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anonymous 12 January 2009

Hi there,

It seems my old system is dying out on me so it's time for a new one. Technically it's gone kaput in the middle of a big project with fast approaching deadlines so I've had to get up to speed pretty quickly on things.

I was wondering if you guys might have some advice.

Here are my goals with getting a new system:
- 2 x Duo Core and up
- must have no problem running Cubase 4, Kontakt 3, Pro Tools8
- has room to grow - i.e. space for additional RAM and HDs.
- all the other regular recording requirements: i.e. quiet, etc.

Many people have been trying to convince me to go for a Mac (I've been in the PC world for awhile now mainly for financial reasons), but as far as I can tell the only system they have that fits my requirements would be the MacPro 8 core, which seems like overkill to me in that a lot of that power won't even be used by my software, and also that it would cost around $3300 canadian... and that's for a barebones system with only 2gig of ram.

Although I'm tempted to get a Mac I'm thinking it might be smarter to do what I've always done and get a shop to build a PC for me. But this is my first time building a 'proper' audio computer. I read through the recent laptop thread and took some notes.

I guess my main question is: what do you guys think about this whole i7 processor/DDR3 thing? I know it's a smarter route to go if I want it to be easily upgradable in the future, but will it mess things up with my soundcard (firebox) and apps? Am I better to stick with 32 bit? Even the 8 core Macs aren't at 64 bit yet.

Another thought is a custom made music system. You pay a bit more for the 'custom' part but might be worth it. This is the one I've been looking at: http://www.musicxpc.com/c6x.asp

Thanks for any advice you might have, sorry if there's already a thread about this... couldn't find one.

Comments

RemyRAD Mon, 01/12/2009 - 17:59

If you want ProTools 8? You simply need go to the Digidesigns web sites and find out what their recommendations are for ProTools 8. You must buy what they recommend. Otherwise, you have purchased yourself an expenses box of junk, that will never work with ProTools 8. They are very specific about their hardware & operating system requirements. So do your homework and go to the Digidesign web site. Especially since you really don't know what's going on.

Not a ProTools fan
Remy Ann David

anonymous Mon, 01/12/2009 - 18:32

Thanks for your replies.

Yah, I've been hesistant to go over to Macs because I feel they're over-priced thanks to their PR.

Remy, what's up with saying I "really don't know what's going on"? You're usually more friendly than that. I'm not really sure what you're basing that on. Anyway...

I meant a 64 OS. i.e. i7 processor, DDR3, etc. the whole package. i.e. the newest Intel systems. From what I've learned in the 3 days since my system died on me (under much deadline duress), if I move to an i7 processor system I might be stuck with needing to run the OS in 64 bit which might not work with some of my audio software. I misspoke saying that Macs don't have 64bit, I meant not having i7 processors yet.

PT isn't my main software, I'm a Cubase user, I just have a PT micro so I could learn the interface. It runs fine on my current system (PC) and laptop (also PC). The machines I mentioned above are a) a Mac Pro which is PT compatible and b) a music tweaked PC which is Digidesign approved. I don't see where the potential problems are there.

Really what I was hoping for where some further pointers about putting a system together. And to get an idea of the pulse of audio people re: the whole mac/pc debate.

RemyRAD Tue, 01/13/2009 - 01:56

I'm sorry, I didn't mean come off that brash. I apologize. But with those Digi design folks & the way they carry on business, you must be absolutely certain what you are purchasing. He may even want to contact them and tell them what your intent is?

Yeah, with that HD 24 & a M-box 2, nice way to go if you like ProTools. I'm a big fan of Adobe Additions & Sony Vegas. But it's easy to dump to an external hard drive & mixed in ProTools Jr..

Biting my toenails
Ms. Remy Ann David

Guest Tue, 01/13/2009 - 07:43

pollysix wrote: Thanks for your replies.

Yah, I've been hesistant to go over to Macs because I feel they're over-priced thanks to their PR.

Remy, what's up with saying I "really don't know what's going on"? You're usually more friendly than that. I'm not really sure what you're basing that on. Anyway...

I meant a 64 OS. i.e. i7 processor, DDR3, etc. the whole package. i.e. the newest Intel systems. From what I've learned in the 3 days since my system died on me (under much deadline duress), if I move to an i7 processor system I might be stuck with needing to run the OS in 64 bit which might not work with some of my audio software. I misspoke saying that Macs don't have 64bit, I meant not having i7 processors yet.

PT isn't my main software, I'm a Cubase user, I just have a PT micro so I could learn the interface. It runs fine on my current system (PC) and laptop (also PC). The machines I mentioned above are a) a Mac Pro which is PT compatible and b) a music tweaked PC which is Digidesign approved. I don't see where the potential problems are there.

Really what I was hoping for where some further pointers about putting a system together. And to get an idea of the pulse of audio people re: the whole mac/pc debate.

HI,
the core i7 is by far the best way to go.
even macs the mac pro look bad.

why are you concerned with what digi approves of if you are using a presonus firebox?

there are lots of systems that are not didgi approved that work perfectly

(like digi is some definative answer)

Scott
ADK

RemyRAD Tue, 01/13/2009 - 17:11

Yes, there are other systems that will work with Digi design that are not approved by them.

What this means to you.

Even if it works, if it's not the authorized recommended equipment and you have any problems whatsoever, they will not provide you with any support at all, whatsoever.

So while I prefer Adobe Audition & Sony Vegas, I have a slightly unauthorized IBM laptop running ProTools 7.0 when people insist upon or need mixes of ProTools projects.

But I record & track through Neve, API to a Alesis HD 24xr. I can then import into ProTools and if necessary, finish up overdubs with the M-Box 2 with outboard API & Neve preamps. If I had to? I'd use the microphone preamps in the box 2. But I'd rather avoid that if I can. After all, they won't even supply me with this schematic of their crappy microphone preamps. I don't take kindly to companies that operate that way. That's bull crap. That's unprofessional. That's a toy in a professional world.

Sure, there are companies out there that will gladly modify any of your Digi design front-ends, so that they sound better. I say, don't waste the money. Waste it on better sounding microphone preamps, such as Neve & API's. That's the sound you want anyhow.

I got what I want now get what you want
Remy Ann David

pr0gr4m Tue, 01/13/2009 - 17:27

This is what I got several months ago and I love it:

Gigabyte GA-x48-DS4
Intel Core 2 Quad Q9450
Corsair 4gb DDR2
Seagate Barracuda 500GB w/32 MB cache
Western Digital 250GB w/16 MB cache
Gigabyte Radeon HD 3850
Antec P182, Gun Metal Black baby!

oh, and the power supply...
Antec 850W power supply! <--This thing runs my computer, fridge and clothes dryer all at the same time. You wouldn't believe the box it came it. It looks like it could withstand a level 5 hurricane. It was a little much but I got it in the hopes that it wouldn't be pushed too hard and thus run quieter.

It runs Cubase 4 and NI stuff. Never tried PT on it. It's quiet but not silent.

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