Studio Computer? Options

[Qenzoz]

'Ello, I am currently in the process of maybe starting to build my own little studio, but I want to make my PC really great for it. So I was wondering what are the things I need to focus on? I will get an SSD sooner or later, but besides that what really matters in a PC to make it great for studio use?

Cheers & thanks in advance.

Tobias

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[llibach]

This is great advice guys, I'm currently looking to get a new computer at the start of the year. Been using a PC for years but have been offered a used 18 month old mac from a good friend at a bargain price, seems like the best way to go.

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This post has been edited by llibach: Dec 20 2012, 10:50 PM

[Todd Simpson]

I've been using both over the years and I must say (without trying to sound like a fanboy) I really do dig my little iMac for audio/video work. LOGIC is really good DAW and a pretty killer deal in general. REAPER runs very smooth also. I don't run PRO TOOLS but folks who do say it runs smooth on MAC OS.

What type of Mac are you getting BTW?

Todd

This is great advice guys, I'm currently looking to get a new computer at the start of the year. Been using a PC for years but have been offered a used 18 month old mac from a good friend at a bargain price, seems like the best way to go.

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This post has been edited by Todd Simpson: Dec 21 2012, 12:09 AM

[llibach]

I've been using both over the years and I must say (without trying to sound like a fanboy) I really do dig my little iMac for audio/video work. LOGIC is really good DAW and a pretty killer deal in general. REAPER runs very smooth also. I don't run PRO TOOLS but folks who do say it runs smooth on MAC OS.

What type of Mac are you getting BTW?

Todd

IMac 21.5 is what he's told me. It's ready for me as soon as I get my cash together. He's just bought the new ultra slim version so he's letting the other one go, and for a decent price too.

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[Todd Simpson]

Cool The 21 is a fine unit. Is it a DUAL CORE? Ask him how much RAM is on it as well. Ram is CHEAP!!! So no matter what its fine. Once you get it, take it up to 8GB of ram as soon as you can It will make WADS of difference. I"m running 8 GB and it was a MASSIVE increase in the rigs performance when I upped it from 4 GB.


Todd

IMac 21.5 is what he's told me. It's ready for me as soon as I get my cash together. He's just bought the new ultra slim version so he's letting the other one go, and for a decent price too.

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[llibach]

Cool The 21 is a fine unit. Is it a DUAL CORE? Ask him how much RAM is on it as well. Ram is CHEAP!!! So no matter what its fine. Once you get it, take it up to 8GB of ram as soon as you can It will make WADS of difference. I"m running 8 GB and it was a MASSIVE increase in the rigs performance when I upped it from 4 GB.


Todd

It is dual core I think and it's 4 GB so enough for me to begin with anyway. I've got reaper and amplitube but have been struggling with getting a good set up since my computer is old so first thing is to get a good audio interface I think, do you have any suggestions? and maybe to get a better soundcard (don't know what the standard one in the Mac is like). Then hook it up to my wharfdale stereo speakers.
That's another thing I was wondering, I've got a seperate stereo system would it be any use running through the amp on that system to get a better quality?

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This post has been edited by llibach: Dec 26 2012, 03:29 PM

[Bogdan Radovic]

It is dual core I think and it's 4 GB so enough for me to begin with anyway. I've got reaper and amplitube but have been struggling with getting a good set up since my computer is old so first thing is to get a good audio interface I think, do you have any suggestions? and maybe to get a better soundcard (don't know what the standard one in the Mac is like). Then hook it up to my wharfdale stereo speakers.
That's another thing I was wondering, I've got a seperate stereo system would it be any use running through the amp on that system to get a better quality?

I have a Mac with 4 GB - it works well for music I have produced on it (check my signature). Some projects were really demanding with lots of VSTs, tracks etc. I think its a very good platform and quality of Macs is just great!

One detail : audio interface and sound card are 1 same thing. With Mac you'll need to go external (USB or Firewire) and the audio interface you get will allow you to use it for everything on the computer (listening to music, recording, playing games ).

Cheaper options that work decent are POD Studio GX, UX1 and also any newer interface from M-Audio, Focusrite will do well.

If you have a separate system (amp+speakers) and you wish you use those specific speakers, you can easily connect output from your audio interface to the amp of the sound system. Quality will be as good as the weakest link in the setup

If you have some other speakers, like powered monitor speakers (KRK Rokit5 etc) - it would make sense to skip the "hi-fi audio system amp" as you don't need it (in this case it would just ruin the quality of the sound).

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[llibach]

I have a Mac with 4 GB - it works well for music I have produced on it (check my signature). Some projects were really demanding with lots of VSTs, tracks etc. I think its a very good platform and quality of Macs is just great!

One detail : audio interface and sound card are 1 same thing. With Mac you'll need to go external (USB or Firewire) and the audio interface you get will allow you to use it for everything on the computer (listening to music, recording, playing games ).

Cheaper options that work decent are POD Studio GX, UX1 and also any newer interface from M-Audio, Focusrite will do well.

If you have a separate system (amp+speakers) and you wish you use those specific speakers, you can easily connect output from your audio interface to the amp of the sound system. Quality will be as good as the weakest link in the setup

If you have some other speakers, like powered monitor speakers (KRK Rokit5 etc) - it would make sense to skip the "hi-fi audio system amp" as you don't need it (in this case it would just ruin the quality of the sound).

So I finally bought the mac and I got to say first impressions are awesome. Gonna get a presonus audio box to use with it too. Would you recommend buying a pair of studio monitors and not go through the separate amp on my stereo then? would that give me a better sound quality? Was thinking of the Tannoy reveal 501a if that was the case.

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[vonhotch]

So I finally bought the mac and I got to say first impressions are awesome. Gonna get a presonus audio box to use with it too. Would you recommend buying a pair of studio monitors and not go through the separate amp on my stereo then? would that give me a better sound quality? Was thinking of the Tannoy reveal 501a if that was the case.

I can't personally speak for the Tannoy's but, using the best set of monitors you can afford will give you the "truest" soud. As the saying goes "what your speakers are good at, your mixes will be bad at."

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