E
Eebaf
New member
The best thing is to get the most powerful PC you can afford!!
So the question is: what´s your budget?
I would recommend a ASUS 440 BX MB with Pentium 3 CPU
600 or up to 850 MHz. 256 MB RAM for use with Softsamplers,
a dedicated 24 bit digital I/O card and an external converter/mic pre. You can still use the 1000xg for sounds and some internal FX. Try to buy 2 UDMA 100 HD (IBM) and an UDMA 100 controller.
Depending on the digital I/O card and the external converters it would be a professional studio setup with up to 90 tracks of audio playback (while recording 4 tracks)!!!
I am using the mindprint Di-Port as converter/micpre and the RME Digi 96 as digital I/O card.
I will build a Pentium 3 500 Bord like above, but I have to save some money first. The board and the CPU and RAM are already on my shelves, but I am not goin to make bad compromises, so I have to save my money.
Now it´s a AMD K6 500 and the HD is full now and the f... CD burner doesn´t work. Never buy a mitsumi!!! grrrrr
So the question is: what´s your budget?
I would recommend a ASUS 440 BX MB with Pentium 3 CPU
600 or up to 850 MHz. 256 MB RAM for use with Softsamplers,
a dedicated 24 bit digital I/O card and an external converter/mic pre. You can still use the 1000xg for sounds and some internal FX. Try to buy 2 UDMA 100 HD (IBM) and an UDMA 100 controller.
Depending on the digital I/O card and the external converters it would be a professional studio setup with up to 90 tracks of audio playback (while recording 4 tracks)!!!
I am using the mindprint Di-Port as converter/micpre and the RME Digi 96 as digital I/O card.
I will build a Pentium 3 500 Bord like above, but I have to save some money first. The board and the CPU and RAM are already on my shelves, but I am not goin to make bad compromises, so I have to save my money.
Now it´s a AMD K6 500 and the HD is full now and the f... CD burner doesn´t work. Never buy a mitsumi!!! grrrrr
slinky
New member
PC PARTS
Hi Eebaf, Thanks for the views. Yeah, I`m kindof adding bit by bit to my setup too. I`ve got the UDMA HD coming soon and
a decent mother board too and 256 MB RAM. I`m plugging an
E guitar straight into the soundcard via an effects processor which seems to work ok. I`ll see how I do with the new gear...... ciao 4 now, slinky
Hi Eebaf, Thanks for the views. Yeah, I`m kindof adding bit by bit to my setup too. I`ve got the UDMA HD coming soon and
a decent mother board too and 256 MB RAM. I`m plugging an
E guitar straight into the soundcard via an effects processor which seems to work ok. I`ll see how I do with the new gear...... ciao 4 now, slinky
E
Eebaf
New member
I am using a hughes & Kettner Tubeman, it´s a preamp with tubes and also a speaker sim. It goes into the mixer where I add some FX and then into the Di-Port and digital to the PC.
slinky
New member
PC BITS
Sounds cool. Yeah, an external mixer seems a good idea,
must make things easier, more control.
Sounds cool. Yeah, an external mixer seems a good idea,
must make things easier, more control.
R
RWhite
Well-known member
I doubt you will find any 440 BX chipset motherboards still out there, they are too out of date. I have two of the ASUS P3V4X motherboards, using the VIA chipset. This chipset supports a 133 bus speed (rather than 100) and they have been working great with all my audio gear. I have also been purchasing the same motherboards for my company (I do IT Helpdesk and PC purchasing at my day job) and have bought 40+ with no problems.
The only problem with this particular board is that it is for Slot 1 cpus, and these are being phased out in favor of the newer "flip chip" design.
Just stick with major brand motherboards, which do not have any audio / video / network hardware built onto the board, and you should be fine.
The only problem with this particular board is that it is for Slot 1 cpus, and these are being phased out in favor of the newer "flip chip" design.
Just stick with major brand motherboards, which do not have any audio / video / network hardware built onto the board, and you should be fine.
E
Eebaf
New member
Hi Slinky,
I don´t really need a mixer like that and I won´t recomment to use one. If I would use just the Diport and would do anything else with software, it would be enough, because it has a monitor section where you can mix the incoming digital playback signal from the PC with the analog signal you are recording. It´s much better quality than small external mixers!! I am using it because for recording parts the first time I need to get the feeling how it souns with effects that I will add to the dry signal of the final recording inside the computer. Don´t waste your money on a cheap mixer unless you have some Keyboards/Soundmudules.
I don´t really need a mixer like that and I won´t recomment to use one. If I would use just the Diport and would do anything else with software, it would be enough, because it has a monitor section where you can mix the incoming digital playback signal from the PC with the analog signal you are recording. It´s much better quality than small external mixers!! I am using it because for recording parts the first time I need to get the feeling how it souns with effects that I will add to the dry signal of the final recording inside the computer. Don´t waste your money on a cheap mixer unless you have some Keyboards/Soundmudules.
E
Eebaf
New member
Hi RWhite,
yes, it´s not longer produced, but I heard that the VIA chipset had problems wiht some cards and is not as fast as the BX chipset. The PC 133 RAM is more expensive than PC 100.
yes, it´s not longer produced, but I heard that the VIA chipset had problems wiht some cards and is not as fast as the BX chipset. The PC 133 RAM is more expensive than PC 100.
S
Scheisskopf99
New member
Components
Hey, I build computers for a living and here's my advice: Decide what processor to get, then find the motherboard to match. Good motherboards are: Asus, Abit, Biostar, SOYO.
With processors it's a jungle out there. For instance, there are 6 different Pentium 600 processors out there in different flavors! Try to peice together a 133 MHz system, starting with the processor.
With hard drives, go for the drive with the 5 year warranty - IBM, or others if they can match. But get the ATA-66 or ATA-100 drives! The more cache on the drive the better.
Video Cards - If you really don't need anything fancy, no 3D gaming or anything, the ATI XPERT 98's are good and will only run you about 35 bucks. The XPERT 99's are unreliable in my opinion. If you want to spend about 75 bucks on a better video card, look at a NVIDIA TNT2 card by Guillimot or others, but dont get a generic TNT2 card or you may be in for trouble.
For the best prices on stuff, go to http://www.pricewatch.com.
Good Luck!
Hey, I build computers for a living and here's my advice: Decide what processor to get, then find the motherboard to match. Good motherboards are: Asus, Abit, Biostar, SOYO.
With processors it's a jungle out there. For instance, there are 6 different Pentium 600 processors out there in different flavors! Try to peice together a 133 MHz system, starting with the processor.
With hard drives, go for the drive with the 5 year warranty - IBM, or others if they can match. But get the ATA-66 or ATA-100 drives! The more cache on the drive the better.
Video Cards - If you really don't need anything fancy, no 3D gaming or anything, the ATI XPERT 98's are good and will only run you about 35 bucks. The XPERT 99's are unreliable in my opinion. If you want to spend about 75 bucks on a better video card, look at a NVIDIA TNT2 card by Guillimot or others, but dont get a generic TNT2 card or you may be in for trouble.
For the best prices on stuff, go to http://www.pricewatch.com.
Good Luck!
slinky
New member
PC BITS
HI people, thanks for all the ideas, it`s great to get some
knowledge in here! Slinky.
HI people, thanks for all the ideas, it`s great to get some
knowledge in here! Slinky.
R
RWhite
Well-known member
In the Detroit area the 133 Ram is the same price as 100, likewise any web sites I have seen. Since the 133 ram will work fine at 100, most places are not even stocking it anymore.
I have read on this site that people have "heard" of problems with VIA chipsets, but I have not found anyone who actually bought a new VIA chipset board who has had a problem. All I can say is they work fine for me.
I originally bought my first board with that chipset based on a reveiw on http://www.tomshardware.com where it benchmarked much faster than the BX chipsets. But I concur that the BX chipset was/is extremely stable.
I have read on this site that people have "heard" of problems with VIA chipsets, but I have not found anyone who actually bought a new VIA chipset board who has had a problem. All I can say is they work fine for me.
I originally bought my first board with that chipset based on a reveiw on http://www.tomshardware.com where it benchmarked much faster than the BX chipsets. But I concur that the BX chipset was/is extremely stable.