Need an expert...

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billisa

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From looking around this site for a few weeks and going through my own decision making process, I think something is definitely needed. What if a computer savvy person here were to write up 3 lists of brand/spec components for a independent assembled PC that would be ideal for Home recording... You would need to spell out everything (ram, processor, soundcard). The assumption is that this computer would ONLY be used for recording/burning. It is NOT required that the specs be state of the art (just enough to suffice to realise clean multi-track recordings given the 3 price ranges listed below). In other words if a P3 will do on a basic system GREAT!

We could have a bargain basement version, $400.00 (not incl. monitor); a mid-range $500.00 to $800.00; the a great set-up $1,000+++.

These would enable an ignoramus, like me, to take a print out in hand to an independent PC maker and say, "Here, how much to build this?"

It would also help to have specific recommendations as to any periferals that might be needed (independent mixer, etc).

For instance, what if someone wanted to use the new Tascam USB 424(?) system (which already comes bundled with Steinberg software)... What configuration in a PC built from scratch will definitely work with this set-up? No one at Sam Ash has been able to answer this question with any authority.

I KNOW there's a few of you who seem like you could do this. There have got to be some known successful configurations. If it's already been done, great. Send me to the link.
 
It doesn't require a space shuttle computer to record audio.
There are many systems now that will handle audio applications quite well.
Here is a recommendation to go by and a replica of my own system.

MB-ASUS P4PE/L/SATA 500mhz FSB accomodates over 3gig CPU
Intel Northwood 2.4gig CPU
1gig Kingston 2700 DDR Ram
2 Western Digital 7200 Rpm Ultra ATA- 8 mb buffer Hard drives
52 speed CD drive
Yamaha CDRW drive
Floppy drive of course
Nvidea G-force II AGP video card

Full Tower ATX Case with 450watt Power supply
2 Case fans
2 Hard drive cooler fans
Round shielded Ribbon cables for all drives

19" Viewsonic LCD Monitor{the thin ones}
Logitech keyboard and Logitech optical mouse

WIN XP Pro with a dual boot-2nd boot for recording OS
Logic Platinum 5.5
Soundforge 6.0
Cool Edit 2.0
Waves Gold Bundle
Wavelab
Izotope Ozone
T-Racks

Audiophile 24/96--24bit PCI card for audio
Soon to switch to RME Hammerfall Multiface
M-Audio Studiophile Monitors

my system rocks !!!

If you feel like a 3.0gig CPU...go for it, but you will pay for it !

This system rounds out about $1800
I wouldn't use a system in the $400-500 range for recording although you could.
A P3 system at say 500-800mhz will work but may be slow and perhaps crash from time to time.
You could get away with 256 PC100 Ram in a system but this could also encounter problems with audio apps.
Your soundcard is important...dont skimp on it.
You could do without a LCD monitor and an AGP video card which will have no effect on audio of course.
2 HD's are not needed but will be a +.
2 CD drives are not needed but will be a +.

Bottom line is...I wouldn't skimp on any of it if I were building a system for audio apps.
 
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There's an article in Electronic Musician - maybe about 6 months ago - that did a bunch of complete studio comparisons based on budget and type (PC, Mac, standalone digital, standalone analog). They're usually pretty good about leaving older stuff on the web site - might be worth a look.
 
bill

that's the best suggestion i've heard yet- it makes sense
there are enough "guru's" here-thanks for the suggesstion !

and thank you stealth!

your system sounds like the system that i'm dead set on building
so thanks again for validating my future pc!!

steve
 
If rather get 2 15" LCDs than one 19". They would be much cheaper and you'd get as much display resolution or even more than with a single bigger one. Here in Finland you'd get 3 15" at the price of one 19". Why pay more for less?

There's no sense in investing in the latest processors as the processor speed is not as important as the performance of the disk system. I don't think the better performance would justify the price difference. Use the saved money for a bigger HD or a DVD writer that you can use to backup your data.

If mobility is an issue you might be interested in my relatively inexpensive but highly mobile and highly original setup. Check out my post in the "Computer recording vs. hard disk recorders" tread for details.
 
PeteHalo said:
If rather get 2 15" LCDs than one 19". They would be much cheaper and you'd get as much display resolution or even more than with a single bigger one. Here in Finland you'd get 3 15" at the price of one 19". Why pay more for less?
Click to expand...

Gonna have to dissagree with you. 15" LCD's max out at 1024x768 - since the 15" LCD screen size is comparable to a 17"CRT screen, that is an awful waste of screen realestate. I don't run anything less than 1152x864 on a17" CRT because text and buttons look too big.

Here in the US, a 19" CRT can be bought for around $200; 15" LCDs are still around $250.
 
Damn... I run my 17" at 1024x768 - anything higher is too hard to read for me. Does that mean I'm getting old? ('bout time for the ol' bifocals at the ripe old age of 30)

:)
 
DAMN IT!
are we talking about a recording system or wat!?>?!?!?!?!
 
Easy there, big fella. Old timers like me tend to ramble off every now and again. Why I remember back in the late 80's we used to ....

(just kiddin')

:)
 
Stealthtech said:
It doesn't require a space shuttle computer to record audio.
Click to expand...
Lol, apologies for going off-topic but the first Space Shuttle mission was in 1981 so trust me when I say that any DAW has WAY more CPU power than what's on board the shuttles. :)
 
christiaan said:
Lol, apologies for going off-topic but the first Space Shuttle mission was in 1981 so trust me when I say that any DAW has WAY more CPU power than what's on board the shuttles. :)
Click to expand...

Yeah but have you hear their recordings? They sound like shit ;)
 
Kkkkwick~ Rodger that Roadkill~ Kkkkkwic~ over

Actually No joke, NASA is buying up any and all old 386/486 systems as fast as they can because thats whats in most of the shuttle systems.
 
Space Shuttle computers

Unless they've been upgraded, the RAM on the fight deck computers of the Shuttle's is measured in K's. NASA has mainly focussed on updating the software, not the hardware (though that may have been done)
 
Even said:
Kkkkwick~ Rodger that Roadkill~ Kkkkkwic~ over

Actually No joke, NASA is buying up any and all old 386/486 systems as fast as they can because thats whats in most of the shuttle systems.
Click to expand...

Now thats hard to believe !!!
 
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