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Hi Guys,
This is my first message in any forum, yes a forum virgin!

Anyway, I would greatly appreciate any feedback on the following:

In the next couple of weeks I'm planning to purchase a new computer a audio setup. I already have an Akai S2000 sampler, keyboard & CD-RW (SCSI), Iwill Ultra Wide SCSI card for the Akai & burner. The system I'm planning to buy is:
- Pentium III 1 Ghz
- 512Mb SDRAM 133
- 60 Gig IDE HDD (apps, OS, samples, etc)
- 20 Gig SCSI HDD (Audio only) - since I already have a SCSI CD-RW and SCSI card
- Digi 001.

My questions are: should all my Hard drives be SCSI? Would having a combination of SCSI & IDE drives going to be a problem? Is the Digi 001 a good starting point, eventhough I can't really build up from there since a professional Pro Tools system is way, way out of my price range? I was previoulsy using Micrologic AV on a Pentium MMX 166, 48Mb RAM, which really couldn't cut the mustard!

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated!

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Comments

llornkcor Fri, 09/14/2001 - 02:12

I have a scsi/udma computer, and it works fine. SCSI rocks, because you can have more than 4 drives, it's sustained throughput still is faster than ata100. and scsi3 really blows doors off anything! Especially if you go for a 15,000 rpm IBM drive! (I bet THAT suckers hot, and expensive!)

Going from a 166 to 1ghz processor is going to blow your mind!

I don't know about the digi 001. Opus is da man there! I have a Tascam 428 and a RME digi96 that work fine fo rme.

What OS are you planning on? I use Win2k, and I really appreciate the stability of it. If you go win2k route, just make sure that all your hardware is compatible.

ljp

Opus2000 Fri, 09/14/2001 - 05:13

As ljp stated the combo of SCSI and IDE is fine..altho it's not absolutely neccessary if you arent doing huge track counts. As he stated SCSI is definately faster in the throughput data flow. 15,000 rpm SCSI would rock the world just dont touch that drive or your hand will melt to it!!
:D
Now, as far as the Digi001..great device..but as you said..no expandability whatsoever! I think that if you want to go work in a studio that has pro tools this is the way to learn it! Remember that Pro Tools LE is very limited in a way..certain plugins wont work..only 24 tracks of audio(and no more than that..at least if they updated that I havent heard of it yet) Some Midi implimentation.
The machine that you are thinking of getting sounds fine..ljp is right again, what a difference you are going to see
Opus

anonymous Fri, 09/14/2001 - 15:55

Thanks Guys, I just didn't want to buy 2 different types of drives and find that they're incompatable together! I was thinking that WIN 98 SE would be the OS if I was going down the Digi 001 path...I don't think that the Digi 001 has WIN 2000 drivers. I read that the Digi 001 has drivers for WIN Me also. I wonder which would be the more stable OS?

I liked the idea of the Digi because it is basically a complete package and I'll probably get it up and running really quickly and start creating...I don't want to be too bogged down with the complexities...I'm more of a musician rather than a computer technician....and sometimes I get a little confused with all of the computer jargon. Anyway, I'm just crapping on...one last question before I go is: the other audio route I was considering would be Cubase VST/32 and a sound card. This is where I get really confused because there sooooo many cards to choose from. I was looking at the Yamaha DSP factory. I know this card had onboard DSP's which would also free up CPU usaging. What do you think? I would probably also have to buy some sort of midi, I/O type of box. I don't want to buy any more physical music equipment, so the advantage of Cubase would be all thoseplug-ins

Signing off, thanks for all the input!

Opus2000 Fri, 09/14/2001 - 16:51

Yes, no Win2k for Pro Tools LE..for the MixPlus system...yes, wise choice on Digi's part for that...I'm sure they will add 2k support for the 001 very soon tho!
Yes, 98SE would definately be the best choice for the 001! I did countless configurations over the phone for 001 calls! Especially in the beginning with the via chipset issues...oh man that got me hard sometimes! They have it sussed out tho they still reccomend Intel chipsets.
There will be some tweaking needed to be done to your system I am sure to make a 001 work even better..if you're not used to Pro Tools working space then you could be confused for little bit..but that's with any software or hardware that's new to you...learning curves..it's what it's all about.
Cubase is nice indeed...tons of people either at home studios or professional composers use it. Plus you can record more audio tracks than Pro Tools LE can..if they have raised the track amount I will chime in again with a correction..
now, DSP Factory...no, if you want to just create music, that card would not be the choice of cards!! It's impossible to install, configure and understand...powerful yes, pain in the ass...yes!
If you want to get away from processor plugins get a UA card..Hear it's really really nice compliment to any software! Hardware I like for analog purposes is the Echo cards..also I use a Tascam US428 which really is nice! controller surface..Midi device and audio device rolled up into one! 24bit too! MOTU has the PCI32 card with either the 241, 2408, 1224 and a smattering of other digital sync stuff and MIDI boxes. RME seems to be the most popular these days tho with the 9652 card..but that's all optical or spdif interfaces...to get analog in you need a converter before hand! get's too expensive at that point. I'm an analog kind of guy recording on a digital DAW machine..scary aint it!!
Anyways, there's a ton to learn when you get into it...be prepared to do some studying and learning time! That's why we're here...
Peace
Opus

anonymous Fri, 09/14/2001 - 19:11

Thanks Opus, the Tascam seems like a great solution. I visited their website which was interesting. By not having an audio card how does the Tascam record the audio to the HD? Is it through the USB connection as well? I'm not too familiar with USB, since I'm working with a relic of a computer at the moment! The Digi 001 and the Tascam/Cubase setups are probably the only two solutions I will be considering. I like the idea of having a separate controller interface though!

cheers

Opus2000 Sat, 09/15/2001 - 04:40

Told you so Jofus!! many possibilities..yes, Tascam audio goes thru USB..very nice I might add to..as you said it's a great compliment to any software that allows it to be a controller surface as well as audio controller..the 2408 is nice but do you need all the inputs and outputs? do you need that much digital? Also look at their 1224 model..that's pretty nice too. you have to find the device that will suit your needs all around
Opus

anonymous Sun, 09/16/2001 - 05:16

Aardvark has a new product called the Q10. It has eight studio quality mic pre-amps (two with phantom power), and comes bundled with cakewalk pro 9. I use an aardvark Ark24 that I have been very happy with. I don't know much about Cakewalk, but I'm sure it can get the job done. This unit has everything you need in one box, and the audio quality is very good. Our drummer is going to put together a Plll 1 gig system with the Q10.

anonymous Mon, 09/17/2001 - 03:35

Thanks guys 4 all your input, I really appreciate it! ;)

It looks like I'll be going down the Tascam US428 path and upgrading the Cubasis version to Cubase VST/24 or 32. This way, at least, I can expand. VSTplug-insseem sooooo appealing to me. The Digi 001 seems like a good product, but the expandability issue is the main drawback and the 3rd partyplug-insseem too expensive compared to VSTplug-ins

ciao 4 now!

Opus2000 Wed, 09/19/2001 - 13:23

Originally posted by SonOfSmawg:
Just my $.02...don't get the 001...you'll be sorry. You'll outgrow the 001 very quickly, and have very few options for upgrading. I strongly suggest that you don't fall into the newbie trap, figuring that what you buy will be "good enough for now", because once you get into it you will want to expand.

Or.....you could build multiple machines...have everyone of them synched together in sample accuracy...one machine Digi001..one machine of Nuendo..one machine of Reason...Imagine the possibilities....imagine the hard drive space..imagine the loan you would have to take out....