getting custom computer made: help please

[mad flows]

hey eveybody

i'm getting a computer custom built for my studio and i have no idea what i should get. I'll need to hook up a anolog recording console (probally a mackie 24.8) and multitrack/hardisk recorder so i can edit with software. I want the computer to be super fast and bomb ass soundquality. by the way i'll be recording rap and hip hop. I only willing to pay 3000 and anything lower.
any suggestions will be greatly appreciated.

Thaks in advace...

 

[Light]

As to specific sound cards and what not, I haven't got a clue. But some general advise. Do not try to skimp and save on the following components: the motherboard (mainboard), the CPU, and the power supply. Everything else is easily upgraded (so is the power supply, but it is usually the last thing you think of when you are trouble shooting). Also, if you are building a music computer, I think you would be making a major mistake NOT to get a motherboard with native Firewire 800. There are not very many boards out there with this right now, and it will raise the cost of certain components (all the ones I have seen require higher end CPUs and graphics cards), but I think the native Firewire 800 is worth it. The thing of it is, though, a lot of companies are using Firewire for audio data transmision (Apogee, Lexicon, and Kezwiel imedieatly spring to mind), and if you are ever going to deal with ANY digital video, you have got to have it. If you are going to get it, you may as well get the fastest, right?

Oh, and if you are assembleing it yourself, you will not find better prices on most things than at www.newegg.com . At least I haven't.


Light

"Cowards can never be moral."
M.K. Gandhi

 

[Stratoman79]

My friend builds computers and he says he can't come close to www.dell.com's prices. I just had them custom me a sweat comp and upgraded my ram through www.newegg.com . It's the best way to go in my oppinion.

 

[ElDangeroso]

I am waiting on a system from this guy: http://www.musicalcomputers.com.

Intel Pentium 4 CPU, 3.2Ghz, on ASUS P4C800DEL motherboard
1GB PC3200 DDR Memory by Corsair
120GB Seagate 7200RPM IDE drive (OS)
120GB Seagate 7200RPM SATA drive (audio)
Lite-On 8x DVD-RW drive
ATI Radeon 9200 dual-head video card
Black aluminum rackmount case

with an aardvark q10.

I should have it in 10 days or so.


Peace.

Chad

 

[manning1]

el D. not to annoy you but if were me i would have gone with a matrox
video card if possible. matrox have a history of making video cards that dont seem to interrupt pro audio cards in pci slots in case you are thinking of this in the future.
peace.

 

[earworm]

matrox video card, i second that,

i got one with two monitor outputs, and i'm using both of them, lovely, and its not like a Gamers card that sucks energy from your pc

hehe

oh, and i wouldn't buy cheap ass non-brand memory,
since i had bad expieriences with that


naw,,,,let the discussion about AMD vs intell begin....

hehe

 

[bennychico11]

el D. not to annoy you but if were me i would have gone with a matrox
video card if possible. matrox have a history of making video cards that dont seem to interrupt pro audio cards in pci slots in case you are thinking of this in the future.
peace.

the radeon 9200 is AGP isn't it? so he shouldn't have any problems with anything on the PCI bus

 

[BennisHahn]

AGP can still affect the pci bus performance.

Word of advice: don't skimp on anything. For 3 grand you can get a really nice system. I would look into some motu hardware for your i/o if you are including it for the price you said. go with a flat screen, and stuff as much ram as you can into the thing. If you are mixing with outboard then go for a 2.4 or so P4. It will be plenty for recording and outputting and won't cost nearly as much as a 3.2+. If you are doing 30ish tracks then regular IDE will be fast enough for your drives. Any more then that and I would go with SATA drives. Make sure you get quiet fans if you are recording in the same room as your comp. Don't underestimate the need for a DVD-/+RW for backing up files.