Many, many computer/setup questions. Opinions needed!

[No More Wolves]

Thanks for taking the time to read this. I'm just trying to get an idea of what I need/don't need, etc.

Okay, so here's question one. I'm currently using a cheaply made no-name computer with a 2.24 GHz Celeron w/1.256 GB of RAM. I have the opporunity to switch to either an iBook with 1.42 GHz and 512 MB of RAM or an iMac with 2 GHz and 512 MB RAM. What are your recommendations? I have no qualms about learning a new OS, the software I'll be using [Cubase SE + DFH] will work on both, and so on. My current PC doesn't seem to be running anywhere near as fast as it should be and I'm about to format it and down a clean install, so that might make this a moot question. But, I'm still interested in your opinions.

On to #2. Let's say I decide to stick with the PC. How important is a soundcard? The reason I ask this is that I'm using a PODxt to record directly via USB. All of the soundcards I see that are being highly touted are being touted because they feature direct in connections for 1/4" cables, midi, etc. An Audopphile 2496, for example-- how will this benefit me, seeing how I already have my connection? If this is a stupid question, I have to apologize now; I just want to make sure I'm buying something because I need it and not because someone says I need it.

Question #3: How important is processor speed? In fact, how important is the processor itself? Would I see a huge difference between Celeron and Pentium? Is it worth spending the money on? And how about comparing PCs to Macs-- does a 2.0 GHz P4 match up the same as a 2.0 GHz Mac, or is one stronger than the other?

Question #4. This is the last one. Now that you know my gear-- guitar, PODxt, 2.24 GHz Celeron with 1.256 GB RAM, stock soundcard, Cubase SE + DFH--- what am I missing? People tell me monitors, or a mixer, or this or that. What do some of you use as setups? Suggestions, instructions, etc would all be appreciated. Thanks a bunch, guys-- you'll truly be helping me out!

 

[Cult_Status02]

Your current comp will be just fine, I'd stay stick with that no matter what so you don't pay a crazy amount for a MAC.

I don't feel a soundcard is too important. I just have a basic AudioBlaster because I am using a USB interface as well. And monitors, don't worry about them now, unless you're planning on sending the CD to radios and promote it and stuff like that. If it's just for your entertainment or local distribution at shows, just use your headphones or something.

I'd suggest getting a Shure SM57 if you need a mic, or 58, I guess, I personally have had more posititve experiences with the 57.

I wouldn't suggest a mixer unless you were mixing some drums or something like that. But, personaly, I think you're good to go, sir.
Hope that helps.

 

[amra]

First, I think your computer should be capable of recording just fine, unless you were going to track 12 tracks at a time or something along those lines - then the celeron part might become an issue. Still, it should be pretty capable.

Secondly, if you are only recording guitar riffs, i guess you could get buy recording direct via USB. If you start trying to multi-track guitar parts via USB, I imagine you will get into latency issues. But if you are just single tracking, this should not be an issue.

To the guy who said that soundcard quality is not important - you will never realize how crappy soundblaster recordings are until you get a higher end audio interface and studio monitors and hear something at 24 bits, 96khz. THEN you will exactly how lacking soundblaster recordings are.

 

[No More Wolves]

At this point in time, I do not have any plans on running multiple tracks at the same time. I record one guitar part, stop, record a layer over top, stop, and so on. Then, the bass. A real issue for me is DFHS. I have a midi controller [albeit, connecting through USB], but there still appears to be some curious latency. I guess if I want perfect timing [or as close as I can get], I'll need to connect via MIDI, hm?

So, Amra, you could suggest upgrading my soundcard then? I've heard nothing but good stuff about M-Audio's Audiophile line. If I upgrade the soundcard, I'd like to keep it under $150.

Also-- as I mentioned, this computer is incredibly slow. Would you guys recommend just formatting it and setting it up as strictly music-based? I think if I used this as a music-only computer, it might run rather smoothly [seeing how my comp stats are right around both Steinberg and DFH's recommendations]. Ideas?

 

[dgatwood]

Okay, so here's question one. I'm currently using a cheaply made no-name computer with a 2.24 GHz Celeron w/1.256 GB of RAM. I have the opporunity to switch to either an iBook with 1.42 GHz and 512 MB of RAM or an iMac with 2 GHz and 512 MB RAM. What are your recommendations? I have no qualms about learning a new OS, the software I'll be using [Cubase SE + DFH] will work on both, and so on. My current PC doesn't seem to be running anywhere near as fast as it should be and I'm about to format it and down a clean install, so that might make this a moot question. But, I'm still interested in your opinions.

<plug type="shameless">
If you decide to go with a Mac, my previous editing workstation (dual 2GHz G5 with 1.5GB RAM, 250GB HD) is on eBay through Saturday, and is currently about half what you'd pay for that 2GHz iMac. (See ads section for info.)
</plug>

Question #3: How important is processor speed? In fact, how important is the processor itself? Would I see a huge difference between Celeron and Pentium? Is it worth spending the money on? And how about comparing PCs to Macs-- does a 2.0 GHz P4 match up the same as a 2.0 GHz Mac, or is one stronger than the other?

Well, the Celeron will definitely get its you-know-what handed to it by a Pentium IV, if only by virtue of it having twice as many cache banks functional/enabled.

The current iMac is an Intel Core Duo, which is basically a dual-core Pentium M-based design, and confuses the comparison a bit, behaving better for some things, worse for others, though presumably better than a single 2GHz P4 or Celeron at just about anything, if only because dual core or dual-processor machines tend to be more consistent at real-time tasks than single processor machines.

Comparing a P5 to the G5-based Macs (any Mac other than the iMac and the MacBook Pro) is a little trickier, as it depends much more highly on the application, how well optimized it is for the platform, etc. Per GHz, they stand up pretty well to each other, though, in general.

 

[amra]

Wolves, the way latency you are experiencing layering guitar tracks is what I was referring about multi-tracking guitar. USB is fine if you are only doing one track, and not trying to sync up with it again to record another track over it. Once you try to do that, you get that latency issue.

I do think you would benefit from upgrading to a real audio interface type soundcard - and the Audiophile 2496 is a great place to start. You will not get the latency issues when you layer/multi-track guitar parts over one another. More importantly, it uses the standard Delta Series ASIO Drivers which will let you add up to 4 of any of the Delta series cards together in one machine (1010LT for instance) later if you need more inputs, and they are all accessible inside your DAW software (if it supports ASIO).

It would not hurt to wipe your system, and do a fresh install, and also, it would not hurt if you could add another 512MB of ram. Depending on what kind it uses that could cost as little as $40-$50.


Both of these upgrades could be done within (or real close to) your $150 budget.

 

[No More Wolves]

If I get the Audiophile, but still connect via USB [as opposed to the direct in options given by the Audiophile] would that still help the latency issues? The latency doesn't really effect the recording of my guitar/bass parts, just when using the midi controller. Maybe I'm just not sure how to properly use my software, ha! And on that subject-- do you know of any books that offer support for Cubase SE and/or Drumkit From Hell Superior?

Another question-- I'd like to add more RAM to my computer, but my comp says it can only support 1 GIG. Technically, I'm already over that [I have a 1 GIG stick [new] and a 256 stick [old]. I think the old stick is busted, so I might try and replace that with another 1 GIG stick. Will having more RAM than my computer says it supports damaging to the system? Gosh, so many questions!