Need a new computer platform... what would you pick?

[BattleAngel]

If you guys were starting your computer based digital studio from the ground up, what kind of computer rig would you put together? I'm not attached to any particular program- I just want to be able to handle things elegantly with as little in the way of glitches as possible. I'm using a Crane Song Spider as the front end. If you could purchase any computer right now, regardless of price, what would you get?

[kittonian]

Top of the line dual Mac G5 2Ghz with 8GB of RAM and the 250GB drives. I'd also get a fully blown out Glyph GT rack.

Software? ProTools HD|3 Accel or Digital Performer if you want to go native. Waves plugs.

[BattleAngel]

You would take DP over Logic? Is Logic maybe a little more widely distributed throughout studios? I'd like to be able to take my sessions to commercial studios to mix.

[zimv20]

pick what s/w you want to run first, then see what platform it runs on. that's true, imo, for any s/w, not just music.

Samplitude has a great reputation, but it runs on PCs.

fwiw, i use a mac and PTLE.

[BrianT]

Before making a recommendation, I would ask what you'll be doing with the system.

Live players? How many? Maximum number of record channels at once? Playback channels at once? Lots of Midi, or a little? Is low latency a biggie? Do you want to be able to monitor EQ, compression and FX while recording? Knowing which questions to ask yourself is important, IMO.

I think it's easy to make a recommendation based on something you like personally, but people and their working styles vary widely. You know what they say about one man's pleasure being another man's poison. So tell us about your recording intentions.


Regards,
Brian T

[Ollie]

Brian T good point. Battle, take a look at a software platform for the PC called SAWSTUDIO. www.sawstudio.com. They have several price ranges of the same software with different features. They all work great.

Fixes for any problems that are encountered are always delivered in a few days. You cannot buy that service.
Also the feel of the console is like a real console: live real time.

Good luck with your search.

[BattleAngel]

Hey guys, thanks so much for all the tips so far. Let me answer a few of those questions by saying that this is a studio I'm building in my house just to capture my own playing and the performances of the folks who play on my stuff. At absolute most, I need 8 inputs, and any EQ/compression I would use at the initial tracking stage would be done w/ outboard gear on the way in. The most serious thing I do is track a ton of background vocals and use a bit of time based effects. I suppose I would like the ability to do real-time editing for rough mixes. The only real concern I have is portability of the project files so I can take my tracks to a great mixing room as my place is going to be pretty abysmal for that, or to import drum tracks I do in a bigger room easily and without much of a headache. I've been using CubaseSX since it's been out and that is the program I'm most familiar with, but I learn pretty quick as I don't need a lot. I just need to get a new computer and can spend a sizable amount- I don't want to have to upgrade all that much for another two or three years.

[natpub]

some of these systems are pretty nice--and quiet:


www.dawbox.com

the builder is known to be reliable and give good support.


peace,

kt

[DigiGeek]

I would either go Mac with Logic or PC with Nuendo. Nuendo has a smaller learning curve than Logic, but Logic performs better on the Mac.

I personally prefer Nuendo, as I think it handles audio better than Logic (for now anyway). But I also prefer the Mac to the PC, and Nuendo has some problems with Core Audio (USB and Firewire support specifically). If you are using a PCI card for I/O with ASIO such as an RMe or Lynx card, Nuendo is great on the Mac as well.

[Tim L]

Originally posted by BattleAngel
...I'd like to be able to take my sessions to commercial studios to mix.

Greatest compatability would be Protools. Not saying it's the best for you personaly, just that more studios by far run a P-tools rig than any of the other systems out there. If it was me, I'd be hard pressed not to go in a G5/ P-tools direction. Good luck with it!

[Magnus]

How does the OMS file Format/Export work when moving files from Nuendo to Pro Tools and vice versa?

Anyone tried?

[bigbaby987]

Logic is very good. I use it everyday and have had much success with it. It really is intuitive after you quit beating your head against the manual....but most people have a hard time with Logic because(like all of us) they are not manual readers. Not to mention Logic is probably the top native daw on the market, 2nd only to pro tools when it comes to professional studios.

[jlotto]

Obviously protools HD-accell on a G5 would be the way to go if you wanna do the TDM thing. If you want to go Native you would be hard pressed to find a better program than Samplitude 7.21 + on a dual athlon processor PC & win xp. We have the Protools TDM setup but still use samplitude for a variety of things including basic mastering/burning CDs. http://www.samplitude.com/

[BrianT]

Originally posted by DigiGeek
I would either go Mac with Logic or PC with Nuendo. Nuendo has a smaller learning curve than Logic, but Logic performs better on the Mac.

In a nutshell, I would agree, assuming you don't want to go with Pro Tools.


Regards,
Brian T

[SLS]

Originally posted by Magnus
How does the OMS file Format/Export work when moving files from Nuendo to Pro Tools and vice versa?

Anyone tried?

Do you mean OMF? I have had great success transferring OMF between Nuendo, PT, and Digital Performer.

My Nuendo systems can in some ways out perform a lot of the Protools rigs I've used. Plus, I really like how Nuendo handles. I think in reality, for money vs performance, a Nuendo on a PC is a much better deal, however, if cost is no issue, you can't go wrong with PT HD.

[BattleAngel]

By the way, does anyone know if a G5 laptop is ever going to really manifest? And if so, when?

[sdelsolray]

Originally posted by BattleAngel
By the way, does anyone know if a G5 laptop is ever going to really manifest? And if so, when?

Historically, Apple doesn't release a laptop with the newest proceesor for about a year or so after that proceesor is introduced in desktop machines. So, if history repeats itself, G5 laptops should be available in a year of so.

[DigiGeek]

Originally posted by BrianT
In a nutshell, I would agree, assuming you don't want to go with Pro Tools.


Regards,
Brian T

Yea, I was assuming Pro Tools was not in the running. Obvious advantages with Pro Tools from a market share tandpoint,as well as a straight intuitive audio platform. But MIDI is still weak compared to the other two (especailly Logic) and its a great deal more expensive if that is a consideration. For Pro Tools I think you are fine on either platform. Frankly computer power with a TDM system is less important than a native DAW so you can be a processor generation or two behind and still be ok.

[BattleAngel]

Yeah I don't really have any interest in running 'tools.

Thanks for all your input, guys. I think I'm probably going to end up with a Mac rig running Logic.

[DigiGeek]

Originally posted by sdelsolray
Historically, Apple doesn't release a laptop with the newest proceesor for about a year or so after that proceesor is introduced in desktop machines. So, if history repeats itself, G5 laptops should be available in a year of so.

With the announcement and pending release of the new 90nm G5 processors in the XServe, the Powerbook G5 is probably coming shortly as the new chip has a very low power consumtion suitable for a laptop.

[BattleAngel]

hmm... maybe it would be prudent to wait a little bit then.

[Tim L]

Originally posted by BattleAngel
... I think I'm probably going to end up with a Mac rig running Logic.

Cool... what in particular has you leaning towards Logic over the others?

[BattleAngel]

My friend is running a G5 w/ DP4 and I'm not a real fan of that software.

[BrianT]

Mac Native = G5/Logic.


Brian T