Recording Computer Networking

[brandondrury]

Everyone seams to say that networking a computer built exclusively for recording is a bad idea. While I have intentions of using the computer for internet, it would be nice to be able to network my recording computer to other computers I have around the house. I think this would make life much easier in anumber of ways.

I'm not sure if it's best that I network using Ethernet of Firewire. Security from viruses is a big deal. I DO NOT want to have to deal with the viruses, spyware, and other internet pains on my recording machine.

So, my question is...

1)Is it a totally bad idea to network with a computer dedicated for hardcore recording and midi sequencing? My main recording software is Cubase SX3.

2)If it's not a bad idea to network a recording computer with no internet access, is there a safe way to quickly share files without burning cd-rs. I've considered flash cards, but it just seamed cheaper to run a cable. Also, which method is preferred for security...firewire or ethernet?

Brandon

[Pabligula]

It's not a bad idea at all !!!!!!

You can always disable the network connection if you want it to be up.

Pros:
Share an internet connection. You will need this to download the updates for your software, new plugins and updates for your operative system.

Move files for backup.

Cons :
A network wurm can get into your computer, this can make it slow sometimes.
Attaks from other computers.

For this contras, you can always run your antivirus software and disable the network card.

Now Antivirus.... It really slows down your computer, but again... you can just disable the antivirus and enable it ones a week or so just to download updates and make a full system scan.

So I really don't find any real problem with networked DAW

And just think of Receptor and hardware VST player - host and it connects using the network connection, regular RJ45 cable, ethernet. And it is basically a computer networked to you yours.
http://www.museresearch.com/receptor_overview.php

IMHO embrase the networks

[brandondrury]

Well...

I don't really plan on doing it exactly the way you said. One, I've never found a need to have a recording computer hooked to the internet. This leads to a zillion problems that I don't to deal with.

I will never install anti-virus software on a recording computer either. In some ways anti-virus computers are a virus. They slow your computer down too. I don't think disabling it is good enough. I format my home computers all the time... at least ever 3 months...sometimes more. There is always a very noticable difference in the way that Windows runs when it's clean vs when it has 20 programs installed on it.

I have 4 programs installed on my recording computer and don't want to install any more.

I'm looking to network my recording computer to another computer via Firewire. I'd like to sort of hardware firewall (or possibly firewall on the computer I'm networking to) that ensures there is absolutely no internet on my recording machine. In fact, I'd like to make it where I can only send files from my recording computer and I can't receive them.

Mostly, I'm concerned with the Firewire card causing potential performance problems. I've read of people who lost performance because of networking cards.

I need to point out that with Cubase SX3 I'll be pushing my recording computer VERY hard. I don't expect it to keep up all that well anyway. I certainly need to be worried about a 10% performance loss.

Brandon

[Geisler]

How about a large external hard drive with firewire for your question #2? That's what I use. A lot faster and more capacity than CDRs.

[dach]

On my main PC machine.... everything possible is disabled, however I can enable networking anytime I want to. I have several other boxes and all get hooked up to the external drives (all are USB 2) to xfer files and backups as well as network together when needed. At no time do I ever connect any audio machines to any computer that has internet access. I still burn discs to xfer files from the internet machine or xfer to one of the portable drives... however before I do that, I have scanned my computer to make sure I'm not taking anything bad with me....

Sometimes it's a pain but it's necessary when your meals depend on the machines functioning....

[dach]

I forgot to mention... there is a benefit of burning cdr's, you always have a redundant backup of those files... cd's are really cheap and my x'ferred files are stored on 100 disk spindles in the "tape room".

[brandondrury]

How about a large external hard drive with firewire for your question #2?

That doesn't sound like too bad of a rig. From a workflow standpoint, I'd like to be able to do a mix, for example, toss it on the external, and be able to play it on my home computer without taking the time to burn cds or unhook the external drive. ( I really hate getting behind computers when I don't have to).

This is sort of the "ideal" situation for me. I will probably have to compromise here. Is there way to have on external hard drive hooked up to more than one PC at one time? Even if I had to flip a switch, I wouldn't mind that too much. I'm just trying to avoid unhooking/ hooking the drive up everytime I need to use it on another computer. I get lazy and the idea is for this to be as convenient as possible.

Brandon