Computer Tech questions for Brandons book

[rp350mike]

I would love to see some tech issues covered in the book about building and maintaining a PC for DAW usage.

For example I have a HP Pavilion PC, with an AMD Athlon 64 X2 dual-core 3800+ processor, 200gb hard drive, 1024mb ram, Nvidia geforce 6150 le graphics, realtech hd audio, lightscribe DVD +- writer / CD-writer, DVD rom, etc.., and have been modifying My software to experiment with the best management I may wish to achieve.

But for the book, I was hoping for a list of issues the Computer-Nerds may recommend, as MUST ISSUES / and SUBJECTS, to be covered for laymen, rather than tech experts like Me.

I am going to mention issues I have run into, as a open suggestion, towards getting the Computer experts in here to think of what issues they May recommend, and how they may recommend they be dealt with for non-computer techs ----with no implication whatsoever that My list of issues is on target at all, or not, for what they may suggest ( if there is indeed an agreement that some computer tech basics should be included or not )????

1) [ For PC users ] In choosing a PC for DAW, buy a high-end PC, in Your price range, which does not come with a "Bundled" software package, but rather comes with a "Clean" installation of windows XP home or professional, which will have no additional software for conflicts with dedicated DAW usage, including hidden bundled software development, and management software, You don't want.

My PC, is a bundled PC, using "Python" development software, to unpack and install the 7gig of software found in My 10.5 gig fat32 file system recovery partition, and install it into rest of My 200gb hard drive, in windows XP NTFS ( new technology file system ). I have stripped all software I do not want on My PC, and installed Avanquest System suite 7 professional on My PC, as well as downloaded the free Revo Uninstaller, to manage My PC / software, as well as manually downloading Microsoft updates, including windows defender, and malicious software removal tools, and many other updates, etc.., as well as anti-virus software, etc.., and am not having problems with My DAW usage so far, with the PC management I currently maintain. I use System suite to remove old recovery checkpoints, manage registry, Jet Defrag, and Registry Defrag ( which does indeed give Me a quick software boot ). I use windows defender, control panel, other control panels options, software explorer to manage My start-up tray active / inactive software-load at start-up, and Revo Uninstaller, to manage removal of other junk files, windows logs, windows clean-up, and evidence remover ( to get rid of deleted junk, which does not really delete under windows ---and with My recent scratch build of this PC software, and current updates, I cleared up about 3 gig of junk, and backed up recovery point saved junk, etc.., ), as well as periodically running dos-command prompt chkdsk, to double check windows has no file management indexing issues, etc.., And I have windows office 2003 installed, but don't use MSN email or live chat features, and thus I have removed windows messenger etc.., ---And I try updates, I like and if they develop problems, I remove them, and once I get a set I like, I periodically performed software / hardware removal ( the emu-0404 ), after which I do a destructive recovery, and rebuild My current favorites for software build. I had Media player 11, but needed to download HP patch for My Roxio digital media archive and burning software, and had tried out IE 8, and silverlight, but have yet to upgrade them back into My build as of yet, as I am trying out SP3, and have had no computer or DAW problems associated with it as of yet ---but I do love My destructive recoveries, as I always a teaching Myself new things. And one day soon, will need to save up for the hot tech "windows hacks" books I have been reviewing on amazon, because I eat tech books up, and it's about time I stepped up My computer skills, with some real learning from real tech book computer tech guru's

2) In choosing a PC, hardware issues to look for, if choosing a PCI, or PCI-X buss sound card, etc.., PCI as I understand is a shared buss, where accelerator DSP cards can be added in sequence, for powerful CPU load reduction, which most Home PC DAW's wont need????

3) PCI-X, is an exclusive, or dedicated buss slot, and sound and accelerator cards are offered for it??????????????

4) DAW Sound Card installations, such as the EMU-0404, to replaces onboard integrated sound chip set functionality, as Windows only supports a 1 sound card environment???

5) Also the EMU-0404 card for example uses "UNSIGNED" drivers for it's cards, as they do not want to sign onto Windows universal usage protocols, to automatically guarantee their drivers will work for other software and devices????

5b) Dual Hardware profile issues and pitfalls, if one were to attempt to share a DAW soundcard installation, in dual hardware profile, with onboard integrated sound chipset???? ( It only created problems when I tried it )

6) Recommendations for utility software such as Avanquest System Suite 9 professional, for DAW-PC management, As I use 7 Myself for now, with custom installation, without it's anti-virus option, for it's registry defrag etc.., and Revo Uninstaller, tray tools, etc.., ( But I am in no way up-to-date as to what the new software versions contain, nor best recommendations, even if I did, as I am not a great computer tech yet

7) Recommendations for windows updates, and downloads, such as net 2.0 service pack, or windows defender, power tools, etc..,

8) Recommended anti-virus, anti-spyware software, for when PC has to connect to internet, on DAW PC, which can be turned off, when not online, or if it will interfere with DAW software itself: But for online DAW installation, unlock, upgrades, etc.., ---and the inevitable internet search for related DAW subject search results, ( if applicable ---such as, for web searches, or if recommended for hi-speed cable connection, due to cable as a LAN environment???? )

9) Recommendation that a DAW PC not be used for online usage, other than DAW activations, etc..,???????

10) Windows Firewall, or other Firewall options settings and usage, such as “Alow” list, etc..,

11) Driver set ups for DAW PC's using DAW dedicated Sound cards, USB 2.0 DAW sound interface, ( 1394 ) Firewire DAW interface, etc..,????

12) CPU speed, and other requirements, for list of possible level of DAW classifications of CPU drain ( with examples of various DAW packages, amount of VST, and other "Plug-Ins," /sound interface combo's [ DSP accelerator chip set assistance or not, via sound card, and accelerator card installations or not ] )?????

13) Type and amount, and speed of Ram types installed, including related to issue on point 12) on how much Cache, and FSB ( Front Side Buss ) ram, and it's higher speed will effect performance???

14) Hard Drive, capacity, speed, and controller/interface type????

15) Dangers of DOS command prompt use, [ if covered ] as I do use it to check things out, and remove selective software, and or directories. However danger lies in CHKDSK means check disk, and for it to make repairs if it recommends one uses CHKDSK /F ---for fix, which must never be confused with FDSK ( for FORMAT DISK ), which will wipe out You hard drive partition.

16) Keeping hard disk defragmented, and optimized, for optimum performance as DAW PC.

17) Not running other, unnecessary software while running DAW software???

18) If software allows group application of effects such as EQ to reduce CPU load, rather than assigning individual EQ's per individual channels?????

19) If software allows reversible changes to a project, possibly assigning EQ, and other changes, while still reversible to the sound of a track, so as to save CPU, by not having to run the particular effect plug-in on that track???

20) Difference between Sound Cards, and Sound Accelerator Cards, etc.., ????

21) The difference between a DAW site "Hot Fix" and "Update"????

Just for a few things to think about?????????????

I am too tired to think right now, but the point is, But even if covered in other chapter context ---What about a chapter on hardware and software requirements, and computer optimization, and power-saving CPU usage, and CPU usage in general ----something to the effect "Building and maintaining a healthy and well running DAW PC," -----and even though material I mentioned, will be mentioned elsewhere, not all of it will???????? So I am asking for Computer Tech advice, on indexed numerical lists of what You would recommend for such a chapter in the book, and what choices would You put on lists of "Do's and Don'ts" ---for utilities suggestions???? Microsoft software utility and other recommendations, etc..,????????


Thank You.

Mike.