computer newbie, Gateway upgrade questions

[duster50]

Hi, just bought 1st computer without fully researching recording applications; Gateway will upgrade me to Pentium III 600MHZ. I'm thinking 128 MBRAM, possible Zip or Jaz-drive(any opinions on either?) I'd like to know what other audio/midi type features I should ask about when ordering new computer. I have Roland GR-1, Yamaha MT8X cassette 8-track, some outboard stuff; figure to go mostly midi with "live" guitars/vocals for song-demos, maybe sound-library submissions(sampling, "grooves", haven't tried 'em, read about 'em). Also, sorry, another sound-card question(been lurking here couple days)---Thinking Cubase for multi-tracker, thought these things had on-screen mixers, yet Aardvark has new "Direct Pro 24/96" sound-card w/mixer, mic-preamps, and DSP effects for $699US. What interface would I need with that? Is that good "bang-for-buck" value if I have no interface now, or I/O (whatever that is, help...)(Also, Band-in-a-Box,any opinions please) What should be first, a decent soundcard and n-studio to get my feet wet? To paraphrase a commercial, "I've got the credit-card, now what do I buy?

 

[tdukex]

Duster

I'm trying to make demos also. My advice:

1) Spend another $100 or so and get another 128 mb of SDRAM. SDRAM is the cheapest way to increase you computer's horsepower. Cubase is a memory hog, as are all sequencers, especially when you start adding effects.

2) Make sure you have a nice large hard drive (20-30 Gbytes)--even though you will be doing a lot of MIDI.

3) You're going to need a CD burner anyway, so use that to back up your files. Don't spend money on a Jaz-drive. A 100mb Zip or 120mb Super Drive can be purchased new for $50 if you look. These are worth it just for transporting MIDI files, etc.

4) You do not need a $700 soundcard. You can find a very high quality prosumer sound card (20 bit/48khz sample rate) for $200-300. Use the $400-500 you save to purchase a small mixer (Behringer MX802A $120, e.g.) and one or two nice Condensor mics for vocals and acoustic instruments(Rode NT-1, e.g.). The mixer comes with good preamps and will give you some versatility. The condensor mic(s) will be some of the best value per dollar you spend.

5) Eventually you'll want a good monitoring system--$500-1,000. But in the meantime you can get by with a good set of phones like Sony MDR7506 or AKG240--both for around $100.

Again, do not buy a $700 sound card. That would be like buying a $3,500 guitar. Sure, it would be nice, but you don't need a guitar or a sound card that expensive to make great sounding music.

DUKE-X

 

[Rev E]

Duster50,

Most of the soundcards that I'm aware of (the prosumer cards and professional cards) come with a user interface. Yes, the multitrack program (Cubase) will also) come with it's own track mixer. Why do you need both? If you're recording some audio, you don't want to overload any of the inputs, so you would use the soundcard's interface to check the levels. You could also use the soundcard's interface to boost or lower your monitor levels.

Your mixer interface in Cubase would be to mix the signals at mixdown and other common uses for the track display of a recorder and mixer.

As far as your soundcard, I say get the best card that you NEED. $700 is not a bad price to pay for a card if you need to track 8 instruments at a time. So you need to determine your needs. Stay far away from generic soundcards (Soundblaster, etc.). If you only need to record 2 tracks at a time, there are many great sounding two track cards that can do this for about $350 (e.g. Echo Audio Gina24, Darla24, Delta cards, Aardvark may even have a 2-channel card in this range).

If your recording more than 2 tracks simultaneously, you may want to get a more expensive card that can track 6 to 8 separate instruments at a time (e.g. Echo Audio Layla, the Aardvark card you spoke of, Lexicon's card, Delta's cards, Samplitude, MOTU's 2408, 24i, 1208, the list goes on).

Rev E

[This message has been edited by Rev E (edited 05-09-2000).]