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hueseph 20 June 2012

I know I've voiced my thoughts on this before but I'm going to do it again and I would love to hear what other people think and what your ideas of what the perfect DAW might be.

This is my Ideal DAW:

  • I would love to be able to buy my DAW as an SSD. I'd like to just plug it in to a free SATA port boot to it and allow it to configure my system.
  • I think the only way to make this feasible is for one of the major OSes which already support most software to release the core kernel of its OS a la Linux and allow one or all of the major DAWs have at it.
  • I want to boot into my DAW. Dual boot if need be.
  • The DAW would initiate a one time configuration: installing drivers for all essential components and only essential components, including ASIO, Core Audio and or WDM drivers.
  • Internet Access would only be available to sites which are compatible with the DAW. Similar to mobile, web sites will automatically detect the DAW and redirect to the DAW friendly page. Otherwise web pages will not load and plugins, upgrades, registration will have to be accessed from another web capable machine.

Going yet further:

  • How about a DAW OS that is merely a core OS which is essentially useless until you insert your DAW install Disc or thumb drive at which point it procedes to install that DAW as the OS.
  • Simply one step beyond the concept above, this OS is intended to boot to the DAW of your choice and makes that DAW your GUI for the OS.
  • This DAW OS would be based on a READ ONLY SSD. Which could only be written to at initial install and.
  • Updates to the core Kernel would require a USB dongle. This would potentially prevent any virus threat from wiping out the system at it's core. Otherwise the system would operate dongle free.

I know I'm only dreaming but wouldn't it be nice to have a system that is just a DAW? Nothing running in the background. Only services essential to the DAW. All of that extra power reserved specifically for your DAW.

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Comments

sachit Wed, 06/20/2012 - 23:11

If you don't mind, your post instantly reminded me of [="http://ubuntustudio.org/"]Ubuntu Studio[/]="http://ubuntustudio…"]Ubuntu Studio[/] and [[url=http://="http://www.bandshed…"]AV Linux[/]="http://www.bandshed…"]AV Linux[/], which I stumbled upon a while back. You might have heard of them. They are very similar to your idea of a DAW OS - they're specialized Ubuntu/Linux flavors built for multimedia professionals. Even more interesting is that AV Linux can be carried around on a pendrive, like you said, and run on top of another OS(Win/OSX/anything) specifically for music production.

These are actually OSes and not DAWs but they are easily the closest to your idea of an ideal DAW. They're just one step short of being a system that is just a DAW. Maybe that'll come true as a distro of Linux based around Ardour.

hueseph Thu, 06/21/2012 - 08:36

Actually, I've used Ubuntu Studio. It's not at all what i am thinking. I was thinking more along the lines of Radar but considerably more open and third party friendly. Ubuntu just isn't as well supported as I need it to be. Also, I don't want to lose the investment I've put into other software. I also don't want it to run inside another OS. I want it to be the OS.

thatjeffguy Thu, 06/21/2012 - 09:38

I'm curious as to what shortcomings of your current setup you would seek to overcome by your suggestions? I run a successful commercial studio on my MacPro, which also is constantly connected to the web, has other programs running constantly like Quickbooks, Pages, iTunes, Mail, iCal. I never wish I had it any other way because everything always works just fine. Exactly what are you experiencing that makes you wish you had something different?

Jeff

hueseph Thu, 06/21/2012 - 19:39

It's not necessarily that I'm dissatisfied with what I have. I just think there is a lot of potential power that is being used up by a whole lot of other processes that have nothing to do with your DAW. Radar is the best example I can think of but it's a very closed system. Maybe it's still the way to go if you intend to maintain all of your effects outboard.

Bluemonster71 Fri, 07/06/2012 - 09:49

I'm not sure that there is a lot of potential power being used up. At least by a modern PC. With quad to 8 core processors or hell even the 4x4 cpu boards, 16 gigs of massive bandwidth ram or more, quad sil/crossfire video cards and each having more than a gig of mem per card. As far as Win7 goes you really could bare bones it right down to only what your hardware and software needs. It's a lot of knowlage and tweaking but it can be done in a few hours. I don't have much on my system other than my audio programs and net access and have not yet needed more of something out of any of my hardware.

mberry593 Sat, 07/07/2012 - 12:45

That 'giant sucking sound' you are about to hear is me sucking up to the mod.

IMO this is an EXCELLENT idea. hueseph: Good thinking!! Please add it to the Ideascale. [[url=http://[/URL]="http://protools.ide…"]Pro Tools Feedback Community - by IdeaScale | Recent[/]="http://protools.ide…"]Pro Tools Feedback Community - by IdeaScale | Recent[/] I will vote for it.

I use my main workstation for Pro Tools only. I don't even have Windows solitare on it. I have gone through all of the processes and cleaned up all that are not necessary for PT. I don't connect the workstation to the internet. Therefore I don't need virus protection. My NIC is disabled. I don't use a screen saver. The only time I do Microsoft updates is just before a major update ie ver 8 to 10. IMO blurring the distinction between the OS and the DAW is just an excellent idea!

I don't have problems.

Bluemonster71 & thatjeffguy: I am running a 3.06 GHz Bloomfield Zeon with 8 cores & 12 g of memory. i have never been limited by this machine but I have come close. Loading material into Autotune graphical mode comes close to my limit. I don't do extremely large sessions but I can easily see how people with more demanding sessions would want to squeeze out the last possible bit of CPU power. ......of course, I am a native & that's why they make DSP cards for the HDX big boys.

btw, a dedicated workstation is the standard configuration at every TV station that I have seen running Media Composer. Each edit room has one workstation for the editor to actually do the work and nothing else. There is another for the producer to use for news computer story writing & research(***cough** surfing p0rn **cough***).

hueseph Sat, 07/07/2012 - 21:58

Well as flattering as that is, I'm just a moderator and though I have some experience in pro audio, there are plenty here with more under their belt. Yourself included. I'm just here to keep the peace and occasionally stir the pot. I'll try and post it on ideascale but I don't know how well it will be received. Then again, that's how PT9 and 10 came about.

Bluemonster71 Mon, 07/09/2012 - 09:56

I used to have in my studio 2 Akai DR16's. They also had a add-on card for video and keyboard support. So at that point it was a stand alone audio interface. I suppose if I understand you correctly that is what you are looking for. Mabey something like a gaming console but for recording. Plug into any tv/monitor and audio system, hook up what ever external sata and go. Yes? No? So instead of Playstation its Recording station or Recording box lol.

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