Newbie Trying To Build Recording Computer Need Help

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Black_Label333

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Hello, i am trying to build a computer for home recording and i've read to pick the sound card first because some motherboards might not accept some sound cards. What i need to know is what is the best sound card to buy for around $200 or so. I have read that the ASUS Xonar Essence ST is good but i really dont know what im looking for (parts wise) for buidling a recording computer, I will have a micd up guitar rig hooked into a Zoom HD 16 then into the computer. Any advice/help would be appreciated. Thanks
 
Don't spend your money on a soundcard. For $200 or so, you're best off getting an external interface that connects to your PC via USB or Firewire. A 2-channel Tascam or Presonus interface will work excellent for you, and will also come with decent brand-name recording and mixing software at no extra cost.

G.
 
^What he said. Don't worry about a sound card, get an interface, preferably Firewire and that will suit you great.
As far as the computer: dual core Intel processor, good amount of ram (depending on what version of windows you use, different amounts of ram are supported) and 2 hard drives, one for your os/programs and one for your recordings. Make sure you get a firewire pcie card since your motherboard may not have a fw port on it. And plus, you will want a couple extra in case you hook up an external hd down the road. And yes, go firewire with your external as well. It kicks USB's ass.
Hope this helps.
 
I gotta say that the reality is that for two-channel interfaces, which is what he's going to get for $200, not only is the FW vs. USB question virtually irrelevant, as either one provides far more than enough performance for two channels of digital audio, but you'll be excluding a lot of quality interfaces that are USB-based and superior to some of the FW ones for other reasons.

G.
 
well after more researching and asking around since i will be using the Zoom HD16 i dont necessarily need an expensive sound card since i wont be recording through the sound card and a preamp since that is what the zoom is for anyway. so i will be connecting through the usb how should i go about this? So after more researching this is the rough draft that i have come up with for the computer build:

Processor: Intel Xeon 5502 Quad-Core
Motherboard: Asus Z8NA-D6
Memory: Patriot DDR3 8GB (2x4GB)
Hard Drive: Seagate Barracuda 32MB 7200
Sound Card: Asus Xonar
Graphics Card: Asus Radion 5450
Power Supply: Rosewill 600w
Modem: Eicon Pro

Now i found the specs of one companies recording computer so that is where i found the processor and motherboard and went from there. Now im looking to put about $800-$900 into the computer from buying off of ebay and such. I have an old Dell E521 laying around is there anything i can use from it (case, cd/dvd drives, fans, etc.)?
 
Black_Label333 said:
well after more researching and asking around since i will be using the Zoom HD16 i dont necessarily need an expensive sound card since i wont be recording through the sound card and a preamp since that is what the zoom is for anyway. so i will be connecting through the usb how should i go about this? So after more researching this is the rough draft that i have come up with for the computer build:

Processor: Intel Xeon 5502 Quad-Core
Motherboard: Asus Z8NA-D6
Memory: Patriot DDR3 8GB (2x4GB)
Hard Drive: Seagate Barracuda 32MB 7200
Sound Card: Asus Xonar
Graphics Card: Asus Radion 5450
Power Supply: Rosewill 600w
Modem: Eicon Pro

Now i found the specs of one companies recording computer so that is where i found the processor and motherboard and went from there. Now im looking to put about $800-$900 into the computer from buying off of ebay and such. I have an old Dell E521 laying around is there anything i can use from it (case, cd/dvd drives, fans, etc.)?
Click to expand...

The only thing I'd scavenge from the Dell would be the optical drive. Maybe. Forget the Xeon... there are much better, faster, cheaper processors on the market from both Intel and AMD. What matters is the processor speed, not the number of cores. You are waaayyyy better off with a dual-core at 3GHz then a quad core at 1.8GHz. You need a much larger HDD. Why are you wasting money on a soundcard and modem? And ditch the stand alone graphics card... you are money ahead (specially in a DAW!) buying a motherboard that has integrated VGA.

I've been a professional system builder since before the IBM PC-AT and that is the best goddamn free advice you're going to get this week.
 
Thank you now i know i can cut some things. Like i said this is the first time trying to build a computer im just looking to get pointed in the right direction. Wouldnt you need the modem to connect to the internet? That is why it is there and now that i know i dont need the graphics because of the integrated VGA. To listen to the music that will be put on the computer won't i need a sound card? I have found the Intel Core Duo E8500 for cheaper. Would that be a better pick? I will have 2 hard drives(Storage and Op. System and Recording Software). Should i just get any 64mb HDD?

The chipset of the Asus Z8NA-D6C is Intel 5500 / Intel ICH10R. So what kind of processor should i use? It says its compatible processors is the Intel Xeon 5500 Series so should i use the e5506 processor at 2.13GHz?

So i can cut the Graphics Card, Sound Card, get a different Processor, Larger HDD.

Thanks again.
 
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There's hardly a computer made in the last 5 years that cant's handle all but the most extreme audio engineering tasks easily without even breaking a sweat. I wouldn't even worry about that part of it. The fact is, most audio engineering functions just don't require all that much speed or horsepower, and the ones that do still fall well within the realm of today's average PCs.

As far as Win7, check with the manufacturers of the software of your desire. Most companies are playing catch-up OK, but there may still be a few products out there that have driver issues with Win7. That'll be something you want to dbl-check, probably. Otherwise, XP is still the most solid Wintel OS out there that's still supported by most software developers.

Finally, while not necessary, you'll probably want to budget for as much visual monitor real estate as you can afford. When you're working in a multi-track DAW on a song project with a couple of dozen tracks or so, having as much screen as you can afford to display it all on with a minimum of scrolling (and without having to go too much above 110 pixels per vertical inch to get it) is a definite plus.

G.
 
Black_Label333 said:
Thank you now i know i can cut some things. Like i said this is the first time trying to build a computer im just looking to get pointed in the right direction. Wouldnt you need the modem to connect to the internet? That is why it is there and now that i know i dont need the graphics because of the integrated VGA. To listen to the music that will be put on the computer won't i need a sound card? I have found the Intel Core Duo E8500 for cheaper. Would that be a better pick? I will have 2 hard drives(Storage and Op. System and Recording Software). Should i just get any 64mb HDD?

The chipset of the Asus Z8NA-D6C is Intel 5500 / Intel ICH10R. So what kind of processor should i use? It says its compatible processors is the Intel Xeon 5500 Series so should i use the e5506 processor at 2.13GHz?

So i can cut the Graphics Card, Sound Card, get a different Processor, Larger HDD.

Thanks again.
Click to expand...

A modem (MOdulate/DEModulate so you can impress your friends) is necessary if all you have is a phone line. Given that you are posting I found it likely that you already had a connection.

If the Zoom HD16 does not provide a way to plug in monitors (and apparently it doesn't) then, yes, you would need a sound card. If you have already bought the HD16... or you're getting it for free... then buy a sound card. If you're paying for an HD16 I'd keep looking.

Any processor that has a faster clock speed then the Xeon would be a better pick. SouthSide is right when he says that DAW software isn't demanding, but more power for the same amount... or less... money is a good thing.

Other then that you have it nailed.
 
OK how does this sound

MB: ASROCK P67 Extreme4
Processor: Core i5 2400
HDD: Spinpoint 1TB
PSU:900w Rocketfish
Ram:G Skill 8gb
Case: Thermaltake V3

am i missing anything?
 
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