Pretty vague question ahite....
There's a million PC's out there...do you want a desktop or a laptop?
How much are you looking to spend?
What brand of "audio producing" software do you have?
What brand of "audio producing" hardware do you have?

mainly laptop if possible
i dont care really how much to spend as long as i get my moneys worth
but right now i have a protools essential kit and music maker 15
but i don't currently have any hardware except a mic but im about to purchase a mixer and a preamp

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Start here, then see what sort of configuration you might be able to find in a Sony or HP but just understand that any laptop needs to be very striped down for recording any audio and that is what companies like Rain do....they configure the computer for use as a DAW...

There are audio pc companies that have laptop platforms as well. This is what I would recommend. If you also want something to surf the web and play spider solitaire then get yourself a netbook for your email etc. Leave the audio computer ONLY for audio.

The main issue with any consumer level laptop (or desktop) is the variances in the motherboard layouts/routing and how that routing is sent to/from the chip controller. This factor alone can take a computer of any brand with great paper specifications and make it into garbage for audio or video editing. Even with Apple you need to stick with the Pro level Mac's. Some HP are ok. Some Dell are ok. Rarely does an Acer work for anything. You will have a ton of research to do if you choose the consumer prebuilt pc route.

TheJackAttack, post: 347488 wrote: There are audio pc companies that have laptop platforms as well. This is what I would recommend. If you also want something to surf the web and play spider solitaire then get yourself a netbook for your email etc. Leave the audio computer ONLY for audio.

The main issue with any consumer level laptop (or desktop) is the variances in the motherboard layouts/routing and how that routing is sent to/from the chip controller. This factor alone can take a computer of any brand with great paper specifications and make it into garbage for audio or video editing. Even with Apple you need to stick with the Pro level Mac's. Some HP are ok. Some Dell are ok. Rarely does an Acer work for anything. You will have a ton of research to do if you choose the consumer prebuilt pc route.

There is not a lot of difference in Mac hardware except for the Mac Pros, the other models are base around laptop components.

I use a Mac mini no problems with session of 32-48 tracks using logic Pro.

There is not a lot of difference in Mac hardware except for the Mac Pros, the other models are base around laptop components.

I don't know that I would agree with that. I have seen enough folks have issues with the non Pro laptops that I think at least some of those aren't universally agreeable to large audio/video editing. The Pro laptops and desktops seem to be better all around.

I use a Mac mini no problems with session of 32-48 tracks using logic Pro.

I am glad to see this. I have been wondering about these. They spec out pretty nicely actually. Thanks for that. Since I know you have several Mac's how do think the Mini compares overall?

TheJackAttack, post: 347545 wrote: I don't know that I would agree with that. I have seen enough folks have issues with the non Pro laptops that I think at least some of those aren't universally agreeable to large audio/video editing. The Pro laptops and desktops seem to be better all around.

I am glad to see this. I have been wondering about these. They spec out pretty nicely actually. Thanks for that. Since I know you have several Mac's how do think the Mini compares overall?

The current Mini, compares well with the core2duo Macbook Pros.

At this point Apple seems to be changing tracks, traditionally iMacs parallel the Macbook pro, mini = Macbook + firewire.

The four core imac i7 is closer to a mac pro quad in performance, so I expect a mac pro update to widen the gap.
I would like to see an i7 in the mini, it's about due an update.

I have an old core duo mini, still holding it's own. just recently some of my sessions push it 50%.

An HP laptop with a core i7 processor would be a good choice. That would give you plenty of processing power with the fast chip and the HP laptops are loaded with features. Get a good battery though, if there is an option to purchase one that has a longer battery life at the computer store.
:smile:

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Try and get a core i7 processor. In a laptop this might be expensive. Also think about going 64 bit. The music world is just taking the leap into the 64 bit universe, If you start in this way (buying a sequencer and other instruments/apps that are written in 64 bit, then you are not going to have future issues. With Windows in 32 bit you cant use more than 2 gig of RAM even if its installed. In sixty four bits ther are no RAM limits and believe me that is important for technical reasons.

So, core i7 MAc or PC (PC is much cheaper). At least four gig of RAM a decent sound card (a MUST), (check M Audio for this) and oh...no heavy gaming graphic cards, a decent sound card

If you are running a keyboard then maybe you will need some kind of MIDI interface, although the new stuff uses a USB type.

Freebie software check out KVR. If you get your computer from a decent music shop (like Digital Village) its custom made for the job - erphaps a little pricier, but if you get a bog standard laptop with on voard sound its going to screw things up - though it will function (hopefully) it could have latency problems and a lot of other issues. latency is the time gap between hitting a key on a musical keyboard and the actual production of the sound.

Get a copy of Computer music or something like this.. it can help identify the current best gear.

The Rain computer link listed above is a great resource. Rain Computers | Audio + Video Workstations

In general, if you can afford it, always go with true workstations or workstation components vs. consumer machines. The difference is astounding in performance and especially reliability.

thanks for the great info in this thread. glad to hear i did the right thing. i got a 6 core rack from rain and im happy.

as for mac, im done with that. i spent a ton on the new imac and cubase was awful. so was there service. they couldnt help me at all. all they want to do is sell iphones

i agree that getting a comp for audio is best from a company like rain becuase of components. but mostly its about getting help. someone has to have answers to the hard questions. so far rain has been awesome. i guess ill see how far that goes when i have a big problem

I think with all the newer models, it would be very hard to find a Windows laptop that is not built for audio that would work well for a DAW. This is because of all the power saving features (speedstep, c-state, etc.) they now come configured with. Unless you can turn these features off in the bios (and in almost all cases you can't) there is a very good chance you will be running into problems - especially if your using firewire. I'm speaking from personal experience, and I'm not a Mac user.

ohiolivesound, post: 352369 wrote: thanks for the great info in this thread. glad to hear i did the right thing. i got a 6 core rack from rain and im happy.

as for mac, im done with that. i spent a ton on the new imac and cubase was awful. so was there service. they couldnt help me at all. all they want to do is sell iphones

i agree that getting a comp for audio is best from a company like rain becuase of components. but mostly its about getting help. someone has to have answers to the hard questions. so far rain has been awesome. i guess ill see how far that goes when i have a big problem

I NEVER put Steinberg products on my macs, on the other hand they work fine on my PC.

I just upgraded my ION with Win 7, called Jami from Rain to tweak the OS and wow! This box rocks. There is something to say about having someone that knows what to do to get the OS optimized for audio. I watched him do a remote and make this thing scream.

You made a great decision buying a Rain system.

Yeah, I think the Rain system will be great. After the fact, I think it's important to consider compatibility. In my case, I bought the system I did because most of the guys I work with have the same, and since I'm not so very tech, it's a beautiful thing to have friends who can help.