Building a computer for small needs

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AaronK

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I'm getting ready to buy a computer to build my small and modest home recording setup. Basically, I'm using it for songwriting and to maybe record and mix some demo tracks. I'm thinking the Audiophile 2496 or Emu 1212 cards - I will only need to record at most 2 tracks simultaneously. I want a computer that will be good for this purpose. I'm looking at spending around $600 - and this seems reasonable given the quality level that I care about. Which is to say, I want good sound, but i dont care to spend extra money on making it pristene. For example, I'm *not* spending the extra money on a quiet power supply.

what I've got so far then on the shopping list is this:

80gig HD, 7200rpm
>2.0GHz processor
512MB RAM

will this be about right? I know to stay away from the Celerons, but besides that, what'd be better - pentium or amd? any other brands or motherboards I should lean towards?

thanks for the help folks!

Aaron
 
I can't recommend any soundcards, but if you can swing a dvd burner (around 60bucks now). It's much better for backing stuff up/storing. I'd recommend a bigger drive too, although it's pretty big you'll be surprised about how quickly you can fill it, esp. if you do anything else (video, graphics, etc). And "managing" my files for space eventually results in the deletion of something I didn't mean to lose.
 
i recommend an amd athlon. people are doing 80 multitracks with these pc's.
get two 7200 rpm hard drives, 512 mb memory.
try the multitrack software ive used for years. pgmusic.com powertracks.
you can try the free demo if you like from pg if you think i'm lying.
also ask users on the forum at pg. best 29 bucks i ever spent.
with an audiophile card or another good card dont put down the fact you will get lousy sound. youll get very very good sound quality if you develope your engineering skills. by way of reference hits were done in the past on machines with only -55db sig/noise. these new breed of sound cards are
sitting around -80 or even much better. a microphone has more noise probably to put in perspective.
hope this helps.
a TIP - dont put anything else in pci slots of your new machine you get other than the sound card. also make sure the dealer/seller of the system enables dma on the hard drives. some forget.
 
Recording Computer Suggestions

AaronK,

I use my computer in a similar way to your intended one of two channel recroding, though this computer is also my AutoCad and Internet one. I looked at many potential solutions to home recording and the soundcrad/HD ihas been wonderful. I currently use as Dell Pentium 750, WIN98SE, 256MB RAM, 64MB video, 40GB and 80GB HDs, M-Audio 2496 Audiophile, Cooledit (1.1!) and recently added a Memorex 52X CD-R. Yesterday I bought a new Compaq: Pentium 2.8GhZ, 200GB, 1GB PC3200 RAM, 128MB video with 48X CD-R and 8X DVD. The 2496 and 80GB from the Dell will go into the Compaq- tomorrow.

Before buying the Compaq I searched out the components for a music-only computer at a huge local computer store (Fry's Electronics, Woodland Hills, CA).

My thought was to make a fast computer that is not encumbered with many accesories and software, but you may find- as I have- that with a good setup and components the computer can be for general use too. Modern desktops can handle amazing tasks- like a Ferrrari that can also take back video to the store and sit in traffic.

If you want to build a dedicated Compter for recording I would consider:

1. MOtherboard: a good motherboard like ASUS or ABIT with Intel chipset - not VIA- and Pentium 4 support and 800Mhz FSB. This will be about $150. the good feature of these is they support huge RAM memory- 4GB and have very fast ATA HD controllers with seperate channels. The CPu does not have to be the highest speed- the 2.8GhZ with the 1MB internal cache is fine. Check that the motherboard HD controllers support the fast ATA drives (= high transfer rates). Get a case with a good power supply- 300W and plenty of breathing room.

2. Use a minimum of 512MB RAM, PC3200 or faster, but 1 or even 2 GB is better. There will than be no latency problems for even a very large 24 bit recording.

3. Have two HDs, plugged into seperate controller channels. If the computer is only for recording and composition, the C:\ can be a 40GB, because the OS and software will probably be under 2GB***, but it is very advantageous that the tracks are laid down on a seperate HD. This means the OS and software on C:\ and the tracks can be laid on the seperate drive wihtout conflict. The second HD can be a big one, but 80GB is probably minimum. These do get filled suprisingly fast.

*** I have 20 programmes and thousands of photo, text, and CAD files and my Dell still uses only 5GB.

4. A CD-R. These are all fast and reliable now, so shop for one with good CD software. the 52X Memorex I bought came with Nero 5 and I hate the way it looks and works- a fuzzy bear comes out and asks if I want data or audio-that kind of thing. My old 8X had Adaptec and this seemed more for adults' use. I will be lookng for additional CD/DVD software.

5. OS: Recommend MS XP Professional

5. Soundcard: I have gotten very nice results with the Audiophile 2496- and only $100 from Sweetwater. The 24 bit recordings are just fantastic. [ BTW, I use Oktava MC012s through an all-tube Peavey VMP-2 mic pre.]

5. Recording software: because my use is so basic I've been very happy with my elderly CoolEdit 1.1, but it only reocrds up to 16 /48 plan to bite the bullet and buy the latest version 2- that supports 24/96 (actually 24/192) recording, though it's a bit expensive ($250) and really has far more capabilities than I'll ever use. Looking on Ebay I see full packages with "Acid" for about $125, so that's an alternative. I've recently downloaded CEP 2 in a free full evaluation version so you can test drive (21 days) it for free. (A cable modem is advisable as the download file is 12MB). I use an old verision (3.0) of Muiktime for composition/notation.

Configure the XP by removing all the unwanted games and accessories- there are seemingly hundreds of strange things included like "Polar Bowler" -really strip it down of anything superfluous. I also defrag the music drive every time I record so the tracks are laid in one piece.

I've been very pleased with the Audiophile and look forward to the new Compaq and updated CoolEdit. I may also intall my old Turtle Beach card also to have seperate MIDI synthesizing and increase the number of inputs.

Best of Luck!

Cheers,

Bambi B
 
The cheapest I could come in at was $650 with an AMD 2500+, 512MB of RAM, 2 120gig HD's, and a CDRW. Still not too bad, and that's including WinXP Pro (OEM).
 
thanks for the input guys. looks like im on the right track. I should clarify that this computer will be my only one - ie, not dedicated for recording. However, I'll really only be using it for net browsing and the occassional word processing - not photo/video editting or gaming. So i guess you could consider it dedicated since net and Word wont tax my resources ;)

i did forget to mention the CDR drive - i will most definitely be getting one of these.

i understand more now why 2 HD's are the way to go.

finally, Polaris, where the hell did you find THAT deal? i've been able to find one for 600, but with only a single 80gig HD and XP home. Um, can you please please point me to where i can buy that system?

thanks again :)
Aaron
 
Polaris20 said:
The cheapest I could come in at was $650 with an AMD 2500+, 512MB of RAM, 2 120gig HD's, and a CDRW. Still not too bad, and that's including WinXP Pro (OEM).
Click to expand...
Polaris,

A wee little birdie suggested to me that maybe, just maybe, you're not including a monitor at that price point, and that your display adapter is bundled on the motherboard.
 
The best that I can do...

AMD AthlonXP 2500+ on Asus A7N8X-VM/400 motherboard (integrated video adapter) w/512K DDR 400 registered memory, (2) Western Digital WD1200JB EIDE 7,200 RPM HDD (120GB, 8MB cache), Lite On 52/32/52 CD-RW, Keyboard, Mouse, Speakers, and WinXP Pro.

$719 (built, not parts) sans tax and shipping.

Polaris got a heck of deal.
 
fortunately i already have a monitor - a nice 17" lcd...

im still waiting on polaris to let me know where i can score that deal :)
 
If you really want to save money, then hit up pricewatch.com and find the place with each item the cheapest.
 
hah. i should have figured that out.

yeah, i mean, i dont care to have great video, but i want *something* and do not want to have another pci card...
 
AaronK said:
but i want *something* and do not want to have another pci card...
Click to expand...


Actually most video cards us the AGP slot. I guess you could find one for the PCI slot, but an old cheap 64meg card off ebay would probably be just as cheap....

But seriously.

If you are not going to play any games outside of the bundled solitary and chess, then just get a motherboard with 32megs of onboard video.

You won't be able to tell the difference.

*However*

(fyi - I don't record on my computer)
I understand that that some of the WAVE editing programs can be quite taxing and may require a more powerful graphics card than one on a motherboard.
 
although I'm still waiting for Polaris to (hopefully) get back to me about that $650 deal, I'm just wondering right now whether it will be not only simpler, but just a better idea to go with a Compaq or Dell. I'm perfectly willing to buy components and build a PC myself, will I notice a big difference in quality between a $650 Compaq and an equally priced DIY comp setup?

aaron
 
AaronK said:
although I'm still waiting for Polaris to (hopefully) get back to me about that $650 deal, I'm just wondering right now whether it will be not only simpler, but just a better idea to go with a Compaq or Dell. I'm perfectly willing to buy components and build a PC myself, will I notice a big difference in quality between a $650 Compaq and an equally priced DIY comp setup?

aaron
Click to expand...


Yes.

But if you are willing to build it yourself, but think going with a Dell is just as good of an idea, then I would suggest a Dell because I doubt you will be able to build it yourself.

I could be wrong, but it doesn't sound like you know enough to build your own.

There is no tech support in the DIY world. Just the internet. And the internet isn't much good if your computer won't start up.

*edit*

Not to be rude, but unless you have some friends that know what they are doing, and will show you first hand, I would stay away from building one yourself.

In the computer world, the mere fact that a pre-built Dell is even being suggested to be on the same level as a custom built and taylored PC is a dead give away that you more than likely will have hell of a time putting all the parts together and making things work right.

Thats not to say you can't do it...
 
AaronK said:
although I'm still waiting for Polaris to (hopefully) get back to me about that $650 deal, I'm just wondering right now whether it will be not only simpler, but just a better idea to go with a Compaq or Dell. I'm perfectly willing to buy components and build a PC myself, will I notice a big difference in quality between a $650 Compaq and an equally priced DIY comp setup?

aaron
Click to expand...
U can try unitedmicro.com. That way u can pick out all the components u want, they'll build it and send it to and u won't have to remove all that crappy freeware.
 
outlaws - you're probably right. I've never built one before. I've installed cards and drives for work and home, but it's starting from the ground up that i've never done. my knowledge of motherboards is zilch.

so this looks like a deal:
http://shop1.outpost.com/product/4177013 and I could add another hard drive to this.

or http://shop1.outpost.com/product/4088992 which seems to be a safer bet since theres an open slot to upgrade video memory

and finally http://shop1.outpost.com/product/4078702 which just seems to have a bit faster FSB and possibly better video.

which would you recommend, keeping in mind that I'd get a second HD?

(continued thanks for help, dude)

Aaron
 
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