DAW update--suggestions?

[adam04]

Okay, I hate to belabor the threads of individuals asking everybody to help them out with advice, but I'm really at a crossroads here, and don't want to waste a lot of money.

Here's what I have:
HP 1.8Ghz processor/256kRAM/60G HD 7200RPM
Tascam US-428
SoundBlaster Live! 5.1 card/system (pre-Audigy era)
Adobe Audition 1.0
Fruity Loops (v3, I think)

I'm in need of some serious upgrading, and, since disposable money's something I only come across just so often and I don't stay as geeky as I should for as much as I do studio stuff, I'm getting way overwhelmed at the options out there that I've been researching in the past two days. Prior to this research, I was of the "All I need is a G5 and a Pro Tools LE system and my troubles will be over" persuasion, and now I can see that I've been mislead by my ignorance and prevailing marketing trends. So here's what I need:

I've been mixing a demo for my buddy's band on Audition, and, before recording the second guitar and vocals (lead and back-up), I'm already up to 14 tracks; I anticipate a good 20 on the most complex songs (and this is just for standard 4-piece stuff w/no electronic sounds/keyboard stuff) I do a *lot* of plug-in stuff (namely multi-band compression and good reverb), need a good amount of tracks, do a fair amount of bussing (mic blends for guitars/drums), and, for my own stuff, I'd like to upgrade to a program that integrates midi, as I'd like to get into clicky electronic texture/beats stuff (Tom Waits/Wilco(YHF)/They Might Be Giants one-man band kind of thing).

It looks like an AMD64 system is going to work for me and be a hell of a lot more cost-effective than a g5, but is there any minimum Processor/RAM specs I should be looking at for my needs? Or will even my old system work if I just deck it out with RAM (i.e. do my plug-in needs warrant a much higher processor)?

Also, I'm at somewhat of a loss for what new software I should opt for. I'd like to get something that can still utilize my 428 (Logic/Nuendo/Reason/ProTools/DP4/NativeInstrumentsB4/Cubasis), but I understand that some of those programs prefer, if not necessitate, a mac (DP4 most notably--sadly, the one of these that I have the most familiarity with). In addition to music, I do some speech editing and plan on getting lightly into video/sound matching (not a priority, though).

I do like my 428 (since it's paid for and has 4 ins), but also hope to upgrade someday to more ins (a MOTU 896, maybe?) via firewire or usb.

Is this possible on a budget of about $2k? Any words of wisdom or advice are welcome and more than appreciated.

--adam

 

[manning1]

thats a lot to answer. the problem is real time plug ins.
i mean you could go dual opteron but this is way outside your budget range.
and also i dont like to recommend spending on high end systems because
they depreciate so rapidly. one of the things i do is force myself to once happy with a plug in to write the track. thus saving me a major upgrade.
the problem is a lot of folks dont have the discipline to do this.
so they are forced on the upgrade treadmill. all part of computer manufacturers marketing techniques.
i would comment your memory is troubling. 512 is what i would recommend.
if you could be patient maybe... amd 64 processor prices will drop further
probably allowing you to get in at a lower cost.
another point to consider is once you have 20 tracks theres nothing stopping you mixing down to stereo then adding 18 more tracks.
this is another technique to stave off upgrading.
on the midi front, if you can afford 50 bucks i would try the demo of powertracks that i use. you wont find a better midi sequencer around for the price. ive used it for years. combined with audition you would have lots ofsonic options. just check the details at pgmusic.com. as well as a songwriters aid called band in a box thats very usefull for flushing out song ideas. also check out some of the dxi softsynth capabilities.
something else to look at is roland virtual sound canvas. very inexpensive.
but i'm no expert on vsc. but its used by lots of folks.
all the best.
peace.

 

[adam04]

Gracias...

Sorry for the late thanks, but thanks. That's why I'm asking people in here and not salespeople. I think the RAM will help matters a lot. But I think I'd still like to upgrade from Audition due, if nothing else, to the fact that few effects have automatible paramaters, and nothing can be automated in real time. This is why the G5/DP4 route looked so attractive at first, but if there's software that can be run on a fast PC that can do this, I'd be pleased as punch to find out. This kind of automation really works for me. Maybe I'm just a born sucker.

--Adam

 

[AlfredB]

make sure your actual system is tweaked ... if you need links - drop a line here ... but your sys should def. support your needs. maybe a ram upgrade would be a good thing to do.


ahhh ... google "ulysses" monitor ... you should find a nice little tool (w/ a GREAT help file) to see if your system is at its limits ...

looks like you oculd save a lot of $$$