I just don't know...

  • Thread starter Thread starter Flo' Dolo
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Flo' Dolo

Flo' Dolo

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...where to begin.

Currently, I run DP3 on a nifty macintosh, and have another all-in-one DAW at my disposal. However, I'm considering building a second PC-based system for my home (still, it has to be legit). Why PC? Because of economics, strictly economics. I'm sure this topic has been touched on before, but searching with my dial-up proves to be nothing less than mind-numbing agony.

Is it really possible to build a PC-based DAW for $3000-$4000? I mean processor, ram, whatever cards, etc, etc & software, monitor?

I've been a mac-man since 7th grade - 87 or 88 - and have only used PCs as render farming or for cross-platforming multimedia. Any advice would be appreciated. Just get me looking in the right direction. I don't know the diff between athlons & PIIIs and so on. I don't care which software for sequencing/recording, the learning curve doesn't scare me.

Again, any help would be better than where I stand right now.

Flo' Dolo
 
If you just talking about the PC, $3000-$4000 is plenty go get a killer system going, including software. What exactly are your recording needs? How many tracks will you have to record simultaneously? I think the Athlon XP series would be the best bang-for-your-buck processor. Tell us what your recording needs are exactly, and we'll get the ball rollin'.
 
shot in the dark...

I guess at least 32 tracks for recording. plus plugs for fx. 'verbs, etc...

Primarily electronic musician, but I do record the occassional live instrument or two (or 3 or 4 - not necessarily simultaneously), plus vocals at times... I can add a mix surface at a later date if need be.

I've got mics and pres and compressors currently covered, so i'm really just looking for a pc based system to sequence and record audio with. I just can't shell out another 4 grand for a cpu and then have to buy i/o's a/d converters, drives, etc...

Hope that's enough info to give you a reference point...

<scratching my head>

Thanks again...

Flo' Dolo
 
Flo' Dolo said:
.....Is it really possible to build a PC-based DAW for $3000-$4000? I mean processor, ram, whatever cards, etc, etc & software, monitor?....
Click to expand...

You can definitely build a nice system for 4 grand.
 
I could build the most ass whooping DAW ever for that much.

Your choice of interface

P4 2.5Ghz
1.5Ghz RAM
(2)18gig 15,000 rpm SCSI drives
(1) 120gig 7200 EIDE drive
40x CDRW


You really could go all out for that much.
 
wow...

P-20, that's a start, thanks... It looks like I'll be able to get the PC components wholesale - maybe that'll save me some dough, too. What about i/o interfaces? And what sequencing/recording software is seriously worth investigating on the PC side? Again, I'm a DP3 user, though for years and years I was a 1040st/Cubase user.

Are sonar and cubase comparable? Where does nuendo fit in? What other software is there, if any, I should check into?

<note: this isn't meant to get folks riled up about "which is best," I'm just trying to get a grip on what's what on the PC side of things>

Right now, it's all greek to me.
 
You don't necessarily need to get the most expensive and most powerful components to get a nice DAW. Maybe:

$175 Processor: Athlon XP 2000+
$90 Motherboard: Abit or Asus are nice
$149 RAM: 333Mhz 512MB stick (for starters)
$?? Video Card: Leave option for dual monitors?
$160ea Hard Drives: (Get 2) IBM 60 GB 7200RPM one for system files, one for music


Those are some of the things I would recommend, also consider a CD-RW drive. I hear some good things about the Delta 44 and Delta 66. The 66 has S/PDIF, if you don't need it, the 44 is cheaper. They both have an external breakout box. 4ins 4outs on each. I don't know much about recording software, maybe someone else could address that.
 
I'm listening...

Fantastic_Mad,

You don't necessarily need to get the most expensive and most powerful components to get a nice DAW. Maybe:
Click to expand...

Fair enough. That's why I'm asking. Thanks for your component objectivity...

$175 Processor: Athlon XP 2000+
$90 Motherboard: Abit or Asus are nice
$149 RAM: 333Mhz 512MB stick (for starters)
$?? Video Card: Leave option for dual monitors?
$160ea Hard Drives: (Get 2) IBM 60 GB 7200RPM one for system files, one for music
Click to expand...

Should I be steering towards a dual processor set-up? On the mac side, it was really the only way to go. I need to free up that machine for gfx and animation stuff (electric image).

About your vid card comment: with a vic card I can use 2 monitors if I choose, right?

I've got to admit, I'm stunned by the low cost of components. Maybe now I can have my cake AND eat it too (and buy alcohol, tofu, carob, and smokes all at the same time).

Those are some of the things I would recommend, also consider a CD-RW drive. I hear some good things about the Delta 44 and Delta 66. The 66 has S/PDIF, if you don't need it, the 44 is cheaper. They both have an external breakout box. 4ins 4outs on each. I don't know much about recording software, maybe someone else could address that.
Click to expand...

Thanks again to all. I'm doing as much research online as I can. I appreciate all the info.

What types of stable, working setups do you all have? Do you use lots of plug-ins? I know sometimes I get heavy-handed with them, but a late night dub session demands certain things of a man, you know?
< :D long live my raggedy roland space echo:D >

btw- 7th grade was 82 or 83 (81-82?!?), too much malt liquor in my bloodstream... whoops.

F.D.
 
Last edited:
About your vid card comment: with a vic card I can use 2 monitors if I choose, right?
Click to expand...

You will need a video card that will support dual (or triple) monitors, not just any video card will do (unless you pair it with another card).

Should I be steering towards a dual processor set-up?
Click to expand...

I've don't have any experience with dual processors, good question though. You do need a motherboard that can support two processors, and an Operating System that will support them, I think Win XP does (not sure). I've been researching on HR.com for about a month now, and I havn't seen any posts from people that use duals.
 
Video card:

If you're not playing games or doing any heavy-duty 3D work on this DAW, a Matrox G550 dual-head should be just the ticket. It's also got excellent 2D image quality.

If you want to play games occasionally, though, a GeForce4Ti4200 should do you fine. It will support dual monitors, you'll need to buy a DVI-to-VGA adapter as the default second display output is DVI on these cards.

Dual processors:

I believe if you're used to dual processors you might not like single processor machines. Fortunately dual setups are not complex at all and so long as you have XP or 2000 you should be fine. The investment will be slightly higher but you should be able to remain within your budget.

I'm not sure what kind of dual setups are possible with P4 systems, I'm not sure it's possible without some heavy-duty investment. AMD is easier: look for the Asus A7M266-D, a dual CPU mobo made by Asus based on the AMD chipset. Two 1800+ processors will trample the dual 600 G4 underfoot, IMO.

RAM and disks:

You need 512 MB or even 768 MB DDR RAM, and a couple of SCSI disks for audio, with a decent controller. You might want to look at the 15000 rpm Seagate Cheetah or the Maxtor SCSI drives, they're plenty fast. Avid makes some nice quiet SCSI drives that scream performance, but those may be pricey. A nice large 80 GB drive should be enough for software.

A CD-writer is recommended. Go for a new 40x writer, you'll stay Ok for a few years with that kind. A DVD-ROM is recommended too as a lot of software may migrate to DVD-ROMs over the next year or so.

Displays:

Not sure about what kind of money we're talking about here, but if you afford two 21" monitors or 17" TFT DVI screens, well, wow! 19" CRT monitor should be minimum.

Software/interface:

PT+Digi or RME, seems to be a good choice. Look at my location: I'm unfamiliar with prices. Other good ones are Delta 1010, Aardvark Q10, etc.

In terms of software, when I'm buying I'll look at n-Track studio. Right now I use very basic stuff. I hear of Cakewalk, Nuendo and Cubase, and most of the time it's personal opinion as to which is really the best. There are demos available on the 'net, so you can figure out which would be the best, and then you can pick it up. Set aside about 700 for the software, you should still be well home within $3000 with all the above, AFAIK.
 
i Run a dual setup....dual MP 1900+ on an MSI board AmD762 chipset..and it works like a dream the MOBO w/both processors + next day shippin costed about $850 then u need to buy a case 100-150, ram 300+(u want more then 1 gig) vid card (200) and A/D D/A Delta 1010(600) monitor runs for like 200 if ur getting 2 400 u'll have suffiecient money left over from ur 4000 goal maybe u'll wanna try a higher end sound card such as the LynxTwo or the RME brand those cost 1000+

I'm not sure what kind of dual setups are possible with P4 systems, I'm not sure it's possible without some heavy-duty investment. AMD is easier: look for the Asus A7M266-D, a dual CPU mobo made by Asus based on the AMD chipset. Two 1800+ processors will trample the dual 600 G4 underfoot, IMO.
Click to expand...

i don't think thats an opinion but a HARDCORE FACT...it'll trample a Dual 1 ghz Mac system
 
Wow...

Thanks for all the input everybody. At least now I've got some legit points of reference. I'll leave you all alone, now.

F.D.
 
Teacher said:
i Run a dual setup....dual MP 1900+ on an MSI board AmD762 chipset..and it works like a dream the MOBO w/both processors + next day shippin costed about $850 then u need to buy a case 100-150, ram 300+(u want more then 1 gig) vid card (200) and A/D D/A Delta 1010(600) monitor runs for like 200 if ur getting 2 400 u'll have suffiecient money left over from ur 4000 goal maybe u'll wanna try a higher end sound card such as the LynxTwo or the RME brand those cost 1000+



i don't think thats an opinion but a HARDCORE FACT...it'll trample a Dual 1 ghz Mac system
Click to expand...

Yeah, a dual setup like that would lay waste to a dual 1Ghz G4, even if you take into account the RISC processor.
 
Flo - I think you can do it as everyone else has pointed out. It depends how fancy you want to get with dual monitors and stuff though. Most of us who put our systems together for under a grand stole alot of stuff from our old PC's. And I got my monitor for $30 from Goodwill. If you need any help picking components I'd be happy to lend a hand - shoot me an e-mail. I think I'm heading down to Goodwill tomorrow. :)

Pete
 
No actually SCSI are still the best drives around. they've moved up to 15000 rpm and you can now pick up 36 GB drives so even maximum capacity has been boosted.

IDE has also increased in performance, but not at the level of SCSI. at the server/top end SCSI is still the way to go due to its high Disk I/O numbers and transfer speed up to 160 MBPS.
 
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