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BobbyRose23 16 March 2013

I'm going to build a computer dedicated for recording, what should be minimum specs?

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anonymous Sun, 03/17/2013 - 05:18

That's a difficult question to answer, because it depends entirely on what you plan on doing.

Are you a singer - songwriter with a guitar and vocal that will be satisfied with four tracks?

Or are you looking at dense productions of 16, 24, 36 tracks, with each track being loaded down with a slew of FX processing?

Are you looking at using sample libraries/soft synths and drum programming apps? Amp simulation progs?

And regardless of what you intend to do, you shouldn't ever be looking at minimum specs.

You can research the minimum specs that the manufacturer of your software recommends, but you shouldn't stay with those minimum requirements.

Why? Because this technology is moving sooo fast, that what works today won't necessarily suffice next year, or for that matter, even next month.

Those that purchased PC's or Macs based on their ability to do just one thing... record digital audio at 44.1/16 bit, ended up getting the short end of the stick once other facets of the technology came into play; extended production tools like soft synths, FX and Processor libraries, video capability, extended sampling rates and bit resolutions... etc.,etc. ended up taxing those computers in memory and processor power in severe ways, to the point of lock ups, drop outs and glitchy audio.

Also...things like the types of audio I/O's will determine the connectivity of the computer... For example, there are more than a few audio I/O's that offer Firewire only in terms of connecting that device to your PC. And while you'd think that all computers will have a firewire port, you'd be wrong in that assumption.

You need to be very specific in terms of what you want to accomplish, and do your best to look into the crystal ball to determine how that might change in the not so distant future, because that will be a huge determining factor in terms of what you need.

fwiw
-d.

BobbyRose23 Sun, 03/17/2013 - 09:02

I'm talking minimum specs cause this is the first build I am doing for recording and I want to know minimum so I can work up and know what to stay away from, anything I build right now is 2ce as fast as my all in one computer I am currently using to mess around. I can run cubase almost flawlessly and I bought it in 2009.

I'm going to run a zoom r16 to record a band for the most part, I've already planned my eventual upgrade by putting a FireWire card in there. I'm not gonna make it as powerful as a gaming computer but it also won't be bottom of the totem pole either. Something for a good amount of years for recording.

As far as band I will be doing amp simulation, prolly amp micing, as well as drum micing. I will have wavelab elements so I can begin to learn about mastering, but I have friends who do it for a living to do it for me. But I do wanna learn about it as well.

KurtFoster Sun, 03/17/2013 - 15:34

firewire is yesterday. usb 2 / 3 or thunderbolt is the wave of the future. if you do anything less than an i7 processor with 8 gigs of ram you will regret it. PT 10 system requirements.

Mac Systems

  • Computer: Avid-qualified Apple computer (see details)
  • System Software (32 or 64-bit) Mac OS X 10.6.7 (Snow Leopard) through 10.7.4 (Lion)
  • Total System RAM: 2GB minimum, 4GB (or more) recommended

Windows Systems

  • Computer: Avid-qualified Windows-based computer (see details)
  • System Software (32 or 64-bit) Windows 7 Home Premium, Professional, or Ultimate edition with Windows 7 Service Pack 1
  • Total System RAM: 2GB minimum, 4GB (or more) recommendedFor Apple Computers
    • Standard and Optional graphics cards as configured by Apple

    For Windows Desktop Computers

    Supported Nvidia Graphics Cards

    • NVIDIA Quadro 4000 2GB PCIe video board
    • NVIDIA Quadro 2000 1GB PCIe video board
    • NVIDIA Quadro 600 1GB PCIe video board
    • NVIDIA Quadro FX 4800 1.5GB PCIe video board
    • NVIDIA Quadro FX 3800 1.5GB PCIe video board
    • NVIDIA Quadro FX 1800 768MB PCIe video board
    • NVIDIA Quadro FX 580 512MB PCIe video board
    • NVIDIA Quadro NVS 290 256MB PCIe video board

    Supported Nvidia Quadro Graphics Drivers

For Apple Computers

  • Standard and Optional graphics cards as configured by Apple

For Windows Desktop Computers

Supported Nvidia Graphics Cards

  • NVIDIA Quadro 4000 2GB PCIe video board
  • NVIDIA Quadro 2000 1GB PCIe video board
  • NVIDIA Quadro 600 1GB PCIe video board
  • NVIDIA Quadro FX 4800 1.5GB PCIe video board
  • NVIDIA Quadro FX 3800 1.5GB PCIe video board
  • NVIDIA Quadro FX 1800 768MB PCIe video board
  • NVIDIA Quadro FX 580 512MB PCIe video board
  • NVIDIA Quadro NVS 290 256MB PCIe video board

Supported Nvidia Quadro Graphics Drivers

anything less than this is a waste of time / money and you will regret it in the near future. if you can run PT 10 you will be able to run anything.

i'm going to buy a 1" otari 8 track and throw my computers out in the street. i'm sick of this shit.

KurtFoster Sun, 03/17/2013 - 16:17

and your never going to change? upgrades come and go ... sooner or later (more likely sooner) you will be forced to upgrade. if you don't keep up with the pack you will always be doing exactly this ... trying to catch up.

if you are going to record on computers you have to stay current.

but do what you want .... :rolleyes:

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