Computer for recording

[JJ]

If you had unlimited funds & could build your own computer, what components
would you invest in, ie. sound cards, video cards, processors, software etc.

Thanks, Jimi

[Tony Hwang]

Post by JJ
If you had unlimited funds & could build your own computer, what components
would you invest in, ie. sound cards, video cards, processors, software etc.
Thanks, Jimi

Hi,
Mac, no PC to begin with.
Tony

[z***@gmail.com]

I have a Shuttle, http://www.us.shuttle.com
The first question is what do you plan to use this computer for, Mr.
Money Is No Object? Running a multi media system? Graphics? A sound
studio? Annimation? Gaming? Photography?

[z***@gmail.com]

I have a Shuttle, http://www.us.shuttle.com
The first question is what do you plan to use this computer for, Mr.
Money Is No Object? Running a multi media system? Graphics? A sound
studio? Annimation? Gaming? Photography?

[D.R.]

Post by JJ
If you had unlimited funds & could build your own computer, what components
would you invest in, ie. sound cards, video cards, processors, software etc.
Thanks, Jimi

Dedicated recording? I build pc's for a music school that do alot of PC
recording. Basically you'd need to a computer capable of running ProTools with
the Digidesign MBox. That means a reasonably fast processor 2.6ghz or faster
prefered. CPU? An Athlon or Pentium 4. None of the Duron, Semperon, Celeron, etc
junk. Protools runs like crap on less than 512MB of RAM, and alot of files will
be over 1gig. So preferably 1-2gb of RAM. Alot of money, but if going the
PC/route, you really need to avoid soundcards and go the Protools/MBox route.
Unless you buy a freakin' expensive soundcard. Protools software is expensive
too. Other software like Cubase is also expensive. You'd need to run Windows XP
(I prefer XP Pro) with the latest ProTools. $$$$

But for a fraction of that money, I'd rather buy me a Boss BR-1180 portable
recording studio. Had a play with one, none of the hassles that come with pc
software. Every kind of input you'd need. Hands on everything. Sound was
awesome, and built-in effects, bass sim, mastering effects, all superb. Built-in
CD burner too. Cost < $1000. Final results, amazing.

My $0.02.
D.R.

[z***@gmail.com]

He didn't say what he wanted to use the system for, just sound?
Unlimited budget means go for the ridiculas and the sublime, maybe some
over the top design, maybe even a good chair.
http://www.hermanmiller.com/CDA/SSA/Product/0,,a10-c440-p8,00.html or a
good kneel/sit - not a silly suggestion - ya only got one spine. Like
going camping barefoot.

[Ant Moore]

Thought the thread title kinda implied it.....

Post by z***@gmail.com
He didn't say what he wanted to use the system for, just sound?
Unlimited budget means go for the ridiculas and the sublime, maybe some
over the top design, maybe even a good chair.
http://www.hermanmiller.com/CDA/SSA/Product/0,,a10-c440-p8,00.html or a
good kneel/sit - not a silly suggestion - ya only got one spine. Like
going camping barefoot.

[z***@gmail.com]

OK....I didn't read the headline ;) kinda broad "recording" for what?
CDs, animation, what kind, digital video? gameing? web radio? Lots
different kind of recording - different software. I use soundforge and
cakewalk and a couple of different kinds of rippers, Macromedia Suite,
Sonic Foundry and Real Producer Plus
http://www.realnetworks.com/products/media_creation.html
http://mediasoftware.sonypictures.com/products/default.asp but I only
do web page stuff and animation, not "CD concert quality recording". My
recommendation for a good chair still stands. :)

I like John King's recommendation for doubling his money. Ain't that
the truth.

[John King]

Post by z***@gmail.com
OK....I didn't read the headline ;) kinda broad "recording" for what?
CDs, animation, what kind, digital video? gameing? web radio? Lots
different kind of recording - different software. I use soundforge and
cakewalk and a couple of different kinds of rippers, Macromedia Suite,
Sonic Foundry and Real Producer Plus
http://www.realnetworks.com/products/media_creation.html
http://mediasoftware.sonypictures.com/products/default.asp but I only
do web page stuff and animation, not "CD concert quality recording". My
recommendation for a good chair still stands. :)
I like John King's recommendation for doubling his money. Ain't that
the truth.

Though I'm pretty PCentric, I'd go with Mac, dedicated (Teac / Fostex)
*and* PC if money were no object...

As it is, I'm pretty happy with my sub < $500 + PC DAW setup:

http://www.angelfire.com/blues/rockinjohn/daw/rockin_daw.html

As for "doubling your money":

The easiest way to double you money , is to fold it over and
put it back in your pocket - Will Rogers

John

[John King]

JJ wrote:

As with any computer, first you assess the user needs,
operating system and software you intend to run; then build the
machine to those needs and specs.

John King
"The quickest way to double your money is to fold it over and
put it back in your pocket."

Post by JJ
If you had unlimited funds & could build your own computer, what components
would you invest in, ie. sound cards, video cards, processors, software etc.
Thanks, Jimi

[Ant Moore]

Hi there,

Post by JJ
If you had unlimited funds & could build your own computer, what components
would you invest in, ie. sound cards, video cards, processors, software etc.

Depends how unlimited your unlimited funds are! And time learning
how to use it all, and keep on top of it all, is as important as funds
here.

Pentium 4 as-fast-as-you-can-get, 1Gig RAM, big fast HDD is a good
start. Video card is not so important; any reasonable accelerated card will
do...

Another couple of similaly specced machines, to run dedicated
software samplers is a nice-to-have.

Sound card: Well the M-Audio stuff is a reasonable start; a decent
outboard compressor/limiter, mixing desk and mic pre-amps are all
pretty useful too. You can always go for exotic control surfaces and
outboard converters if you really want to spend big bucks.

Software: Money-no-object - Pro-tools is the no-brainer. Alternatives
would include Cubase SX.

An ex-colleague of mine has branched out to run a professional
studio; he's spent upwards of 40,000 uk pounds on his DAW studio in
converters, outboards, control surface etc. My home studio DAW is
more like around 1.5 uk pounds.)

PC-based home recording hardware is relatively cheap and easy
to use these days, for simple project studios. And such systems give
pretty reasonable results too. But like any recording system: it
take time to learn how to get the best out of it, cheap or expensive.


Cheers, and regards,


Ant.

[JJ Braunius]

If I had unlimited funds - I wouldn't go with a computer in the first place.
I'd go 24 track analog with outboard effects.

Or I'd go digital with a Radar workstation.

If there's nothing else but computer recording - I'd go for a off the shelf
ProTools rig on the latest Mac with the best A/D converters on the market.

Post by JJ
If you had unlimited funds & could build your own computer, what components
would you invest in, ie. sound cards, video cards, processors, software etc.
Thanks, Jimi

[z***@gmail.com]

That's what I was thinkin too but I didn't know anything about "real"
recording stuff - just net quality music on a PC - there's no point in
recording any better that your output is gonna be. As of now, you can
only get so much "quality" sound out of the net. In otherwords you
match what goes in with what the sound has to come out of. If you are
doing anything net related you have to compromise quality of sound
because of download time and because you want to allow the maximum
number of people to be able to hear you and they may be driving ancient
computers with dial up. It really isn't necessary to have the hottest
machine alive to do most web work. So asking the question what are you
going to do with it still isn't a stupid question. If I was serious
about getting the best sound I wouldn't use digital.

[rello]

Post by z***@gmail.com
That's what I was thinkin too but I didn't know anything about "real"
recording stuff - just net quality music on a PC - there's no point in
recording any better that your output is gonna be. As of now, you can
only get so much "quality" sound out of the net. In otherwords you
match what goes in with what the sound has to come out of. If you are
doing anything net related you have to compromise quality of sound
because of download time and because you want to allow the maximum
number of people to be able to hear you and they may be driving ancient
computers with dial up. It really isn't necessary to have the hottest
machine alive to do most web work. So asking the question what are you
going to do with it still isn't a stupid question. If I was serious
about getting the best sound I wouldn't use digital.

like the first post said
go buy a high end mac...then get protools etc
if your determined to use digital as opposed to analogue....
if you really have no limit...go buy 1" deck, 34 channel desk top
grade mikes patch bays and set up a studio....you can put ur mac in
the corner for mastering cd's
relloman

[Digital-Anubis]

OK.
I BUILT MY OWN STUDIO!
I built a 2000+ AMD Athlon 1 gig of DDR 333MHz Ram
180 Gig HDD and 128DDR Radeon Video Card.
I use Sound Blaster Audigy 2 Hardware with Live Drive.
All the inputs for the front support instruments of all kinds. (basicly I
use effects pedals and my 7 guitars for all kinds of kool sounds and mixes
which can easily plug in from the front including a mixer board and all)
Sound blaster Audigy includes studio software, but any will do.
I use acid Pro. Its decent and easy!
http://www.acidplanet.com/artist.asp?songs=177842&T=1129
here is my acidplanet website, you have to register for Free to see!
Anything else is extra.

Peace,
Bad boy Brian

Post by JJ
If you had unlimited funds & could build your own computer, what components
would you invest in, ie. sound cards, video cards, processors, software etc.
Thanks, Jimi

[Digital-Anubis]

oh and btw, it only cost me $800.00

Post by JJ
If you had unlimited funds & could build your own computer, what components
would you invest in, ie. sound cards, video cards, processors, software etc.
Thanks, Jimi

[Mike Appleby]

Hi Jimmy,

I don't know about unlimitted funds, but I can tell you what I use and have
great success with...

First, I'm using a Pentium 4, 3.0 GHz processor
Sound Blaster Live sound cards (4 each)
Radeon 9550 256 MB AGP card at 400MHz
2 Gigs of 400MHz DDR paired RAM

I'm also using a Mackie 1604 VLZ-PRO 16 channel, 4 bus mixer.

I have sub groups 1 & 2, 3 & 4 routed to two of the sound cards in stereo (4
if you want to run 4 mono groups)

The CR outs are routed to the left/right inputs of my studio monitors

Aux 1 and 2 on the external mixer are routed to 2 banks of headphone amps

Inside Ntrack studio I have 1 sound card as the lef channel and one as the
right from the sub group outs from the mixer.

I use Rapco direct boxes and AKG mics for amps and instruments.

For vocals I use an AKG condensor mic with pop screen.

Ntrack studio has some great built-in effects (plug-ins) that you can assign
to aux sends in the internal software mixer or (by using the other two sound
cards) you can route the recorded tracks back through the external mixer and
process the audio that way.

This is a home-made recording setup that works great for me, but there is
much more out there to chose from. I wouldn't even know where to start
there's so much. With a large budget, you can get a rig that allows you to
record at home with your computer just as good as a corporate studio. The
problem is...you need a degree in audio engineering to use one.

If you are a hobby recording guy...keep it simple. If you want to go big
time...take some classes. One key thing to remember about a computer for
recording...use a processor that can handle lots of algorithms in quick
succession. Also, learn about audio buffering. Buffering your audio tracks
correctly can mean the difference between crap and cream.

Have fun

Mike

The software I use is called N-track Studio on a Windows XP Home SP 2
operating system.

Post by JJ
If you had unlimited funds & could build your own computer, what components
would you invest in, ie. sound cards, video cards, processors, software etc.
Thanks, Jimi