Win2000? Suck

  • Thread starter Thread starter camn
  • Start date Start date
Maybe I'M the idiot

Ok.... this seems to be quite a heated thread. I just hope that I can dodge the heat. I am quite new to the computer recording world. I haven't even been to Princeton to visit. I don't even know which state Princeton is in. I am not even sure if I am spelling the name right. I don't even own a computer of my own for recording yet. I have a computer that my mother bought me to go to college years ago, but it is hardly good enough to support Windows 95 and the internet much less record. So I am going to buy a computer THIS THURSDAY!!!!!!! I live in Munich Germany and I need help before I f--k up big time and buy something shitty. I have read almost everythread on this website. I know that I need certain spec to make it all work perfect. (well as close as I can get to perfect.) Here is the computer that I am planning to buy this THURSDAY!!!!
Pent III 866 MHz
128 MB RAM
40 GB Hard Drive

I will also add a 24-bit 96 Sound card (Delta 66 with the new Delta OMNI I/O audio interface, pre-amps, etc.. package)
I am going to use a Roland JV 1010 to generate the drum tracks and bass lines for my music and then play my guitar into the OMNI I/O. All using Audio Logic Platinum software to sequence it all. I am completely alone and entend to do this alone. So my questions... I have 2.

- Will Windows Millineum Edition work with all this? I know that everyone always says Win 98 is solid, the best etc... but the computer that I am looking at buying ONLY has win ME on it. Will EVERYTHING that I have mentioned work with WIN ME???

- Do I need (100% NEED!?!?!?!) a mixer? Is ther ANY way that I can hear the playback of my previously recorded MIDI tracks from my Roland JV 1010 while I play the guitar tracks and sing the vocals? I also already have a Tascam 424 Analogue portastudio casette recorder (4-track). Can I use the built in mixer on it? Please help guys.

Thanks,
Mike
 
From what I have seen up to now I would not seriously consider Linix for a DAW. Its a great OS, but there is just not much music software for it, and as Ola said, very little driver support for music hardware.

"You will be assimilated..resistance is futile" - Bill Gates
 
Pisces, there are of course nio guarentee with anything. However MOST hardware and hardware drivers that work with Windows 98 will also work with Windows ME. In fact a few things (a USB Compaq Flash card reader I have for one)work better with it.

The hardware you listed would make a fine DAW.

Yes you can use your TASCAM as a mixer (a friend of mine does exactly that) but it will be noisy. I notice you are in Germany. Pick up a small Behringer mixer (they should be cheap over there) instead, you will be happier.

As for recording and playback, you did not mention what software you are going to be using. Most any of the major programs will do that with no problem. I use Cakewalk Pro 9, many others prefer Cubase or Protools. I don't know what will be avaialble in Germany, you will have to look around.

Remember, software is the key, without proper software any computer is just a very large paper weight.
 
RWhite said:
Pisces, there are of course nio guarentee with anything.

Only true if you go with a PC. If you go with a MAC, it is guaranteed to work with any compatible software. Simple as that.

Peace

Albert
 
and you have 2 choices in compatable software ..:)

Id double the RAM. Its totally cheap right now, so dont fuck around.

xoox
 
Thanks

Thanks a million RWhite. I just wanted to say that I will be using Emagic Audio Logic Platinum. It certainly COSTS enough to do everything.
Now I still have a question about MIDI interfaces. I am looking at the MIDI sport 2X2 by Midiman. Is that ALL I will need to get my Roland Edirol PC300 MIDI master controller up and recording? The reason I ask is because I have held the MIDISPORT in my hand at a music store and as far as I can see it has one set of MIDI jacks on one side, and simply another set of identically LOOKING jacks on the other side. How do I plug this thing into the back of my computer? WHere do I plug it in? WHat kind of cable? It LOOKS useless since it goes from one jack input to the same jack out put. Now I realize that it is not just an adaptor and that it does SOMETHIG. But WHAT???

Thanks for the info. Knwo anything about Audio Logic Platinum?

Thanks,
Mike
 
camn said:
and you have 2 choices in compatable software ..:)

xoox

That is not necessarily true Camn. But even if it were true, that software happens to be the premier software in the industry: Protools and Digital Performer.

Listen, nothing wrong with PC's other than you are taking a risk every time you buy one for digital audio for HOME recording. There are way too many variables, and besides, the OS is simply not as stable as the MAC OS.

If you want to tinker with computers get a PC. If you want to make music get a MAC. Simple!

Albert
 
AlinMV said:
That is not necessarily true Camn. But even if it were true, that software happens to be the premier software in the industry: Protools and Digital Performer.
Albert [/B]

If you ignore the people who use other things...like tape, or, Soundscape's shit, than, sure, its the most popular product in a crooked industry. I can dig it.

xoox
 
"Only true if you go with a PC. If you go with a MAC, it is guaranteed to work with any compatible software. Simple as that."

****************************

The Macs that were produced two or three years cannot even run the most recent Mac OS. On the other hand, an Intel 386 PC built many years ago can run windows today - not that you would want to because it would be a slug.

When Power PC Macs came out, everyone with an older Mac got screwed. When your own OS becomes the imcompatable software thats a pretty big problem. Now Mac owners can buy multi-processor units (Win NT has supported this feature for years) but...OOOPS! The software has to be re-written, meanwhile your second (expensive) processor just sits there.

Don't get me wrong, I like Macs and I think in general they are more stable than PCs. But to say they have no problems and never have any problems with software crashes is laughable. They just have less crashes, and you give up many software and hardware choices to get this.

Gentlemen, choose your weapons....
 
RWhite said:

The Macs that were produced two or three years cannot even run the most recent Mac OS.

I am not a computer wiz and am relatively new to the Digital Audio thing, but are you saying that a G3 cannot run OS9?

I don't think so! In fact, there is a large market for refurbished older macs. For instance, the Digi 001 + PTLE was designed for a G3 (not a G4) running OS 8.

For the record, I did not say that MACs are problem free! There is no such thing on earth! I did say that MACS are guaranteed to work (not necessarily flawlessly) with any compatible software. Why? Because they are a one source machine. All of the components are made by or for Apple. What you see is what you get. Another reason why MACs are used for Digital Audio is the OS. As you said it is more stable.

Finally, as a purchaser of a HD recording system, I can know for sure that if I purchase let's say Digi 001 + PTLE, it will work with my mac. If I want to buy it for my windows machine, I have many more hoops to go through than I would with a MAC simply because of the nature of the beast, and as someone appropriately said earlier "There are no guarantees".

I say this from experience. Believe me. I wanted to go with a PC set up because I had always worked with PC's, I like them and had never touched a MAC. But, having done my research I came to the conclusion that as a home recording musician in my spare time, I did not want to spend my precious little spare time tinkering around with a PC to make it run my audio software. Thankfully, I could afford the pricier MACs. I am glad I made the choice, so far!

My two cents. Peace!

Albert
 
in that vein, I think the big misconception is that PCs are all in a group, like Macs are. In reality, there is a few subdivisions...

a) AMD vs INTEL (I love competition, it makes for better products..)

b) ASUS vs ABIT

c) ATI vs NVIDIA

and so on and so on.

SO, if I was high-falootin, I could say.. your software x is guaranteed to work on an Intel/ASUS/ATI/Maxtor Machine, every time... and it would be just as true, and just as specific as saying that Digi001 will work on a g4.
xoxo
 
LOL - So THATS why I've been so lucky - I have machines with ASUS motherboards, Intel CPUs, ATI video, and Maxtor hard drives (3 of them in fact). I guess I just stumbled onto the magic formula!

As for Macs, I was thinking Pre-G3. Not that long ago I think, of course I am getting senile in my old age.

And lest I sound like I think PCs are perfect, here is a good example of "the dark side". I just yesterday replaced the (ASUS Intel 440BX) motherboard in my main "general" PC (not DAW) with a newer board (ASUS VIA P3V4X). I then erased the boot hard drive and re-installed everything from scratch. This re-aquainted me with how my video card (ATI Radeon) and TV-Tuner card (ATI TV Wonder) hate each other, my USB compaq flash reader wigs out after my CDR software is installed (Because EZCD Creator renames some important windows files), and my USB scanner (HP 5300) will work with my USB hub but ONLY if it is plugged directly into the PC during installation and moved to the hub later.

After many hours of incantations, the burning of incense, plus the ritual sacrifice of a goat all the computer parts & programs are now one big happy family again. Was it a pain? Obviously. Was it worth it? Absolutely. Because now that I have properly beaten the grey box into submission I can run a whole lotta stuff that just aint out there for the Macs. Plus I figure the time I spent smacking the cpu was partly financed by the $$$$ I saved by buying PC. And I do get a certain perverse enjoyment in putting together a system that is 100% customized ME, not a cookie cutter.

Now not everyone would agree with this, and if you want to go out and buy the Mac I say more power to ya. Like I said earlier we PC power-owners are willing to pay the price for our choices.
 
RWhite:

WAWHAZZAT? "(Because EZCD Creator renames some important windows files)"

I JUST put in a burner w/ that software. What files does it rename, specifically?

Thanks...

-K.

p.s. Go with companies w/ GREAT service records, you'll have no problem. I was thinking about gettin' one of these newfangled SONY laptops, seeing if they offer a way to multitrack. Now THAT would rock. :D
 
Some of the VIA chipsets from years ago did suck pretty bad, and their rep is still suffering because of these. The new chipsets are fine (at least by my experiance), and they were the first ones around to support the (non-RAMBUS) 133 bus speed. I did my research on them at http://www.tomshardware.com (a great motherboard and tech reference website).

As for the issue with EZCD Creator, you can find more info on it at http://www.sandisk.com/cons/imagemate.htm

Here is the bottom line on it, from the Sandisk site:

"The Easy CD Creator program uses certain APIX.vxd functions that are also incorporated into Windows 98. This alone is not a problem. However, when CD Creator is installed, it renames Microsoft's APIX files. When these files are renamed, compatibility issues arise between CD Creator and other peripherals (such as ImageMate) that use the APIX functions."

I am inclined to believe them since I had the exact same problem as described at their site. They have a batch file you can download, which contains the following fix:


echo off
cd \windows\system\iosubsys
if not exist APIX.BAK goto end
:ren
copy APIX.VXD APIX.ADP
copy APIX.BAK APIX.VXD
cd ..
if not exist WNASPI32.BAK goto end1
copy WNASPI32.DLL WNASPI32.ADP
copy WNASPI32.BAK WNASPI32.DLL
:end1
echo "Please type any key to continue then reboot the system"
pause
:end
echo on


As you can see it just restores from backup files that EZCD Creator makes when it installs itself.

Strangely this batch file would not fix my problem before I did my complete Win98 re-install. After I re-installed everything and then put EZCD Creator back on I had the exact same crash, but this time the above batch file fixed my problem and now everything works perfectly.
 
Back
Top