Building the best PC DAW

[TIGEROALI]

I am currently a MAC user and planning to build a native PC DAW. I really don't know what would be the best setup to go with. I am concerned about the PC it self and not the software, I mean Intel VS AMD, mother board, dual or single processor, sound card, vidio card, hard drives, etc.
Can some one please provide me with a list of a "rock solid" working setup? I've tried PC's in the past and my experience was a night mare and that's why I've been a MAC user for the last 3 years and happy with MAC, however I still feel that PC's are better than they were few years ago. Enough...... I guess my question is clear and thank you for your reply.
Tiger

[Polaris]

If you're so happy with Mac, why not get a new G5?

Seriously, I like working on Win machines, but if you're comfortable where you're at, why change?

[sk880user]

Intel VS AMD: Intel
mother board: 875P chipset
dual or single processor: single
sound card: It depends on your requirement
vidio card: Ati radeon
hard drives: dual SATA 7200 RPM (avoid maxtor)

[bubba freaktree]

luke, welcome to the dark side of the force.

give into your hatred, harness your anger!

apple wants thousands, you can build a pc for hundreds!

audiounits and os-x is still in turmoil. give in to your hatred!

but seriously, i punted my apple setup this year, and couldn't be happier.

the one thing to make sure of is this:
make sure your soundcard/converter box "likes" the chipset in the pc. not the processor, the chipset.

the chipset is a set of chips that orchestrates most of the data flow between the different parts of the computer.

intel chipsets are the best overall. but i personally use amd processors, which kind of puts me in the ewok village. there's a lot of happy ewoks!

[bubba freaktree]

also, i think cubase sl is *by far* the best value out there for software.

you get almost all the features of cubase sx, but it's only $299. all the stuff you really need out of a daw is in there.

this is likely to start a "flame", but i think Sonar is completely corny. Cubase Sl all the way. Sonar has some bells and whistles like the "Cyclone", but Cubase SL is built on a professional-level daw backdrop. much better.

[TIGEROALI]

Thank you all for your replies.
- I am not planning to dumb my MAC, I will upgrade it eventually once I have the financial resources to get the latest G5 and after they are tested in the real digital audio market. It is just that I want to have the luxury of a PC DAW as well, of course for a fraction of the cost.
-I am leaning more towards Cubase, as I've used it long time ago (3.5 Score for Windows) plus the midi pluginns, etc.
-I will be using this DAW for everything, recording vocals, live instruments, midi, mixing, mastering, lots of VSTi's and effects, etc.
Can some one tell me what whould form a good soundcard and chip combination? I need a soundcard that has at least 6 ins and outs, 2 to 4 professional mic pre amps, spdf, synch, etc. I need a system that would stand out 40 to 50 audio tracks with effects and automation.
Your reply is very much appreciated.

[Michael Quayle]

As far as the interface goes, you could do much worse than to go with an RME Multiface - 8 analogue i/o, 8 lightpipe i/o wordclock and sp/dif, and of course sounds fantastic - I'm considering upgrading my MOTU 828 to one of these little babies, as anyone who uses one seems to swear by it.

I have to agree with the above advice to avoid Maxtor drives - I've had a systerm critical one die on me in the past, and it isn't fun. Ever since I have bought Western Digital and I have had ZERO complaints, although for audio work some seem to swear by Seagate (I think because they claim to be slightly quieter). My experience behooves me to recommend WD drives.

In terms of graphics cards, the best 2D quality you can get always comes from Matrox, followed by the ATI chipsets. If you plan on running more than one display at any point in the future, buy sensibly now and grab yourself either a Matrox Parhelia (what I would choose today if I had to), or, as SK880user suggests, one of the ATi Radeon range of cards.

For power supply, make sure you get a good model with enough power for all your devices. Over here in the UK Enermax seem to be the ones to beat at the moment - your mileage may vary depending on where you are.

It's also wise to spend a little bit extra on a good quality heatsink for your CPU.

Finally don't overlook the cases ability to act as a heatsink, therefore reducing overall noise, and to add a touch of class. Checkout the coolermaster cases out there.


Hope this helps



[This message has been edited by Michael Quayle (edited 09-15-2003).]

[TIGEROALI]

Thank you Michael for the valuable info. RME definetly worhts a try. One thing though that scares me is that it seems that the computer pro's are talking about PCI fading away and being replaced by the PCI-X in future machines, would this be a problem? would it be better to go with a firewire or USB interface? if not, then what would be a good motherboard combination with RME multiface? any of the ones mentioned above?

[TensTheBlend]

I'm having 100% awesome success with my new MB/CPU combination. I went with a Intel D865PERL motherboard, and a Pentium 4 - 2.6ghz @ 800 mhz buss CPU. Could have gone with a faster CPU, but the 2.6 was the best bang for the $ at this moment. It is 100% SOLID as a rock.

Just as a VERY silly test of stability and multitasking I just ran the following ALL AT THE SAME FREEKIN' TIME:

Sonar 1 with 2 tracks and 5 plugins (3 of them Waves reverbs)looping a tune

Soundforge looping a stereo file

Windows media player playing a DVD

Great Planes USB radio control flight simulator

Still logged onto DSL via network connection and still online...

Hahaha...

Back to real world DAW use, I seem to be able to play back a 16 track tune with about 20 plugins (like Waves EQs and/or compressors on all tracks, and 3-4 reverbs too) and not having any trouble. Still cpu power to spare.

[This message has been edited by TensTheBlend (edited 09-16-2003).]

[TIGEROALI]

Can we push the limit a little bit more, for example let's say what system would be capable of playing back 32 to 48 audio tracks with plugins such as reverb, gates in addition to 6 audio instruments VSTi's?
Also TensTheBlend, excuse my iqnorance! I am not familiar with with the term (MB), what is it exactly?
Guys, come one I gotta put together this system soon, so please recommend a solid PC/soundcard combination.
Thanks again to all!

[TIGEROALI]

Sorry TensTheBlend, I should've known (MB = motherboard) for some reason I was thinking maybe you ment some sort of a soundcard or so!!!!!! oooooooooops! http://www.audioforums.com/forums/wink.gif

[Michael Quayle]

Easy Tiger http://www.audioforums.com/forums/smile.gif

Don't worry about PCI-x for now - everything becomes obsolete eventually, it's just a fact of life. But there are enough PCI devices around right now to ensure support remains for them for at least a couple of years to come. In the same way that ISA didn't die out over night, but gradually faded away, so too will be the case with PCI I imagine, meaning that your natural upgrade cycle will probably accomodate the change in technology without you even noticing it http://www.audioforums.com/forums/smile.gif

The RME remains a sound recommendation.