Will a slow computer affect my recordings?

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nxtnctno

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I currently have a cheap home recording "studio" to record my band. I use a M-Audio Delta 44, which records at 24bit/96kHz, and Nuendo 2 software for all my recordings. My compter is dirt cheap (so cheap that I don't have proper casing for it...I am using a cardboard box as a case). It is a Pentium III 600 MHz computer with 512 MB of RAM.

My question is, will upgrading my computer affect my recordings? Specifically, will a faster computer alter the sounds I record in any way?

If so, it is as significant as to be worth the upgrade?
 
nxtnctno said:
I currently have a cheap home recording "studio" to record my band. I use a M-Audio Delta 44, which records at 24bit/96kHz, and Nuendo 2 software for all my recordings. My compter is dirt cheap (so cheap that I don't have proper casing for it...I am using a cardboard box as a case). It is a Pentium III 600 MHz computer with 512 MB of RAM.

My question is, will upgrading my computer affect my recordings? Specifically, will a faster computer alter the sounds I record in any way?

If so, it is as significant as to be worth the upgrade?
Click to expand...

First - A slower computer will not be able to handle as many tracks and could cause drop outs while recording. Most multitrack software programs are very CPU intensive.

Second - Having more RAM will allow less swapping (loading programs into memory vs swapping them in and out). Swapping also adds to the CPU load.

A faster computer with more memory will help your recordings!
 
Sonicly it won't affect anything. They're just 1's and 0's. A faster computer will just handle more tracks.
 
my first recording PC was a P3, 450mhz, 256 mb RAM. I did fine until I topped 12 to 15 tracks depending on the plugins I used...That PC is capable of recording....its just gonna depend on what you need from it...
 
Software

The biggest difference is that you'll need to use less CPU intesive software.. The difference between Cool Edit and Sonar is amazing... As computers get faster programmers find ways to use up the space..The result is that you'll always "need" more.... Yes an upgrade might help, but it's not necessary... You may be able to get 5 tracks on Sonar and 15 on Cool Edit depending on your needs and what you're used to, either can be appropriate... Answer your own question... P.s. Plan computer upgrades very carefully!
 
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