What PC for Recording?

white_falcon

Hi I am saving up to buy an uber pc and basically want to use it for recording. This thread may belong in the computers section but it is to do with recording and the equipment I need to use.
Basically I will have about 750Euros to start off with to buy a PC and I want to use it for mainly recording and using sibelius for college and playing a couple of games. Anyhoo, could anyone advise me on what type of processor, motherboard, soundcard (internal or external?) etc. that I will need. Also what type of microphones to get - I will be recording an Ovation Semi-Acoustic guitar and Jackson flying V, most likely through my Marshall Amp - I was thinking just to start off with perhaps a Shure mic for the Jackson and a condensor for my acoustic. I do have an M-Audio Firewire 410 so this is at least a start. Any ideas or information on this would be much appreciated - I do music technology in college, but never really got into it so Im just starting off now really, so thats why I really want to get into it. Thanks

squibs

The soundcard you have will be fine. Can't go wrong with a shure dynamic mic. You're looking at the usual candidates for budget condensor mics - AKG, rode, Behringer, Joe Meek, Samson, etc. You'll probanly find a matched stereo pair of mics handy, if you can afford them. As for the computer - 750 is probably pushing it if you also need a screen for that price. You might look at the low end Dell stuff, if you can put up with moderate fan noise - you should be able to retrofit some noise reducing kit later.

cornbb

Seeing as you already have a decent soundcard theres not a whole lot else to take into account apart from the usual advice; fast processer, fast HDD, loads of RAM, etc. You will find a large monitor or multiple monitors very handy for doing audio production.

TiwstaSista

Pretty much any high end gaming rig will do. Sound isn't something that taxes computers. Graphics, now thats a different story.

eddyc

I'd disagree , sound processing can be extremely taxing for computers, most of the computations for FX and VST's is done by the CPU not a seperate GPU although the exception would be if you had some outboard gear and a mixing desk or a seperate hardware host like receptor

violenza

Well the M-Audio Firewire 410 is more than just a start, looking at the specs it's a sweet piece of kit. I'd be inclined to scour the secondhand market for the pc/Laptop!! Save some cash for monitors or decent headphones.
As a basic spec that has worked fine for me... P4 2ghz,1 gig ram, fast drive seperate to your system drive. At least 40 gigs set aside for audio recording, this is aside from your games and system drive or what ever else and is the bare necessity. An external backup drive equivalent and dvd burner. If your using sibelius your probably best off having an extra soundcard with a midi soundbank, maybe an old creative soundblaster...there are other processor or finance heavy options.
Of course you'll need firewire:-) It doesn't sound like you have many sources to record so my money would be on a decent condenser. Versatile for miked amps acoustics and vocals. The B1 by studio projects is a great buy on a budget. Watch out for motherboard(chipset)compatibility pro tools;-)this is another great option with your soundcard. Have fun.

jimi_t

If you're going for a protools DAW rig, watch what chipset you get because some don't play nice.


For fruityloops, reason, cubase etc.. you'll want to get a decent AMD 3200+ or such secondhand and a gig of RAM, fast RPM harddrive and a 128mb graphics card with two DVI/VGA outs and a reasonable motherboard and you're set. About 400-500 secondhand will get you that and hopefully you'll have a case and PSU lying around.
Then get a decent PCI soundcard with lots of ins/out (better off requesting this in a separate thread) and a 17" LCD second hand - maybe 350 or so.

white_falcon

Great thanks very much for all the info guys! Im still a little broke, but my job will give me 250yoyos towards a pc so im gonna put about 600 towards it myself aswell, so with all ur info in mind, i should be able to create a fairly kick ass rig! Cheers dudes:D

HungryJoey

HEres some parts that'll get you a nice base for that sound card with plenty of performance for 600-650 euro presuming you already have a monitor.

Heres some parts from komplett I picked out ( presuming you are building you're self:

Processor: http://www.komplett.ie/k/ki.asp?sku=307202 : 105
Motherboard: http://www.komplett.ie/k/ki.asp?sku=307784 : 75
RAM: http://www.komplett.ie/k/ki.asp?sku=118737 : 110
Case: http://www.komplett.ie/k/ki.asp?sku=303823 : 74
PSU: http://www.komplett.ie/k/ki.asp?sku=308622 : 63
DVD-RW/CD-RW: http://www.komplett.ie/k/ki.asp?sku=314090 : 37.50
Graphics card: http://www.komplett.ie/k/ki.asp?sku=320412 : 71
HardDrive: http://www.komplett.ie/k/ki.asp?sku=308745 : 77

Total : 612 & 10er for delivery

AMD A64 3200+
MSI K8N Neo nForce 4
1024MB PC 3200 Corsair RAM
nVidia 7300GS
250GB Hitachi deskstar SATA2 HDD
400Watt Fortron PSU
Coolermaster Cavalier 3 case
NEC Black DVD-RW

And that would be a great base for you're music purposes.

Hj