Need DAW component recommendations
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Posted on Nov 26, 2005 12:33 pm
RPMcCoy
Member Since: Nov 26, 2005
So I've decided to build a machine dedicated to digital audio and MIDI recording applications. I am a solo musician and require a low # of simultaneuos inputs for use with Sonar 4 (soon to be upgraded to 5). Most important to me is the lowest possible MIDI latency when playing soundfonts from a keyboard controller. I also record audio.. guitar, vocals, ect.. Here are my tentative choices for CPU, mobo, soundcard, ect.. My budget is in the neighborhood of $1000.
CPU: AMD Athlon 64 3200+
MOBO: MSI K8N Neo4 Platinum nVidia
RAM: Corsair TWINX Dual Channel 1024MB PC3200 DDR 400MHz
VIDEO CARD: MSI NX6600LE-TD256E GeForce 6600LE PCI Express 256MB DDR
SOUND CARD: M-Audio Audiophile 192
CASE: Premium Digital 2528 Silver ATX Mid-Tower Case with Fan Controller, Front USB & Audio Ports and 400-Watt 24-Pin Power Supply
HARDDRIVE: Hitachi Deskstar 7K80 80GB Serial ATA II 7200RPM Hard Drive w/8MB Buffer
Do you think I will be good to go? Most important to me is undetectable latency when playing soundfonts live and recorded as audio.
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Noize2uCzar of MidiAdministrator
Since: Apr 04, 2002
Nov 26, 2005 05:48 pm It looks to me that you made some good choice's there. I use MSI MoBo with AMD and get excelant performance. The M-Audio interface will serve your need's nicely, as well as give you very low latency. I use ESI interface's as do several other's here with good luck as well. That choice was made due to excelant driver''s built for use in Windows. Latency is also a major issue here and they give me excelant performance in that area.
Not very familier with the Hitachi Hard drive's so I can cmment there. I use Seagate as I have had nothing but good luck there as well. Many use Maxtor, WD as well as other's and have good preformance.
My main box relies on SATA drives for audio and sample storage although your need's wont be as large as mine. You will find however that a second hard drive for audio and samples only will aid in the performance of the machine and software as well.
Nov 28, 2005 03:01 pm Thanks for the response. After reading several reviews on this site and others, I think I'm going to go with the ESI Juli@.
I'm glad I found this site. There are so many helpful folks here.
Noize2uCzar of MidiAdministrator
Since: Apr 04, 2002
Nov 28, 2005 11:06 pm dB uses that interface and is very happy with it. I on the other hand use their multiple i/o interface's as I need more i/o's often enough.
Dec 02, 2005 06:06 pm hey noize, does ESI make a good PCI card that rivals the presonus firepod in features? IF there is, how much does it cost?
Noize2uCzar of MidiAdministrator
Since: Apr 04, 2002
Dec 03, 2005 03:14 pm The ESI Juli@ www.esi-pro.com/viewProduct.php?pid=43&page=1 would be the cross for the M-Audio Audiophile 192. dB uses it as well as several others here who have been impressed with it's performance and stability. I as well as other's have found the ESI driver's to be a bit more stabil and system friendly. I am running 2 ESI interfaces, their larger mutliple i/o unit's and I love them. As far as spec's they are pretty much apple's to apple's. That said, I am still running an M-Audio Delta 44 on my older machine, soon to be replaced by the ESI Waveterminal 192M.
I run a lot of software synth's and sampler's and really depend on the low latency and stability when I am playing them live and ESI has fit the bill perfectly there.
The main ESI page is here www.esi-pro.com/listProduct.php?ctgr=10 to have a look at all their product's.
Noize2uCzar of MidiAdministrator
Since: Apr 04, 2002
Dec 03, 2005 03:16 pm As an added note, definately make sure whatever route you decide to go to download the most current driver release.
