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-- I'm new here - Production help needed :P

I'm new here - Production help needed :P

Hey guys I joined up to TA in hope of finding some decent advice as you guys seem to know quite a lot when it comes to the production side of things. Bare with me for a while until I get a grasp

Anywayssssss, I'm starting a music technology course in a few weeks time. I know a lot about the EDM scene and have been following it for the past 10 years, however I'm hopeless when it comes to the actual production part.

I'm planning on buying a decent computer and a copy of Cubase 4 to get me started (C4 is what they use in the course and I already have some experience with FL 8), however theres a problem, as I don't have a clue what a good computer really is. As far as my knowledge goes all I need are the following:

1.Hard Drive
2.Memory RAM
3.Processor
4.Motherboard
5.Soundcard (actually planning on an audio interface - will I still need a soundcard?)
6. And finally software - plan on sticking to XP home edition.

Now I'm guessing right now that I'm probably wayyy of course and either you need way more or way less...

(N.B - All of the above list mean nothing to me apart from a soundcard and hard drive)


Basically, I need some decent advice to get me started of and keep in mind that I've been saving money for the past year so I'd really like some amazing gear. I know I'm only starting of but I have a lot of connections so I'm sure to progress fairly quickly. Cubase 4 requires 1.5ghz (I don't have a clue what that really means) while my computer only has 1.2Ghz. Apparently 2ghz and 2gb of RAM is what I roughly need (not too sure).


Hope you folks have time to read this. I know it will sound stupid to most of you, but please, bare with me!

Thanks in advance - Mark!

Alot of your questions will be answered if you just read the Master tutorial - Sticky
there's a subject called Equipment/studio that will help you in choosing good hardware/software

In fact... just read it all, may give you a head start in your production classes

quote:

Originally posted by Sh!fty Alot of your questions will be answered if you just read the Master tutorial - Sticky there's a subject called Equipment/studio that will help you in choosing good hardware/software In fact... just read it all, may give you a head start in your production classes

Thanks dude, I'll check it out

Re: I'm new here - Production help needed :P

quote:

Originally posted by neverforget 1.Hard Drive 2.Memory RAM 3.Processor 4.Motherboard

Anybody know of any good sites with information on the above? I'm clueless

1. samsung SATA 500GB?
2. 2*2GB something Corsair?
3. Intel QuadCore 2,4Ghz Q6600 or something
4. Asus whatever with firewire port
5. some cabinett.
6. Echo audiofire soundcards
what i bought and it seems to work

quote:

Originally posted by palm 1. samsung SATA 500GB? 2. 2*2GB something Corsair? 3. Intel QuadCore 2,4Ghz Q6600 or something 4. Asus whatever what i bought and it seems to work

How much was that roughly?

i live in norway and everythings twice the price here so what I payed is irrelevant. also this is soon a year ago i think and prices are probably half since then. u should get away very cheap. there must be some online copmutershop comparision sites in the US? try google.com/products

firtst i found:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115017&nm_mc=OTC-Froogle&cm_mmc=OTC-Froogle-_-Processors+-+Desktops-_-Intel-_-19115017

quote:

Originally posted by palm i live in norway and everythings twice the price here so what I payed is irrelevant. also this is soon a year ago i think and prices are probably half since then. u should get away very cheap. there must be some online copmutershop comparision sites in the US? try google.com/products firtst i found: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...ntel-_-19115017

Thanks very much man, looks quite good. Cheap too

"Crucial 2GB DDR2 667MHz PC2 5400 Desktop Memory" << Does that mean 2GB of Ram?

Do I have to buy an optional soundcard? Or does it supply one?

Sorry for sounding stupid again

also forgot to mention that I need something that support Firewire.

as i sayd, get an echo audiofire soundcard external, they start at 199USD if i dont remember wrong. those are firewire so get a motherboard with firewire. then u wont need an internal soundcard at all (tho most motherboard has inbuild soundcards, but their crap). yes 2GB means 2GB. someone else should talk about 667MHz and stuff. the CPU is like 100Mhz i think. dont know if it will match. you could email the shop and say what CPU u want and what equipment fits best (motherboard, RAM).

quote:

Originally posted by palm as i sayd, get an echo audiofire soundcard external, they start at 199USD if i dont remember wrong. those are firewire so get a motherboard with firewire. then u wont need an internal soundcard at all (tho most motherboard has inbuild soundcards, but their crap). yes 2GB means 2GB. someone else should talk about 667MHz and stuff. the CPU is like 100Mhz i think. dont know if it will match. you could email the shop and say what CPU u want and what equipment fits best (motherboard, RAM).

Is there a way of getting everything in the one package? I have no idea how to build a computer myself!

quote:

Originally posted by neverforget Is there a way of getting everything in the one package? I have no idea how to build a computer myself!

Yes, go to a shop and buy a PC.

quote:

Originally posted by G-Con Yes, go to a shop and buy a PC.

Ok, so... I want a Pc ideal for music in around the $500 region - around �300 (I'm currently in the UK so i'll probably have to order from it). Any links?

Thanks

EDIT: It must support Firewire!

Go to gearslutz.com, and search for pc configurations there. That forum has enormous amounts of info on such things.

The best thing you could do, is to buy the components separate, and put the machine together yourself. Just make sure you buy components that are tried and tested to work together.

quote:

Originally posted by Beyer The best thing you could do, is to buy the components separate, and put the machine together yourself. Just make sure you buy components that are tried and tested to work together.

Thats the problem, I'm hopeless Wouldn't know where to start really... But I'll check that site out, thanks!

Personally, I think if you know absolute jack shite about the different parts of a PC and how to set it up, I would just buy a desktop PC from a shop.

Okay, so each specific part may not be the absolute best for audio production but without getting anal about it, a fast PC is a fast PC and will get you on your way.

If you try and do it yourself, you could face nothing but headaches with sourcing parts that are all compatible with each other, setting it all up, installing everything, overcoming potential problems where something isnt configured properly etc.

Some people enjoy getting their hands dirty with all the technical stuff, and if problems occur, relish the challenge of investigating, diagnosing and fixing the problem themselves.

Others dont have a clue, and dont wanna spend hours trying to fix something. These people, such as yourself, should buy the complete PC ready to roll.

All you would need to buy in addition is a better soundcard as the ones that comes with the PC will likely be crap.

http://www1.euro.dell.com/content/p..._530s_d105s02~~

I was looking at this... What do you guys think? As far as I know it doesn't support Firewire which is what I really need. Can anyone give me any good suggestions? It would be much appreciated!! Thanks

Honestly, I'd get something with a full sized case. Those smaller computers usually don't have full size PCIe slots, and you may want that ability in the future should to decide to get a PCI based audio interface or any PCI DSP cards, such as UAD.

In addition, you probably want to go ahead and get a PCI firewire card so you can be assured that you have a TI firewire chipset. Lots of audio firewire devices have problems with the VIA firewire chipsets.

quote:

Originally posted by Eric J Honestly, I'd get something with a full sized case. Those smaller computers usually don't have full size PCIe slots, and you may want that ability in the future should to decide to get a PCI based audio interface or any PCI DSP cards, such as UAD. In addition, you probably want to go ahead and get a PCI firewire card so you can be assured that you have a TI firewire chipset. Lots of audio firewire devices have problems with the VIA firewire chipsets.

I'll most likely be sticking with Firewire dude. I thought that if you had a Firewire Audio Interface, then you didn't need a soundcare? Or so i read on Tweakheadz Is there anyway of plugging a firewire Audio interface into a PCI slot? Or do you need some sort of converter or what? Thanks for replying though!

most new good motherboards have firewire-port on it which you can use. but carefull, i blew up my audiofire 2 soundcard by accidelntly disconnecting it while the computer was on.
there are PCI-wirewire cards sure, just google it. One of the users here reccomended one a while ago but i dont remember who and i dont bother searching, he might read this thread and put it up again.
then again i reccoment Echo Audiofire soundcards. google it. ok ill help you. www.echoaudio.com
http://www.echoaudio.com/Products/F...Fire4/index.php

quote:

Originally posted by neverforget I'll most likely be sticking with Firewire dude. I thought that if you had a Firewire Audio Interface, then you didn't need a soundcare? Or so i read on Tweakheadz Is there anyway of plugging a firewire Audio interface into a PCI slot? Or do you need some sort of converter or what? Thanks for replying though!

I think you are getting confused here. An audio interface IS a soundcard. Its the same thing, its just that anything thats for studio use is typically referred to as an "audio interface".

WHat I am suggesting here is that instead of using a firewire port thats built onto the motherboard, to get a separate firewire PCI card. This is a simple PCI card with Firewire ports. Then you plug your audio interface into the firewire ports on the card.

quote:

Originally posted by palm most new good motherboards have firewire-port on it which you can use.

While this is true, it is traditionally difficult to find out what type of firewire chipset that the motherboard is using. In addition, cheaper computers are more likely to have the cheaper VIA firewire chipset, which is known to cause problems with lots of firewire devices. This is why I suggest investing a measly $30 into a firewire PCI card that you KNOW has a TI chipset, rather that risking buing a computer with a built in firewire port that has the VIA chipset.

I knew jack shit about putting together a computer until this weekend when i added a harddrive,sound card, and replaced the processor/motherboard, and ram.

It took me a while and involved a lot of trial and error and about 50 minutes of research and printing guides. But, i saved around $350 USD.

It is worth building it yourself and with a little common sense and google you should pretty easily be able to build your own.

quote:

Originally posted by pwnage1 It is worth building it yourself and with a little common sense and google you should pretty easily be able to build your own.

Theres no such thing as common sense for me when it comes to computers I'll try google though thanks!

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