[Informations] - Choosing a new Professional DAW Machine (CME VX8 controller)

[Pidgeon]

Hello, I'm going to buy a new PC (serious DAW usage) so that I can run as many VST/plugins I can (EWQL Symphonic Orchestra, EWQL Symphonic Choir, GPO, VSL) without having glitches/fuzz/clicks/noise/etc (lowest latency possible).

Here are some info:

PC Usage:

- DVD Playback (Dolby Digital 5.1/DTS)
- Gaming (not very much)
- Track creations using big samples (much)

What I own/will buy:

- Windows XP Home Edition 32 Bit SP2
- Cubase SX3
- CME VX8 Keyboard
- Creative Gigaworks S750 7.1 (700W RMS)
- Creative DDTS-100 decoder

And here is a configuration I'm thinking about:

Motherboard: D975XBX2 Intel® 975X LGA775 ATX 200 €
Processor: INTEL CORE 2 QUAD Q6600 tray STEP G0 240 €
RAM: OCZ PLATINUM PC2 8000 2048MB 1000MHZ 2*200 €
Hard Disk: SEAGATE HD BARRACUDA 7200.11_500GB_SATA 300_32MB 2*100 €
Audio Card: Auzentech X-Meridian 7.1 200 €

Total 1240 €

N.B.: regarding the HD, I was thinking about a 500GB+500GB = 1 TB configuration (RAID 0 mode) where samples are stored, plus a 120 GB drive for the OS/Cubase.

Do you think is a good configuration?

Do you suggest me something else?

My budget is around 1200€.

Thank you!

[brandondrury]

- Creative Gigaworks S750 7.1 (700W RMS)

YUCK! If you are serious about actually cranking out good mixes, I'd urge you to get some real studio monitors and not just some consumer grade toys. I dont' mean to come off sounding like a jerk. After your mixes come out sounding completely different in every stereo you play them in, you'll quickly figure out that consumer surround thingies are not the way to get accurate mixes.

N.B.: regarding the HD, I was thinking about a 500GB+500GB = 1 TB configuration (RAID 0 mode) where samples are stored, plus a 120 GB drive for the OS/Cubase.

I wouldn't bother with RAID unless you are just REALLY into that sort of thing. It wouldn't hurt to have all of your samples backed up, but the only benefit of this is the time saved transferring samples from DVD to hard disk again.

If it were me, I'd use 3 hard drives. #1 for the C: drive (keep it ROBO clean). Install no unnecessary junk! #2 for all my audio files (no samples). #3 would be for samples only.

Then, if I was doing mostly sample work, I'd probably backup my samples onto #2 if you have the hard drive space to blow. Then, you have the benefit of having your samples backed up to another hard disk, but also get the benefit of using a seperate drive for your working audio folder.

Brandon

[Baron]

Originally Posted by brandondrury

YUCK! If you are serious about actually cranking out good mixes, I'd urge you to get some real studio monitors and not just some consumer grade toys. I dont' mean to come off sounding like a jerk. After your mixes come out sounding completely different in every stereo you play them in, you'll quickly figure out that consumer surround thingies are not the way to get accurate mixes.

Brandon

Hey Pidgeon

I would highly advise that you pay heed to Brandon's advice here. If there is any one area that can make or break a recording setup, then this would be it.
If you can't hear what you are producing, in reference, then you can't expect to get good product. You can have the best recording gear in the world but, if your monitors are no good, you won't get good product.



Baron