Slutz... your input needed for Music-computer FAQs

[George Necola]

Originally Posted by paul2009

mac mac mac
OSX
Logic

OR - if you have a slightly larger brain

Mac
Gentoo
Ardour


is this what you mean?

no.. it's not about lovers and haters..

I work on pc, have no crashes and can record up to 24 tracks without problems.. I can cut and edit up to 128 tracks without problems.. on a pc.. with cubase. I like my setup.. I know what I am doing.

It's not about that.



thanx for all the input guys.. I promise to update the FAQ, and when it is somewhat covered, we will release it.

[mohthom]

Originally Posted by narco

what free software / plugins are available?

narco

+1000

[sleeper1400]

im sure someone has allready said this...

how bout a protools/logic FAQ thread?

[hendrikxix]

Originally Posted by Audio in HD

Well, from my recent experience I can throw something in under the "What computer I should buy" heading.

Now I realize that this is said alot, but I MUST re-iterate the necessity of a TI firewire chipset and the complete refusal of anything that uses a Ricoh firewire chipset. Ricoh chipsets "in notebooks" are uncorrectable by expresscard 1394 even when it is TI. This is not a myth.

So with all other specs in mind Rule number one of "What laptop should I buy" is something with a Firewire chipset that is clearly supported by your interface manufaturer (and never Ricoh).

Definitely agree on the TI chipset for PC laptops being a very important thing to mention. I am unaware of any Dell laptop that uses the TI chip and had lots of problems with Presonus and MOTU 1394 Interfaces with Dell laptops in particular. The other topic in the PC laptop world is the lack of 6-pin 1394 for bus powering the interface.

On a personal note, I am very interested in battery powering interface and high quality preamps with phantom.

[George Necola]

Originally Posted by sleeper1400

im sure someone has allready said this...

how bout a protools/logic FAQ thread?

the thread will be transformed into a FAQ-system... it's not about this thread.

what are you interested in`? write that down.. here..

[jummy]

Originally Posted by Alex Specht

What Can I do to eliminate the noise from the computer in my recordings?

-Fans
-HD
-Convection cooling
-etc....

What is latency, why? How to avoid problems.

Run Plugins such as VSTi on low Latency , small buffer, setting

Mixdown playback at high latency setting etc...

What is latency compensation?

Only where isolation is impossible. Isolation is the best solution for this, always.

Oh, wait. This is the tech forum

[Alex Specht]

Originally Posted by jummy

Isolation is the best solution for this, always.

If everyone had a isolated machine room, then this wouldnt be a problem.
And for intimate live recordings, small jazz trio, string quartet, symphony etc... BZZZZZ

I want a completely solid state DAW !!! Heatsinks and Flash Memory

[matthewvandenham]

Originally Posted by animix

My signature lists my hardware. I have been rolling my own DAWs for years but I decided to go with ADK for this one. I trust these guys. They know their business and I received a burned-in, preconfigured product that was easy to interface with my extensive hardware requirements. It saved me time (and therefore money) to let them build the system and I had no problems with dirver issues, having to second guess problems that might have been caused by faulty components, etc. It was well worth the small margin that they charge over building a component level system.

Here's what's happening as far as interfacing devices with the mobo:

PCIe_1: OPEN

PCIe _16_1: PNY Quadro-IRQ 16 & 17

PCIe_2: Pro Tools Branded 13 slot Magma PCI chassis hosting RME Multiface, MADI and AES32 PCI cards in slots 1, 5 and 7, interfacing the mobo PCIe slot using a Magma PEHIFX1host card. All cards share IRQ 18.

PCIe_3: UAD-2-IRQ 17

PCIe_16_2: Duende PCIe-IRQ 16

PCI_1: Pro Tools Branded 13 slot Magma PCI chassis hosting 4 x UAD-1 cards in slots 1, 5, 7 and 11-All cards share IRQ 20

PCI_2: OPEN

The audio drive consists of 4 x 500GB 7200 RPM 32MB cache Seagate Barracudas in SATAII RAID 10 Array.

The onboard LAN shares IRQ 17 with no ill effects. There are no FW devices on this machine and it is disabled in the BIOS. I have had this system running almost nonstop for the last three months, often tracking up to 18 hot mics and 4 x DI's simultaneously at 64k buffers and mixing fairly heavy track count projects and it hasn't crashed once. OS is Win XP32/SP2.

Why don't you use sp3?

[animix]

Originally Posted by matthewvandenham

Why don't you use sp3?

Because everything works without it.

[sleeper1400]

well since you asked.

it is apparent your not very experienced in the industry.

so. if ya wanna write music etcc....


here is whats up.


Mbox for audio rig and your done wit it.

pc computer with XP (you can build a quad core for less than 500 bucks)

a decent dynamic mic with a good cardiod pattern.

sm57

colbalt etc.....

your done. congrats, your a producer.


lol!!!!

[JoeyRec]

Mac system:

2 x 2.8 quad core Mac Pro with 10 gigs RAM and 2 internal velociraptor 10,000 rpm drives (other 2 slots tb seagates) among externals. Apple 30" cinema

DAW: Logic

Interface: Apogee Ensemble

Controllers are akai mpk49 and Korg padkontrol..

Yamaha HS 80s and M-audio sub.. although I think I just sold them.

I LOVE MY SETUP. Logic rocks and is way deeper than most people know, but can be simple as well.


NEW IN BOX MC CONTROL FOR SALE!

[StereoPari]

Every single question which starts with:

"What is the BEST (X)???"

or even

"What's the best X for Y ???"

For these there should be a standard answer covering all of these "absolute" questions, which would tell the inevitable...you know, the "there is no absolute best, it all depends on what it's used with, what you like, and what you need right now" type of an answer.

What are the best monitors?
What's the best mic (under 1K)?
What's the best pre (for rock music)?
Best DAW (for Windows)?

etc...

Even the Radial DI Box manual says...

"Here's something to think about...if it makes your Stratocaster sound fatter, does it make your Les Paul sound muddy?"

If you're after some flavor, the quality of that particular flavor depends largely on the context it's used in.

[stag]

Video: Find and delete hidden Windows Vista and XP device drivers | IT Dojo | TechRepublic.com

[doctah]

Probably want a section on cloning/imaging your PC. Norton Ghost vs some of the freeware Linux based Live CD's (see System Rescue CD). If I do break something - I'm not likely to waste time fixing it. I'll just start from a fresh image.

I think a discussion on setting up a directory tree would be nice. Maybe I'm the only one who is picky about where my temp files, temporary mixdowns, session folders, samples, etc are stored. How about system partition schemes? Someone already mentioned backup.

How about RAID? Real RAID vs fake RAID (software). Is it worth my time? Etc. When discussing such a topic, I think it would be best NOT to go into detail about each option, but discuss how it applies to a DAW. Basically give a link to an outside resource (wikipedia or something) that provide the basic definitions and descriptions of RAID and then when the person comes back with an understanding of the topic, the discussion can skip basics and get right to the point.

How about utilities for non-audio/daw stuff? Applications many of us take for granted (7-Zip, wget, notepad++, etc). Every now and then someone will ask in the fourms about transferring files over the web (ftp vs email vs rapidshare,etc). Lets discuss those topics and have a way for the community to vote for "the best x". If anyone ever reads the website Lifehacker...I'm talking about something similar to their Hive Five features

I'd like to see a smaller "fact vs fiction" section to kill some of the misconceptions of pc's (...and macs I guess).

[unqlenol]

Originally Posted by R3altruth

but as far as formats... I guess OMF...

OMF files store the wave files of a session... the track assignment.. arrangement of clips, volume and pan of each track....

I have never tried in Cubase, DP, Logic or Reaper... so someone would be nice to chime in on the effectiveness of OMF files....

Barring that you could just combine all the clips for each individual track.... make sure they all start at measure 1, count 1 (even if that means dead space at first) and then export each track as a separate audio file...
This way when the person imports each one... they don't have to try to piece anything together.... just have all clips start at the beginning...
It is a good idea to properly label each track name with what track it is....

I have had mixed experiences importing a Protools (mac) generated OMF into Cubase 4. Generally it has dissappointed and I find the more laborious rendering of individual tracks and then importing into Cubase to be obviously reliable. I like reliable.

Nol

Nolan Chiat on MySpace Music - Free Streaming MP3s, Pictures & Music Videos

[Kayo]

Originally Posted by psycho_monkey

Can you run 2 PT LE interfaces on one machine? Can you run PT LE without a digi interface?!

I don’t know about two Pro-Tools LE’s on one..
But, there is a Pro-Tools LE, which runs without and hardware. Although, I think it supports only 32 tracks all up.
I had it loaded years ago on a WinME machine. The PC struggeled a bit, back then. Years later, I had it loaded on a WinXP machine, which didn’t struggle as much, but just didn’t function like a MAC Pro-Tools machine. But, with the advent of QUAD PC’s and gig’s of RAM, I can’t see it being a problem no more.

Actually, I’d like to know if anybody has done the same… It would be an incentive to get that Dual Quad Core machine set-up!

Cheers,
KAyo

[R3altruth]

Originally Posted by Kayo

I don’t know about two Pro-Tools LE’s on one..
But, there is a Pro-Tools LE, which runs without and hardware. Although, I think it supports only 32 tracks all up.
I had it loaded years ago on a WinME machine. The PC struggeled a bit, back then. Years later, I had it loaded on a WinXP machine, which didn’t struggle as much, but just didn’t function like a MAC Pro-Tools machine. But, with the advent of QUAD PC’s and gig’s of RAM, I can’t see it being a problem no more.

Actually, I’d like to know if anybody has done the same… It would be an incentive to get that Dual Quad Core machine set-up!

Cheers,
KAyo

I'd have to say no on using PT without a Digi or M-audio interface

[Kayo]

Originally Posted by R3altruth

I'd have to say no on using PT without a Digi or M-audio interface

Yeah.. I have that M-Audio_MBox, which came with Pro-Tools LE..

Can't stand the driver setup nor the input drive enclosure created by Digi Design. No other software can access the box, as the input drivers disappear. Only the M-Audio_MBox gets the input drivers all others can access the output drivers only… Not a happy solution, I can assure you..

Anyway, moved away from it all together, much happy with me RME800// oh yeah..!

Cheers,
KAyo

[R3altruth]

couple points

Generation one Mbox is Digidesign product... not M-Audio...
Avid (the Digidesign parent company) started producing the Mbox (Also called Mbox one) in 2002 and didn't acquire M-audio until 2004
Pro Tools HD will obviously only work with a pro tools HD card in a PCI or PCIe slot...
Pro Tools LE was designed (in 1999) to only worrk with the 001... then in 2002 the second generation (aptly named) 002 was sold. Also, for people wanting a smaller format interface the Mbox was released....
In 2004 Avid Acquired M-audio which had a very successful line of home "prosumer" interfaces. A version of Pro Tools is released that works with the M-audio interfaces called Pro Tools M-powered... (the M stands for Midi man!!!!!!!!)
In 2006/2007 the Mbox 2 family as well as the third generation 003 rack and console were released... The Mbox 2 family expands on the original Mbox but adds a variety of interfaces to be more versatile.
One of the most inventive was the Mbox 2 micro (Picture below).... It is literally just a Pro Tools USB Dongle. You see, Pro Tools WILL NOT WORK without the corresponding interface connected to the PC. SO the Micro is an Mbox but it is the size of an ILOK and has a headphone and volume control and that is all... This is for someone mixing completely in the box or wanting to use pro tools on the road... Although it will work on a desktop, the laptop/notebook is what was clearly in mind when the Micro was conceived.

It can indeed be difficult to use the digidesign hardware with anything other than pro tools but it is very possible. For the firewire interfaces, they can work intermittently if ever if there is a conflict with the firewire chipset. The most reliable chipset obviously being the Texas Instruments IEEE 1394... (IEEE 1394 is a geeks way of saying firewire)
When fully functional the Mbox and 002/003 families WILL work with windows and any other software using both it's ins and outs.

[Kayo]

Hmmm !
Thanks for that. Cleared up, a few misconceptions etc..

Ta
KAyo

[R3altruth]

Originally Posted by Kayo

Hmmm !
Thanks for that. Cleared up, a few misconceptions etc..

Ta
KAyo

Anytime chief

You were spot on about RME... I love them.... Im into their PCI express interfaces these days... amazing....

[Osc1lfo]

Imho, this got super geeky way too fast. Many topics brought up already have FAQ's and support elsewhere, and it's all a google search away.

I'm a geek too, but to newcomers, it's really about the music.

To help the new people, it is necessary to ask them what it is they are trying to accomplish musically, what their 'musical workflow' is, and what the budget is...

Sample answers might be "Make good enough demos at home to get signed", "We'd like to be as live as possible, there's five of us", and '$2500'.

Another might say "Make finished dance remixes to light up clubs", "Me and my partner make the beats and take them out live", and "$1500".

Now we can craft an answer, for Mac or PC, that will be suitable. Starting with the band, we can add up how many mics and what kind, cables, going to a board, then to an interface with the right number of inputs, then going to a computer, then get into software.

The answers need to be free of platform wars, and focus on the musical needs of the artist. Reason won't be much good to a guitar pop trio, for example.

At this point, we can provide links to other documents or threads for more information as it is needed, rather than burying the poor newcomer in jargon. All information should be plain English.

I think setting up a wiki, or a shared Google Docs account would be a good way to share the wisdom.

[R3altruth]

Originally Posted by Osc1lfo

The answers need to be free of platform wars, and focus on the musical needs of the artist.

HAHAHA... is that possible?
You could start a thread asking people what pant leg they put on first and at some point someone is gonna call someone else an idiot... 99% of the time discussion breeds conflict...
But all is not lost... You should take everything you read on here as suggestions... a starting point for your own research... Know that everyones opinion will not work for you... but in the midst of the arguments people can find the info they need to look deeper into

[mimp]

What about a FAQ on routing in the computer domain?

Could cover Jack, SoundFlower, Wormhole, er.. that thing in Reaper, ReWire (i suppose), MIDI loop back, OSC and the various ways of syncing things to each other..

I'm consistently amazed by how many people seem to be ignorant of this stuff, especially when it lets you get around silly things like PTLE limited IO. It's nice to know how to use software together rather then being locked in to one companies way of thinking.

[Stevil]

maybe some links to relevant sites that cover the basics like Tweakheadz Lab.
That way you're not reinventing the wheel & can focus on more advanced concepts.

[arneal]

>>Originally Posted by primitive
a Sticky:
THE ULTIMATE MAC vs. PC Discussion- what is better?

Just to have one thread around where EVERYONE who is concerned can talk about HIS or HER favourite and bash those who have the opposite cos they are not cool at all. of course.
Maybe it won't work but also maybe this discussion gets a home there so you don't have to read about it in EVERY OTHER thread.

But I'm afraid you will always get the answer "buy a mac" from some funny pal if you ask for e.g. a new motherboard.

Edit: Just saw that these discussions are forbidden which is very good!!! But maybe give those 1000's who still have a need for this discussion (and always will have) a definite place to do so, so they stay away from all the other threads. (wishthinking I know...)<<

I'm no expert by a long-shot, but even though I'm a Mac user, those discussions really get at no usable conclusion. People like what they like for their own (sometimes practical) reasons. The single determining factor for me is as long as session files are inter-changeable and compatible, on with the show.

[hakim]

I always get the latency and buffer cache size questions like... "why does everything I record have this crackling sound?"

[spjessop]

Originally Posted by George Necola

I need titles

I think a detailed working specs thread would be a good idea. Using CPU-Z on a PC we can give details of all the relevant chipsets and combined with OS, interfaces, DAW, etc could be a good searchable resource.

"Detailed Working PC Setups"

[Kayo]

Originally Posted by psycho_monkey

Can you run 2 PT LE interfaces on one machine? Can you run PT LE without a digi interface?!

And for some serious computing grunt Alienware

Cheers,
KAyo

[ohmicide]

Q: MAC or PC?
A: personal preference

Q: which is the best DAW?
A: personal preference

Q: which plug-in sounds the best?
A: personal preference