What PC + interface

[close]

At the moment I am using a Roland VS-840 And I have to say I am getting great results from it. But would like to try out a PC. I have around $1600 to spend, but I need advice on an interface to match any help will greatly welcomed.

 

[alonso]

$1600for both or just for the interface? I assume for both. A kickass PC could cost you between 1k and $1400. Now if you want an interface for your VS, I assume you'll need either MIDI or audio, don't know what a VS is and I cannot look it up right now....so a decent, good soundcard will do. Depending on your I/O's needs, you could go with a Delta 1010 for $550, where you would have both, MIDI and Audio. there are more expensive and cheaper options, depends on what you want.

 

[close]

Alonso. Thanks for your reply; I do mean $1600 for everything. I don’t intend to use the Roland VS*840 with the PC. What I need to know what spec of PC to buy, as you can likely tell I haven’t a clue about what is required in the setup. I would like to record more than one track at a time, will this mean I need to have mixer of some kind that will connect to the sound card. What I really need is a list of equipment from the mic preamp down. I already have good outboard effects that I can connect to the aux I/Os
Thanks a million for your help.

 

[alonso]

ok as for

PC: you are gonna have to look around to build it within 1k. I would suggest minimum Pentium 4 or Athlon 1800 for processor, if you can, two silent hard drive disks, could be Maxtor, Seagate within others....and a brand motherboard ( Asus, Soyo, Gigabyte, Epox) and at least 512 M of Ram. Other components are less critical, if I didn't leave any other core component behind....And use XP Pro as OS.


Soundcard:

Depending on the number of I/O's that you need. Within $550 you can get a Delta 1010 with 10 I/Os, don't remember how much the Q10 is and a Layla woud cost you a couple hundred more. This are not the only choices but are SOME of the best that popped out of my head.

This comes to $1500. but you would still need a mixer (preamps) for your routing, a good one, depending on how many channels you need, would cost from $500 to $1000. Brands: Mackie, Soundcraft, Allen and Heath within others....Maybe you need to save some more or sell something. This is just a rough description of choices. I am sure more questions arose so post them......

 

[Beezoboy]

I know you only have 550 but save 200 more and get an AArdvark Q10. I have one and it rocks. Great sounding pres with lots of gain and 24/96. And very easy to use. Very good support too. It is a small company, so the only issue is driver support whenever a new OS comes out.

Like I said, I have one and like it very much. I might even get a second one soon.

Beezoboy

Ok and my list and prices for you:

PC (www.tcwo.com)
Case = $70 (ATX 300 watt anything)
Mobo = $80 Biostar Kt333
Processor/Fan = $90 Athlon XP 2000
Ram = $80 256mb DDR 333
Hard Drive = $120 2 80gig Western Digital w/ 8 mb cache
Video = $60 GeForce2mx 32mb
CDR/W = $80 LiteOn 40x48x12
Keyboard = $30 Microsoft
Mouse = $20 Microsoft
Monitor = 17" KDS $120

Total = $870

Sound Card = $789 Aardvark Q10 (www.8thstreet.com)

Total Price = $1659

Not Bad!!!

Beezoboy

 

[jake-owa]

Or just go get the latest E-machine for $400 (the specs are crazy on these "little" guys), buy a good soundcard in the $3-500 range and buy a fast 60gig harddisk for under $100. That way you're set with a pre-loaded OS for less than you could build a system (which may need a bit of troubleshooting). If you're talking about running multiple Delta 1010's or something of that scale build a custom machine but for any thing less the common home computer is well fast enough in 2002 to pull it off nicely.

But that's just my take, I started with an E-machine (a 360 AMD which worked wonderfully) but have built my last three computers.

 

[close]

Great advice form everyone, I will get my nose to the grindstone, and check out suppliers.
Thanks a million once again.