Building a good multitasker

[spaceatl]

Originally Posted by adb99

Ok, i understand it this way. In order to get the absolute best performance i need to build it just for recording. I need to give myself atleast a $1,000 dollar budget. No internet at all. And mac software is the way to go. I have just a few more questions. Does OSX make it run better? I just got pro tools and im still learning it. Ive never used OSX before. All ive ever used is windows. if were to use OSX, is there anything special i would have to do to make it run on the cpu? u know, like different hardware or something?

Protools is written with OSX in mind and I believe the Berkely Unix build that OSX is based on is superior to NT (NT4, 2K, XP, Vista and 7). And Yes, one can install OSX on PC hardware naitivly now...But hardware support is not nearly as deep as Windows so you just have to do some homework...Generally, if you stick to Intel motherboards everything works fine....Granted this is a fairly advanced endeavor. But I have seen it done well more than several times...

Here is about what you have to do...I don't think you have patch the DVD anymore...

Lifehacker - Build a Hackintosh Mac for Under $800 - Consumerist

There is an up and comer that will build them for you...I think this is what I would do...

Psystar's Online Store - Open Computing Solutions featuring Mac OS X Leopard, Windows and Linux

[adb99]

i hear that u can get a pci soundcard for a mac that will do the effects processing instead of the processor itself. that would help alot. is this true?

[fmw]

Originally Posted by Audio~Geek

I honestly don't understand the paranoia of having a computer connected to the internet.

phone line->DSL modem->router->computer
no anti-virus ->no anti spyware ->kick ass DAW computer.

I ran it like this for 3 months, then did a full anti-virus/spyware scan. Not 1 infection.

having two computers and having to constantly share things back and forth, not to mention the fact I do internet collaboration every week makes the idea really inconvenient.

adb99 - There is no cheap (or legal) way to build yourself a MAC. For $1000 you can probably get a used iMac or a new Mac Mini.

You probably didn't encounter an automatic software update during a recording session. You would have noticed that.

[spaceatl]

Originally Posted by adb99

i hear that u can get a pci soundcard for a mac that will do the effects processing instead of the processor itself. that would help alot. is this true?

Yes, it is true...I use UAD-1 in my setup (4 of them now)...They work on macs and PCs...I hear they work much better under protools now than they used to...They work great under VST...I have had very few problems...

[richiebee]

I would never go Hackintosh for a DAW. It's not worth the hassle of trying to get drivers and worrying whether it will continue to get supported if Apple change their requirements for running OSX to prevent such things as Hacks. Use a PC with Windows, or use a Mac with OSX. Its your best chance of a smooth running machine.

[Audio~Geek]

Originally Posted by fmw

You probably didn't encounter an automatic software update during a recording session. You would have noticed that.

and who would be so careless as to allow automatic updates?

[Audio~Geek]

Originally Posted by richiebee

I would never go Hackintosh for a DAW. It's not worth the hassle of trying to get drivers and worrying whether it will continue to get supported if Apple change their requirements for running OSX to prevent such things as Hacks. Use a PC with Windows, or use a Mac with OSX. Its your best chance of a smooth running machine.

There was an article in a PC mag or website (can't be bothered to google it now) saying the best laptop (at the time) to run XP on was the Mac Book Pro

[adb99]

where might i find one of those soundcards for a pc?

[fmw]

Originally Posted by Audio~Geek

and who would be so careless as to allow automatic updates?

The people to whom I was communicating.

[spaceatl]

Originally Posted by adb99

where might i find one of those soundcards for a pc?

UAD is not a sound card...Rather it hosts UA FX plugins...So UA FX plugs use thier own CPU, not your PC...

Universal Audio | Home

An audio interface is a much deeper topic and you really need to have a good idea of what you want...or what you already have...situations differ and there are so many great options out there...