regular computer geeks just don't get it??

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Basslord1124

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With my current major at school (which is a computer/science degree) I am obviously surrounded by other people who have strong interest in computers and some even know much more than myself. One day, I was killing some time before class by surfing the net and looking at some of the pro level audio recording soundcards (Echo, Midiman, etc). The guy sitting next to me started talking to me about soundcards and I mentioned how I planned to record on a PC and needed a good soundcard...his suggestion of course was Soundblaster cards. Now I'm sure people can get by decently with Soundblaster and some may be happy with em but I've never really considered em to be the 1st name I think of when I think of a good soundcard. Same guy was talking to me again before class one time and I mentioned building my own computer for recording and he had the attitude of like why don't you just upgrade your current one? And I've told him a couple times what the specs on our computer were. In which case I'd feel much more comfortable having a PC dedicated to audio rather than trying to use one that's also used for internet, games, word processing, etc. Do the regular computer geeks lack the understanding that audio recording on a PC requires a little more than a PC designed for the average consumer? Oh well just curious, any of you ever encountered this? And am I an idiot for not following their advice?
 
Regular computer geeks are too busy optimizing their PC to surf porn to know anything about recording music. I am an ex-Network analyst, I was surrounded by them. I know!

H2H
 
I'd say that most of them might not understand the somewhat different needs of a computer used for audio recording.

While SB makes quite decent soundcards for gaming, I've been told repeatedly that they're not good enough for audio recording. (I think they're trying to change that with their Plat Audigy line).

Having a PC dedicated to recording also seems like a good idea to me.
 
Well, I've got a CS degree, and it doesn't give you much education in regards to hardware, and little to no education in terms of digital audio. Sure it might be mentioned here or there, but you're not going to have a class that covers why one set of A/D converters sounds better than another....or which dithering techniques should be used with specific audio samples...

Unfortunately CS is all computational theory, data structures, and software engineering principles with a few directly applicable classes sprinkled in for fun (networking, databases, compiler design, etc). Basically you'll have enough education to tell a computer what to do, but that doesn't mean you'll know what you want it to do :)

CS and other software geeks like me are kind of dangerous because see we feel like real computer smarties, because our whole livelyhood revolves around programming the damn things. However, it doesn't mean we really know shit. I've been coming to terms with this myself, recently, and am trying not to spout total BS onto the board....at least not as much as I used to :)

It's good to know at least one hardware guy. If you find a hardware guy (EE or whatever) who really knows his shit, you need to latch onto him and don't let him go. If it's a her, marry her. Once your brain is fixed on software, electronics just become all that more confusing hahaa.

Slackmaster 2000
 
I frequent a lot of 'geeky' sites, into overclocking and building my own comps and stuff, and the best soundcard I've ever seen mentioned on those boards is the Terratec DMX 24/96 Fire.

A guy (obviously into semi-pro audio), mentioned the soundcard in his signature.

SO the exchange went:

'Dude, what's that DMX thing?'

'It's a soundcard'

'You mean like a Fortissmo or Audigy?'

'Yeah, but better'

'Better, like what, more effects and stuff?'

'No, it just puts out good sounds'

'So do games and MP3 sound better and s**t?'

'Yeah, among other things.'

:)

I'm not sure computer geeks are *Supposed* to get it.

Sang

**Edit: the DMX Fire is a competitor to the Audigy, and a step into the line between gaming and 'pro' audio. Unlike the Audigy though, it offers full 24/96 capabilities, along with solid gaming support with EAX etc.. Of course, it doesn't have soundfonts and stuff. May be worth a look at the entry level. A completely unrelated point.**
 
Forgot to mention, that same guy was surprised when I told him that the computer I was building was strictly for audio...and was especially surprised when I said I wasn't putting in a modem or any kind of internet like device.
 
being a computer geek myself .. (been programming for about 12 years) .. the only thing that my pc knowledge is applied to in the realm of home recording is TWEAKING THE CRAP , *ahem* out of my lowly amd k6-2.

I brought that Piece of Sh*t back from the brink of death so many times it's uncanny.


Aside from that .. zip.
 
Hard2Hear said:
Regular computer geeks are too busy optimizing their PC to surf porn to know anything about recording music. I am an ex-Network analyst, I was surrounded by them. I know!

H2H

HEY! Im a Software Engineer geek and I dont even waste time with optimizing...

I go right to surfing porn.

:p
 
I didn't realize you could optimize to surf porn. Anybody have instructions?
 
You all have your priorities backwards...

First I built an optimized workstation dedicated to surfing, cataloging, viewing, and organizing my EXTENSIVE collection of filthy porn...

when i save up enough money, then i'll build a dedicated DAW
 
Turtle beach is another soundcard that comes up when talking to other computer geeks. Most of them have never heard of MOTU, M-audio or echo but they all seem to think that turtle beach is the step up from the soundblasters.
 
I think it should be no real suprise that the average computer geek doesn't know much about semi-pro recording. The average computer geek likewise probably doesn't know much detail about CAD-CAM, desktop publishing, or numerous other things you do on a PC, and which people like to fine-tune their machines for.

Now that being said, I think it is also mostly true that once you get past the sound card, most of the things you can do to enhance your DAW are the same things you would do to ANY PC. You always want a fast cpu, hard drive, etc. plus as lean and well-tuned an OS as you can get - regardless of which OS you are running.

And I would recomend that any DAW should have some way to reach the internet when needed, if for no other reason than to be able to run Windows Update and download drivers.

As for the "buy new vs. upgrade" debate, that's been covered in detail elsewhere, it's something you just have to evaluate on a case-by-case basis depending on your PC and your own hardware skills.
 
Being a true computer geek CAD and desktop publishing are old hand for me. 1/2 my job these days seem to involve desktop publishing and I use CAD for all my hobbies includeing recording.

I use CAD for drawing up my studio plans, laying out racks, doing up wiring plans, etc...

In my experience their are two diffrent computer setups one for gaming and one for work. The stuff thats good for running any work software recording, CAD, desktop publishing, video editing is basicly the same, you need stable reliable power. For gaming they try every hack to get a few more fps.
 
RWhite said:
And I would recomend that any DAW should have some way to reach the internet when needed, if for no other reason than to be able to run Windows Update and download drivers.

Yeah I thought about that but the thing is: I've got access to plenty of PC's with internet connection. Our current home one has got trusty ole 56K as well as some of my friends, school's got T3 lines, and I've got another friend (who's dad happens to be a local ISP) who has a fast connection as well (he told me it's faster than T3, want to think OS64 or something like that). Now if there's ever a day that I can't access the net somehow at any of these places I'll gladly put in a modem, ethernet card, etc. :D I think I may eventually put in some type of internet connection anyways, but for the time being it can wait. I don't even have the system yet LOL.
 
Oh, and for you software programmers out there here's what I know (which is not that much at all actually): last semester learned about Visual Basic 6.0 and this semester we're studying Borland C++ Builder. They're both pretty cool but software programming is not my thing...I prefer web building. Get to take a class next semester on web & java programming...should be easy for me except I know very little about java! I kinda started late in the game with computers but I think I've always had a fascination with computers.
 
In going against wisdom, I've opted to use my game PC for a DAW. The main difference is in the soundcard area. All things being equal, get the fastest CPU, the biggest drive, the most RAM, and a decent game soundcard. Then, throw in a good soundcard (Aark Q-10) and get down to business. I haven't seen any side effects yet.
 
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