Hi Jalbert,
I’ve been going through the same dilemma as you – well a similar one, because I’ve spent the last few months trying to choose between a stand-alone/studio-in-a-box system, a mobile interface (sound card and inputs all in one box that hooks up to your computer), and a full-fledged computer system.
At various times during my research over the last few months, I had decided on each of these options, and then decided against them. My confusion centred on the difficulty of wanting a mobile system, which pointed towards getting a stand alone (and I had picked
the Korg D 1600 MK II), and yet wanting the versatility that a computer would provide (unlimited tracks etc.)..
I decided against a mobile interface because, even though I thought that this would probably eliminate some potential IRQ conflicts that putting a sophisticated audio recording sound card in a computer might bring up, I realized that even using a mobile interface with a laptop would entail getting a separate mixer, making the whole mess not very mobile or portable.
Also, I’ve recently been doing some tracking with a friend on his computer, and have really become addicted to the process because it’s so easy and flexible.
Coming back to your question, I would imagine that your requirements for your system will partly determine your decision. For example, if portability is important to you, then you’ll probably want to go with a studio-in-a-box (stand alone); if the ability to record more than 8 tracks simultaneously is something that is important to you, and the ability to have unlimited tracks, and flexibility of effects etc., then a computer is probably better.
If you have the financial resources, I say buy both – that would be my ideal so that I’d have the best of both worlds, because a stand alone can export .wav files to computer, after all.
One other consideration might be that you’ll get more in a computer system for your money than you will spending the same amount on a stand alone. Then again, with a computer you might have to pay for separate software drum tracks (although some are very cheap), and other effects units. Some stand alones have a built in drum machine, and guitar effects although I would argue that the stand alones that include these kinds of effects make compromises in the recorder section.
You will probably also need a separate mixer with a computer, regardless of the sound card inputs that you have, if you go that route.
Whatever you decide, it sounds like your current system may not be up to snuff as a Digital Audio Workstation. You may have already noticed that the minimum specs for DAW’s tend to be along the lines of the following (I pulled this off someone else’s post):
XP PRO (or other compatible, newer OS), ASUS A7N8X Deluxe motherboard, NFORCE chipset, AMD XP 2500 Barton, 512 DDR 3200, Geforce T1 4200 vid, Maxtor 80gig, Bus-Link 48x32x48 cdrw, Audiophile 24/96 SC, Covad DSL gateway, Creative 56k Dialup, MS Intellimouse, 19” Plainview
I would suggest that if you have a system which cannot accommodate the above, then you buy another. You could compromise on the 19” monitor and some of the things listed above, but you really need a faster system 2.5 GHz or above, a hard drive that is 7200 rpm, and probably the patience (or a friend) to address the inevitable teething problems that setting up a computer system almost inevitably entails.
Another way to go would be to buy computer systems that are specifically set up as DAW’s.
For example, you might want to look at Carillon’s system at:
www.carillonusa.com
Or price some of the components listed above at sites such as (I’m in Canada, so these sites are Canadian, and the components are probably cheaper here, for you,):
www.pcvillage.com
www.tigerdirect.ca
www.canadacomputers.com
I’ve also heard that the following monitor is a good one:
Samsung SynMaster 172T
Well, that’s about all I have to say.
Good luck with your search, and please post and let me know your thoughts.
All the best,
Geert, in Toronto
www.CollaborativeTherapy.com
