Switching to PC

[Bill@WelcomeHome]

I'm a Sequoia user, but I mostly use a desktop. My choice was an HP workstation, easily converted to an audio machine without all the drama of building it myself or paying a premium for an audio-specific company to build it. Others who have chosen the same path have picked Dell workstations, with similar happy results. The big deal is no buying a consumer-grade machine.

If you need a laptop, I can't advise.

In terms of interfaces, I happen to prefer RME, there are a lot of options from them and others that arer just fine and will do what you need to do.

[norbury brook]

HP eliteBook, not the prettiest laptop on the market but a good solid machine that's user serviceable.



MC

[Masaaki]

Consider Reaper installed in any off-the-shelf laptop (or desktop), but probably spending somewhere around $1200 to $1500 will get you the best results (price/performance wise).

Source-Destination Editing - Cockos Confederated Forums

Reaper is $60 if you decided to buy, and you can demo for free. Extremely light weight yet powerful, and has very good macros developed by serious users.

The link above shows souce-destination editing using macro developed for Reaper. It's not as elegantly implemented as samplitude/sequoia, but usable. If you don't like Reaper, then get Samplitude. $60 is probably worth paying anyway.

For the classical music editing/monitoring using laptop, I recommend RME Babyface as a companion, which has an excellent DA converter. You probably have a good headphone, so this combination (a PC laptop+Babyface+Reaper+headphone) allows you to do 4-point editing in a hotel room.

[Bill@WelcomeHome]

Originally Posted by Masaaki

Consider Reaper ...

The draw to programs like SADiE and Sequoia for classical editing is the mature four point editing format. I don't know if Reaper has it or not, but I've never seen anyone say so.

[Masaaki]

I know. But I'm just suggesting really really cheap alternative, before spending several thousands dollars for SADiE/Sequoia. In the meantime, I used the Reaper's macro for 25 edits in 10 minutes piece. It wasn't that bad, to be honest.

[Thom]

Thanks for the input. Since I am recording direct to hard disk recorders the conversion is done before I upload to the box. There are a couple interfaces I am considering. The Babyface actually has some appeal, one is ridiculous cost. A user on the remote side is using one with his Sadie system. Of course, if I sell all of my MH pieces I could pick up a nice Weiss or Mytek piece. The Mytex has appeal because I could actually take my PRE, a laptop and the converter and record to it. But, that is not a requirement. I am very happy with my mics, PRE and recorder method. It's what I was taught.

Thanks again, I will look at the HP units.