How powerful should my recording computer be?

[brandondrury]

Here's a another guide added to the <a href="http://www.recordingreview.com/begin...Beginner's Guides </a> section.

<a href="http://www.recordingreview.com/begin...puter.php">How Powerful Should My Recording Computer Be? </a>

Please post your comments.

Brandon

[billpaxten]

I'm using a 2 gig processor, 2 gig ram, 160 gig drive, and lots of beer. It's working great, but soon I'll have to get a firewire drive before I bog down my hard drive. Aliens man. I love you.

[brandondrury]

2 Gig of beer? Now that's power!!!

Do you really use up that much RAM? What software are you using with this rig?

When I hit control+alt+delete on my rig I never seam to use more the 160 Meg of RAM. I'm not sure how accurate that meter is.

Brando

[richiebee]

Originally Posted by brandondrury

2 Gig of beer? Now that's power!!!

Do you really use up that much RAM? What software are you using with this rig?

When I hit control+alt+delete on my rig I never seam to use more the 160 Meg of RAM. I'm not sure how accurate that meter is.

Brando

I have 4 Gig of RAM in my G5 at work... I ran out of memory once.

R.

[richiebee]

Originally Posted by brandondrury

2 Gig of beer? Now that's power!!!

Do you really use up that much RAM? What software are you using with this rig?

When I hit control+alt+delete on my rig I never seam to use more the 160 Meg of RAM. I'm not sure how accurate that meter is.

Brando

Presumably, you don't hit the three fingered salute when the thing is running?

By the way, if you use extensive plugins or software synths, you cannot have too much memory! It's not just about processing power.

Rich

[brandondrury]

It's extremely interesting how different programs use more or less RAM.

What systems are you guys running?

I can say without a doubt that Vegas doesn't use that much. I'm running mostly Waves and Anteras Plugins.

Brandon

[richiebee]

Originally Posted by brandondrury

It's extremely interesting how different programs use more or less RAM.

What systems are you guys running?

I can say without a doubt that Vegas doesn't use that much. I'm running mostly Waves and Anteras Plugins.

Brandon

The time I ran out memory, I was doing some video stuff with Final Cut Pro. On the audio side, hardware looks after a lot of the processing for ProTools.

I've got a G4 Powerbook with Cubase SX on it. I tried mixing a couple of my band's tracks on it, but it can't handle the plugins that ProTools can, not with a 16+ track count. That's one positive for ProTools - and that's LE running on my Powerbook. I have 1Gb of ram in that machine. Running Final Cut Pro on the Powerbook is a joke! Talk about slow.

In case you're wondering about all the gear - my job is pretty much to play with studio gear and recommend technology purchases and do employee technology training. Whatever people use in the department, I get a copy. That's why I've got so much gear, and not much talent. ;D I'm a wicked troubleshooter though!

R.

[brandondrury]

That's why I've got so much gear, and not much talent.

Sounds like me if you take a bunch of the gear away.

Brandon

[PhilB]

On windoze machines, what you've got running in the background also can make a huge difference. I had major skipping problems until I stripped my system of ANYTHING running in the background that wasn't necessary for audio. I was a grinch. Researched on the net, pulled off the ability to print, etc, etc. Skipping problems vanished, and I didnt' have to buy more RAM. Of course I put those services back on when needed.

Speedswitch XP is also great for monitoring CPU useage from the lower right hand corner of the screen. AND, it prevents HP machines from reducing CPU speed during 'down times' (HP machines reduce CPU speed in certain situations to reduce battery drain. Of course, screw that idea if you want max CPU for audio!

The more you know...

[brandondrury]

You are right, Windows optimization is required. Windows is meant to be all things to all people. You really have to customize it to be what YOU need. I go through a 20 minute process and remove everything from my recording computers (I do something similar, but not quite as hardcore to my home computer).


I plan on posting an article on this soon.


Brandon