Can you guys tell me if this Looks like a good DAW?

[Sinnerx96]

Hi guys,
I'm not new to recording, just to recording with a computer. I did alot of research and came up with some general ideas of what I wanted, and was helped out along the way. I decided to have it built because I dont trust myself to configure and build just yet. Can you guys give me some opinions and comments about my 1st system? I'm excited and I THINK I made some good decisions. Anyway, here it is;

-Black Mid Tower 330w PSU
-P4 2.4 800 FSB
-P4P800 MoBo
-1.44 Floppy
-1024 MB(2 sticks of 512) DDR PC3200 RAM
-Radeon 7000 64mb Dual Head VGA
-40gb Seagate 7200(OS, Apps)
-80gb Seagate 7200 w/ 8mb cache(Audio)
-LG 48x CDRW + 16DVD Combo
-Windows XP Home
-Blk Keyboard, Blk Mouse
-Delta 1010
-Cubase SL(I plan on upgrading to SX shortly as I get the hang of it)
-Built and Fully Configured with 1yr tech support and warranty from DawBox.com(Justin was a Great Help by the way)
-All for Under $2,100

I Most Likely will be getting a controller like the Mackie Baby HUI, and the UAD-1 eventually.

 

[bgober]

Looks good. But I think I would go with the Matrox 550 32meg video card and the Western Digital JB model for my drives.

 

[Sinnerx96]

Thanks for the reply. Whats better about the Matrox 550 card?

 

[MisterBlue]

The Matrox G550 is well tested in DAW's and known not to interfere with most audio cards. A number of other video cards are optimized for best possible video performance, sometimes living large at the expense of audio. Also, the Matrox is able to drive 2 displays which is a feature that you will quickly appreciate when working with DAW's.
Another good (and inexpensive) video solution is the ATI Radeon VE. I am running on myself and it works very well in my DAW. It also offers two video outputs (one of which can be used as DVI format).

I think that your choice of Seagate HDD's is perfect, specifically given that the larger one has an 8MB buffer. Seagates are by far the quietest solutions out there (which is another point you will soon appreciate if your PC runs in your control room). WD's are not terrible but they are a few dB louder than Seagates.

All in all, I think your choice of system is a very good one.

MisterBlue.

 

[MisterBlue]

... and maybe one more recommendation:

I would get a second 80GB disk for backups (doesn't have to be the fastest model) and a UPS. Since I had an audio disk die on me (not a Seagate, I might add . But I certainly learned my lesson.

MisterBlue.

 

[Tore Nylund]

When it comes to HD's you should go for 8mb cache for both drives . You will gain performance with 8 mb cache on the OS-drive too, and they're not much more expensive either. I think that Opus did write about this a few months ago. Anyway, after my Seagate 40 Gb OS-drive crashed I bought a WD 8Mb cache for OS, and it really reduced the CPU load in my projects.
For a third backup drive you can use a "slow" 2 Mb cache-drive.

I plan on upgrading to SX shortly as I get the hang of it

About Cubase SL... there are things that are really useful in SX that are not available in SL.
Like adding VST-effects when editing audio... Great fun when you're working with loops or editing vocals... like de-essing single words... adding delay on a single phrase or just add a reverb on the snare beat in a loop.
If money is not the issue you should go for SX, it's such a joy to use.... and very easy to learn.

 

[Sinnerx96]

Thanks ALOT Guys! I Really appreciate the comments. I cant wait till it arrives,...around the 3rd of July Thanks again.