What do I need in a PC?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Kerfoot32
  • Start date Start date
K

Kerfoot32

New member
I've been using my laptop to record stuff. I didn't have recording in mind when I bought my laptop so it doesn't have any super specs. But lately my recordings have been murdering my laptop when I get vst and track heavy. I'm getting serious about recording and I think it's time for me to upgrade to a powerhouse desktop.

I've heard the the Intel i7 is the best route for cpus. So if I get the i7 (quad core or six core?) and probably 10gb of ram will I be good to go. What else is important. I know harddrives are supposed to be 7200 rpm and it would probably be a tb. Should I get 2 harddrives. I've heard solid state drives are great. Do I need hdd and ssd? How much ssd space is ideal? And do you recommend any good brands or websites? I was thinking HP. (no macs btw) What kind of power supply am I looking at?

Thanks a lot guys. Help me out!
 
Any up to date modern cpu based computer is going to be killer. New i7s are about as good as it gets now, so I doubt you'd have any worries there.

With regard to hard drives, you can just work away with the built in hard drive.

The next best thing would be two 7200 drives; One for system/applications, and one for audio sessions and samples.

The next best thing again would be to have two drives, but the system one is SSD.

To boil it down, my experience is that SSD drives are mental fast, but not essential.
 
Alright how does this look? It's from hp.com

Components

• Windows 7 Home Premium [64-bit]
• 3rd Generation Intel(R) Core(TM) i7-3770 quad-core processor [3.4GHz, 8MB Shared Cache]
• 12GB DDR3-1333MHz SDRAM [4 DIMMs]
• 256GB Solid State Drive
• 1TB 7200 rpm SATA hard drive
• Microsoft(R) Office Starter: reduced-functionality Word & Excel w/ ads. No PowerPoint or Outlook
• No additional security software
• 1GB DDR3 AMD Radeon HD 7570 [HDMI, DVI, VGA via adapter]
• 460W Power supply
• FREE UPGRADE to Blu-Ray player
• Wireless-N LAN card (1x1)
• 15-in-1 memory card reader, 4 USB 2.0 (front), 2 USB 3.0 (top)
• No TV Tuner
• Beats Audio (tm) -- integrated studio quality sound
• HP wireless keyboard and wireless optical mouse
• FREE Adobe(R) Premiere Elements & Photoshop 10 [$149 value]
 
Dedicate your computer to recording, only connect to the internet when you want to download/upload something, get rid of all the other garbage - you don't need BluRay, memory card, Beats Audio, Office, or Adobe. If you did that with your current laptop, you'd probably find it doesn't slow down on you.
 
Is this still the way of it?
I mean, it's sound advice, but you'd think a computer could handle it these days.


OP, the list looks great.
 
Last edited:
Steenamaroo said:
Is this still the way of it?
I mean, it's sound advice, but you'd think a computer could handle it these days.


OP, the list looks great.
Click to expand...

I dunno. I guess everyone has a different experience. I'm running Windows 7 64. Internet access, full office suite, email, visual studio development environment. I'm a software developer so there are tons of background services running. Two webcams on tripods to capture performances while tracking. Video editing software. FTP clients, cloud storage client - the whole 9 yards.

I can do all the basic tracking @64 sample buffer. Have to bump it up for more involved vsts. I don't record, 'mix' and 'master' at the same time so I don't have any problem moving up to much higher latencies at mix time.

Typical workflow when I am goofing off recording covers is track drums (midi kit/vst), then bass, then guitars, keys, vocals. I'm recording a video stream as I track each. Bounce down a mix, add all the audio and video to a Sony Vegas project, lay it out, render it then upload the video to youtube and the audio mp3 to my website. Post links to my fb page, etc. \


I can't imagine the hell my workflow would be if I didn't have internet access or all the shit I need on my machine.

I'm not running a recording studio, I don't have clients and I'm just doing it forpersonal enjoyment so as always YMMV :-)
 
ps

what's up with that simon and garfunkle tune and why is it 'aborted'

Steenamaroo said:
Any up to date modern cpu based computer is going to be killer. New i7s are about as good as it gets now, so I doubt you'd have any worries there.

With regard to hard drives, you can just work away with the built in hard drive.

The next best thing would be two 7200 drives; One for system/applications, and one for audio sessions and samples.

The next best thing again would be to have two drives, but the system one is SSD.

To boil it down, my experience is that SSD drives are mental fast, but not essential.
Click to expand...
 
chuckduffy said:
ps

what's up with that simon and garfunkle tune and why is it 'aborted'
Click to expand...

LOL.
I love the song, but I don't think I come across well singing or playing it.
Didn't realised that until I had recorded it. :p
 
Steenamaroo said:
LOL.
I love the song, but I don't think I come across well singing or playing it.
Didn't realised that until I had recorded it. :p
Click to expand...

These things happen. TRUST ME I KNOW lol I thought you were off to a great start.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top