S, 17" ($194.99 from egghead.com.)

12) Windows Windows 98 ($154 at Amazon.com)

Part I projected TOTAL: $1529.99 (The only problem will be putting this thing together, but my wife's cousin is trained in the ways of geekdom. I think I'll order his favorite pizza . . . )

Part II. All the other recording stuff….

1) Microphone: Rode NT-1 $199.00 (zzounds) (My guitar is an acoustic, by the way, so I hope this is a good mic for that)

2) Mixer: ART Tube MP $99.95 (zounds)

3) Software and Hardware: Bayviewproaudio.com has Darla for $299 (Bayview also gives a free version of Samplitude 5.5 Pro software with each purchase. But I think I'll get N-track anyway, $40)

4) Monitors: Event 20/20's $689.00 (zzounds)

5) Cables and Rack: $200 (my local slimeball music store)

Part II projected TOTAL: $1526.95

Part I and II Projected TOTAL: $3056.94

So, I think I'm almost ready to get out the VISA. As always, if you have any suggestions, I'm glad to hear them. Thanks!
Squashboy.
 
im just curious as to where you found all these dealers..you can usualyl find good deals at www.pricewatch.com for anything computer related.. if your content with running windows 98 im sure you can find it for much cheaper... prolly around 80 bucks , but only 50 if you buy it with some hardware.. remember , the monitor may only be 200 , but shipping is at least going to be 50 bucks.. watch out for shipping costs at some vendors..their prices might be cheap but then they bang ya for shipping.. also , check out pricewatch.com for prices of a cpu/motherboard combo.. and really , for an extra 30 bucks you can bypass an overclocked celeron and buy a 733 pIII for $240.. and why do you want the ati all in wonder? ive heard mixed reviews about this card , but for $110 bucks you can get a super high quality 32 meg card , or for $123 dollars you can get the matrox dual head 32 meg card , which can run dual monitors..

- eddie -
 
Sure....NOW I learn about pricewatch.com, after searching myself BLIND! Oh well, better late than never. I'll definitely look into that PIII 750 option. To be honest with you, I don't really know the difference. I'm mostly just trying to gauge everyone's opinion on what's best. The Ati card I hadn't really heard much about. I'll look at those other options . . . hey, that's what this forum is all about.
 
no no no..not the pentium III 750 , the 733 gives the best bang for the buck :).. overclocking is ok , but not really great..it puts an extra strain on some stuff that you might not wanna break.. the video capture thing might be overkill for you as well as unnecessary unless you wanna do something like...well..umm video capture..

- eddie -
 
after some thought , and after posting this to the wrong thread :) , i figured i would be more specific than i have been..

this is how i see it , and the direction i would go if i were you..
the pIII 733 is the best bang for the buck right now at $270 (w/ fan and heatsink), coupled with the abit be6 motherboard ($130) , 128 megs of ram ($130) ,16 meg video card ($25) , 20 gig 7200 rpm hard drive ($160) , modem ($20) , 8x4x24 cd-rw ($200) , floppy drive ($10), case ($50), windows 2000 ($175?), and soundcard of your choice ($???) , you can have a very capable system..

total cost is $1170 not including soundcard.. by the way , ive included shipping in there..i would advise not buying a monitor online , being that shipping prices are so high.. keep an eye on the sunday newspaper for sales at compusa or circuit city.. you might be able to score a 17 inch monitor for $230 , or a 19 inch for $300..

- eddie -
 
It looks like we have it more or less sorted out now. I'm glad that some people who have a better grip on the US prices got on the thread as well.

After some thought, I'd recommend the Asus P3B-F motherboard. It's about the same price but easier to setup/use. More of plug-n-play so to speak. The Abit is better for hard core tweaking but I guess that you'll wait with that for a while anyway.

Getting a pIII 733 instead of the overclocked Celeron may also be a good idea (I didn't know that they were that cheap nowadays) as it's going to be easier to use and you don't have to worry about the settings required for overclocking.

As for the RAM. Does anyone know off the top of their head if you benefit from 133MHz memory with the listed setup? Better check if the 733 runs on 133MHz bus speed (I think so). If not, get the same brand/type memory but the PC100MHz version. I doubt that getting 133MHz memory will cause you any problems but I think it's more expensive than 100MHz.

As for the rest of the equpment, I haven't looked into brands and models but it looks good as far as I can see. I think Eddie might be more up to date tahn I on that stuff.

Get a 19" monitor if you can affor it. Your eyes will thank you later. 21" are still too expensive.

Almost therenow

/Ola
 
yes the pentium III 733 runs on the 133 mhx bus speed , so you need to pc133 memory.. the price difference is only about 8 percent anyway.. i chose the abit board because im familiar with it..

the hard drive is a maxtor , the cd writer i think was a panasonic , the video card was a diamond (just be sure it has windows2000 drivers) , the modem really isnt too important , neither is the case really as long as its at least 250 watt ,the memory was micron , and the floppy doesnt really matter..

- eddie -
 
I've seen several people here advice against Maxtor drives. I think Slackmaster2k has had a couple of failures with 'em. I'll stick to IBM myself. No problems so far.

Make sure that you get W2000 drivers to all the hardware. Don't take "they're on their way" for an answer. I've been waiting for W2000 drivers for my souncard for months and no sign of them yet.

/Ola
 
No, I didn't say that I've seen Maxtors fail... I was disappointed by the lack of support other members got from Maxtor. Specifically, the drive not running in UDMA mode on certain operating systems (I believe NT4...Ed, which did yours have a problem with?). I actually think that problem might have worked itself out because I haven't heard anyone complain about Maxtor for some time now.

Anyway, I too have a Maxtor now and it runs great on Win2k. I'm still partial to Quantum though. IBM also seems to make a nice drive (despite the recent recall...I forget which drives & why...anyone?).

The drives I mentioned failing all the time are of the Western Digital variety. I've seen too many take a dump to ever recommend them to anyone.

Slackmaster 2000
 
I was the one whinging about the Maxtor drives. I had a few fail hopelessly on me, but I have to admit that I do have a couple of them running at the moment, and no problems. I may have just got a bad lot.

Still prefer IBM drives.

- gaffa
 
I'm just about to pack up my stuff and head back to the good ol' US of A, but before I got home and starting spending all my money, I wanted to ask one more question. Here's the deal. I'm pretty much sold on the Gina 24. It seems like it's the best bang for the buck (24bit/96 KHz, and I don't need to record more than one or two tracks at a time). I had also decided that for the "gaming card" section of my DAW I was going to go with the SB Live, because that's what my computer-brain-nerd-cousin said is good.

But then I was reading in another forum, and some were debating between which was better, SB Live or Gina, most agreed that Gina was better. So, I'm reading that and wondering "why I'm putting two cards in my computer?" If I am going to use this DAW mainly for just recording purposes, do I need to have both? If you can, briefly, just tell me what is it that each of these cards does in my computer that the Gina won't do: 1) an AGP graphic card, and 2) a gaming card.

Once I get this card business straightened out, I think I'll be ready to go.

Thanks,
Squashboy
 
an agp graphics card has nothing to do whatsoever with audio in your computer.. its your video card..no audio card doubles also as a video card..

the argument you saw on another site regarding the SB live and Gina was probably a debate between the SB live Platinum and the Gina.. and really , theres no comparison at all , hands down gina kicks the SB's ass.. regardless though , the SB live platinum is a $150 card , as opposed to the regular SB live which is 50 bucks...

go with the gina , its MADE for audio recording.. the SB was made for gaming.. get both..

- eddie -
 
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