Recording Computer Building Questions

[brandondrury]

Ive read, re read, and will read your thread on building a computer again. But i saw in another thread where you caid you could build one for around 3-400 bucks. Now Im not on quite that tight of a budget, but that sounds nice. I was wondering if you could walk me through some more specific recommendations as far as processors mother boards and so on. Im more than likely going to switch over to cubase sx3, but im not sure what would be best for me as far as an interface/sondcard. ill be recording full band stuff with drums and all that. Can you help me along? i appreciate it man

The soundcard part is easy..or least easy with this little creation of mine.
http://www.recordingreview.com/soundcard/

Off hand, I can't recommend a specific processor. I could certainly look to see what is compatible, but the same can be said for any person. I go through the steps in a fairly recent article here:

http://www.recordingreview.com/artic...-Computer.html

In case, it's not included in that article, the process is fairly simple.

#1 Figure out your total budget.
#2 Figure out your sound card.
#3 Research the sound card to see if it is not compatible with specific motherboard, USB2.0, or Firewire chipsets.
#4 Go to Newegg, Tigerdirect, etc.
#5 Search for a processor. You want to get the fastest processor with the largest cache possible at the best price point (if you are on a tight budget). I always try to spend between $60-75 on the processor. For the most part, as long as the cache at least 512k, this same processor was probably $200 last year. It's the way things go. It is possible to build a great computer for $400, but you have to accept that your computer you are building today was a top of the line computer 2 years ago. (Which is totally fine in my book because it costs much less to stay exactly 2 years behind.)
#6 Find a motherboard that is compatible with your processor and sound card (remember the chipset issue in #3). I like to spend $50-75 on the motherboard on a budget computer.
#7 Select the fastest and the greatest quantity of RAM that is compatible with your motherboard.
#8 Select the $30 DVD burner.
#9 Go with the hard drives that are on sale. I never spend more than $90 on a hard drive. ATA100 is fast enough for any person not recording Michael Jackson.
#10 Video cards are not that big of deal for audio. Some video cards actually hog CPU power from the motherboard. Generally speaking, a $50 video card is fine for audio.
#11 The case is not important in my opinion. I get a cheap ass case.
#12 If budget allows, I like to spend $40 on the power supply.

You'll notice I used prices. This is because prices are the only thing that stays the same. The processor you buy today will probably cost half the price in a year. (There are exceptions, however). You don't find processors under $50.

If I was going to spend extra money, it would go to the RAM and processor. Buying a better case does nothing. Buying a power supply that costs more than $40 does nothing (in my experience). Buying a more expensive motherboard seams to have nothing to do with how long it lasts or even the features (but sometimes).

Keep in mind that you may require Firewire or USB 2.0. Some motherboards have these, but you can always buy seperate PCI cards for this as well. Keep in mind that some sound card manufacturers that use Firewire or USB 2.0 sometimes have compatibility issues with the chipset in the Firewire card itself. So check that out as well.

Brandon

[mrn_89]

Im almost positive im going to go with the firepod or firestudio from presonus. all that requires is a firewire port. thanks for your help thus far!

[brandondrury]

I know for a fact that the Presonus Firewire stuff does have an issue with a certain firewire chipset. If you don't take 10 minutes to research this, you may regret it.

Brandon

[mrn_89]

thanks brandon, i found this out of my research.

"I recommend having a non-combo, FireWire 400-only expansion card with a Texas Instruments or VIA chipset. TI & VIA will usually not be the actual manufacturer of the card -- just the controller chip on the board."

Here what im looking at as far as processor and mother board.

http://www.newegg.com/product/produc...82E16819103759

http://www.newegg.com/product/produc...82E16813131022

What do you think? I know those are much more expensive compared to what youve mentioned. Im definitely going with the Presonus firewire sound card/interface, and as far as the Computer itself i have a budget of around $1000. Im not very knowledgeable as far as processors and motherboards go, so please help direct me if you can.

[brandondrury]

Not everyone will agree, but I think this computer is fast....too fast.

What I mean is that the big picture here is not to have the world's fastest PC, but to create the best music possible.

A $300 processor is great if you can afford it, but my question is can you afford it....and afford acoustic treatment, microphones, and kick ass recording software.

This processor is smoking. Don't get me wrong, I've love to have it. However, it sets the bar very high. There is no point in having a Ferrari if you have to park it next to your mobile home. Does that make sense? If you've already got a mansion, than have fun with your Ferrari. I'll define a mansion as having an incredibly flat studio monitor system (which requires a room that has been aggressively treated to improve acoustics), the right microphone for any application, great instruments (guitars, drums, whatever), a great sounding live room, great plugins, great VSTi's / samples (if applicable).

So, while this is a great computer, I'm afraid you are going to put way too much money toward the computer and not nearly enough on microphones, preamps, converters, software, room acoustics, plugins, studio monitors, etc.

I don't know your situation, so I'm only guessing here.

The big thing with studio stuff is making sure that every link in your chain breaks at the same time. I see guys who recommend that beginners buy $2,000 preamps. A $2,000 preamp is probably a great preamp, but it's like putting a single link rated at 2 million tons on a dog chain (assuming the engineer is just getting started and only has 2 mics). Other parts of the chain are going to break long before that one does.

I think that the $300 processor is in the same boat, but only worse because I'll be buying that process next year for $100 and probably throwing it in the trash in 5 years (because it won't be worth taking the time to sell).

If nothing else, get a $200 processor instead of a $289 process. I'd bet the difference is extremely minute. Then buy a $89 microphone you've never heard of.

But, to answer your question, yes this motherboard and processor appear to be compatible. They both use CPU Socket Type: Socket AM2 .

Brandon

[mrn_89]

Okay Im going to take your advice and step the processor down a notch to this one.
http://www.newegg.com/product/produc...82E16819103749

If i were to get a motherboard with firewire port/s, would it have to have the right chipset im guessing also? I think thats what you mentioned earlier. im thinking just going with the pci to be sure.

and do you know of a decent and reasonably priced video car that will support dual monitors? I already have two lcd monitors so i might as well use them.

What would you suggest as far as an Operating system? Xp? Vista?

whats a good range for a power supply, and other than a 24 pin(mobo) what connectors should i be looking for?

[brandondrury]

Okay Im going to take your advice and step the processor down a notch to this one.

Well, that's a start. I'm anxious to see if you ever max this processor out. My guess is no unless you are using some horrendously taxing VSTi's.

How much RAM are you getting? I assume that if you are going this overkill on the CPU that you really intend to push it with VST instruments. If that's the case, get 2GB of RAM. If you are not going to really tax it with VST instruments, I'm not sure what all that horsepower is for.

If i were to get a motherboard with firewire port/s, would it have to have the right chipset im guessing also? I think thats what you mentioned earlier. im thinking just going with the pci to be sure.

You'd be guessing with the motherboard. You'd probably be okay, but I'd spend $9 on the PCI card just to make sure.

and do you know of a decent and reasonably priced video car that will support dual monitors? I already have two lcd monitors so i might as well use them.

I'd just snag a $50 model. If I was wasting a grand on a computer, I may spend $75. When you see a couple that look about right, do a quick search for each one on Google just to make sure none of them are total junkers. Usually, one will stand out. The hardcore computer nerds like to test the crap out of stuff like this and post charts.

What would you suggest as far as an Operating system? Xp? Vista?

Going with Vista right now is about like riding along with the Wright Brothers at Kittyhawk. You can pioneer all you want, but I prefer not to have my face crushed into the earth from 1,000 feet on an unproven innovation.

Without a doubt, go with XP. Home is fine. XP is proven and manufacturers have had 5 years of practice to get learn how to use it. Some say that Vista is here to compensate for hardware demand being low. (In other words, some claim that Vista will slow computers down....and therefore increasing the sale of new computers). I'm not sure if this has any merit.

Either way, I'm always skeptical of these "Upgrades".

whats a good range for a power supply, and other than a 24 pin(mobo) what connectors should i be looking for?

I never spent more than $40 on a power supply. There is no need. Spending less gets a little risky. You may find some super quiet thingy for more money, but I've been happy with Antec or some of the other name brand power supplies.

The pins mean nothing to me. I just make sure the pins are compatible with the motherboard I have (or use an adapter).

[richiebee]

Brandon,

Your advice is not necessarily wrong, but its narrow minded because it really depends on how you work, and what kind of files you work with. Someone like myself who relies completely on VI's NEEDS a fast computer to work productively. It's funny how the world of Cubase has changed around. Audio tracks used to be the processor hog. Now its MIDI tracks! It breaks the creative cycle if you have to keep freezing tracks. Last night I was on a roll with a project. Pure inspiration (after a wicked argument with the missus), and I needed to load things up quickly and without losing the flow. If I didn't have a powerful processor, I would have run out of power. As we seek better integration of VI's and better quality, the bar is constantly changing. If you rely on them, don't skimp on the processor.



R.

[brandondrury]

Your advice is not necessarily wrong, but its narrow minded because it really depends on how you work, and what kind of files you work with

To a certain extent. However, if the chain is weak at any point, all that horsepower isn't going to be of any use (except for maybe these random creative spurts where a peson feels inclined to grab a mega CPU hog in the middle of inspiration). Of course, every person who has used their system knows which VSTi's are going to be hogs and which ones are going to be easier on the CPU. I'd take great room acoustics and force myself to use the CPU friendly VSTi (if it were an issue) every time. Of course, I may be sacrificing creativity.

I saw where a few big movies were scored in Cubase SX3 2 or 3 years ago and then a real orchestra recorded the entire thing the old fashioned way. If a computer was powerful enough 2 years ago for this, I've got a feeling that a brand new CPU is more luxury than anything.

We both have to speculate as to exactly what he'll be doing, but I if he's creating music with lots of VSTi's and samples (the most demanding audio tasks I know of) there are a lot more factors than simply the processor speed.

I realize I'm going out on a limb here, but I feel that its a safe limb. It could be convenient to have unlimited CPU power just as it would to have unlimited power in an audio amplifier (you never have to worry about running out).

I would agree, my views are narrow minded. My views are for getting the max audio quality / musical and emotional impact out of the recordings. As of this writing, CPU power can not overcome horrendous flaws in room acoustics (which I recently took about 30 hours to drastically improve) and CPU power can not overcome a poor selection of microphones.

Again, I'm assuming this guy doesn't have a rack of Neve preamps, an amazing acoustics space, and a closet full of Telefunken 251s.

Since the #1 issue here is budget, what % of the total studio budget should the computer be? (Yes, I'm aware of everyone's needs are different).

I was thinking similarly about the preamp debate with this % of budget idea. Pro studios may be spend $1 million, $2 million, or even $5 million on the entire facility (construction, gear, marketing, ink pens, phones, etc). Assuming a $1,000,000 studio spent $35,000 on preamps (not a bad collection especially if the studio has a great console). That's about 3.5% of the budget spent on mic preamps. You see all kinds of crappy home studios (myself included) that have spent enormous amount of money on preamps when compared to everything else a studio could spend money on.

I think taking a look at a pro studios expenditure on specific items lets the average home recording guy understand what the studio owner thinks is important. Any studio owner that intends to stay in business will only spend the money on the things that are necessary to make money. (A studio makes money by recording music at a fidelity that it's clients expect).

So, I've got a feeling that pro studios aren't spending more than 10% on their computer systems either.

Of course, all this really shows is how important the overall facility and room acoustics are to the studio model.

In reality, a $1000 computer is not unreasonable at all, but I think a $300 processor verse a $200 processor is a total waste of money when we are working with $500 sound card, probably Cubase LE, probably some $300 M-Audio monitors, no acoustic treatment, etc.