Where to upgrade

[mshilarious]

Another question if I may, how long ago did you get your PC and when do would you expect to replace it to continue using the kind of audio s/w you curently use?

Speaking from personal experience, once you get a PC DAW running like you want, with the soundcard, drivers, effects, software, no. of tracks you need, etc.:

Don't ever upgrade!!!

 

[Aristo]

Cheers guys, that's what I was hoping to hear.

Tough to say how many I'll need ever. I'm not planning (but who knows right?) to record an orchestra, just a rock/alt band. I guess that would be 16-24 if I really tried to fill them but I'd most likely not need more than 8 for a while yet.

To be honest, rather than me answering that question it prompts me to ask another - how many tracks do people use when mixing say a 5 piece band? I would reckon on 1 mic lead singer, another mic for others to sing, 2 x guitar, bass, 4-7 for drums (unless it's Mr Bozzio he he) and another few for extra things, samples etc. I make that about 16, could stretch towards 20. What is the experience of others?

Perhaps a few more for doubling vocals/guitars (which is somthing I have seen people talk about here)? The 32 you use is starting to look like a good number if so.

 

[manning1]

i keep to 32 max , because i learnt from audio engineers i respect that any more is overproducing. in fact in powertracks i dont even need that.
if you do a lot of midi tracks, youll find it gets very full after 12 tracks. then just add vocals , lead rock guitar etc etc.
by the way ..you were talking about resolution the other day. it doesnt get any better than this. i didnt realise ....but the new powertracks version 9 has ppq up to 3840 !!!!!!! ie...remember thats PULSES PER QUARTER NOTE !!!! how much finer resolution does anyone need !!!!
heres the scoop on new enhancements....damn amazing !!!
NOW NOTHING COMES CLOSE !!!!
http://www.pgmusic.com/ptnewfeatures.htm
read down the page. just blows me away. ive never seen a sequencer with this feature set on a pc !!!!!
i'm asking my wife for the upgrade for christmas.

 

[Aristo]

Noticed they even have an icon for bagpipes on the mixer image there! They've thought of everything...

i keep to 32 max , because i learnt from audio engineers i respect that any more is overproducing. in fact in powertracks i dont even need that.

Ok, since I'm not wanting to upgrade ever if possible it seems to make sense to go for something that can easily handle 32 tracks - so what would you recommend for a PC?

 

[manning1]

well you could get away with a sempron amd. but if you REALLY WANT POWER for a very long time , i would consider a barton athlon or even the amd 64. get hard drives 7200 rpm with 8 mb caches. also a lot of people like raptor hard drives. damn fast. 512 ram minimum. MAKE SURE COMPETENT PEOPLE BUILD IT FOR YOU !!!! overspec the power supply and DONT PUT ANYTHING IN THE PCI SLOTS EXCEPT THE SOUND CARD !!!
if you want to be real safe...teacher on here and some other people
i know are getting insane performance out of amd 64. this would give you
a large reserve of processing power for the future.peace.
that ppq resolution has me agog !!

 

[Aristo]

Yeah it's pretty crazy! I'm getting into this at a good time I reckon

Cheers for all the advice, I'll have to stick to my current set up and save a bit but sounds like it'll be worth it. I'll let you know how it goes.

Aristo

 

[manning1]

good luck aristo, and as we say here in the frozen north ..."keep your stick on the ice".peace.