|
Log in to post
|
Print Thread |
|
|
|
|
|
RealBand
|
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 68
Enthusiast
|
OP
Enthusiast
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 68 |
As you can see my poor old trusty notebook (specs below) is struggling to run many tracks especially when I add effects
I'm gonna keep it for gigs (BIAB backtrax) and invest in a new desktop for my studio
Any advice on a powerful desktop that will grow with me?
I am very quality conscious
Intel® Core™2 Quad Q8400, 2.66 GHz. 4 MB L2 cache 1333 MHz FSB, 8MB DDR3 DRAM. HDs 1320MB Win7 64bit. BB2010.ver 304 Reaper DAW. Melodyne Editor
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
RealBand
|
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 12,674
Veteran
|
|
Veteran
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 12,674 |
Assuming a name brand vendor (such as HP or Dell, etc) I would buy the fastest processor I could afford, but with the least amount of memory and smallest hard drive they have. I would then order the memory hard drive space I wanted from somewhere like newegg.com.
I remember when I bought my HP, it came standard with 2GB RAM. I wanted 4GB RAM. HP wanted something like $200 to increase from 2GB to 4GB. Instead, I took the 2GB box, went to NewEgg and purchased 4GB for about $80 and it's worked great ever since. I took the $120 savings and purchased the sound card I wanted. I think for hard drives, I ended up expanding my disk space for about half of what HP wanted to charge.
But that's just me and I have no problem rooting around inside the computer case.
John Laptop-HP Omen I7 Win11Pro 32GB 2x2TB, 1x4TB SSD Desktop-ASUS-I7 Win10Pro 32GB 2x1.5TB, 2x2TB, 1x4TB SATA BB2025/UMC404HD/Casios/Cakewalk/Reaper/Studio One/MixBus/Notion/Finale/Dorico/Noteworthy/NI/Halion/IK http://www.sus4chord.com
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
RealBand
|
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 1,992
Expert
|
|
Expert
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 1,992 |
plotzie.
see my tips in the tips n triks section.
lotsa info. save me retyping lots plus i'm not well. . flu.
retired puter engr....powertracks on amd......NICE !
"what is the black art of audio engineering ?"
my silly songs...motagator.com/bmanning
see my tips in the tips section.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
RealBand
|
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 8,506
Veteran
|
|
Veteran
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 8,506 |
I always build my own. If you buy all the parts at the same place and not some off beat stuff it is really easy. The last one has ran like a champ for 7 years.
HP Win 11 12 gig ram, Mac mini Sonoma with 16 gig of ram, BiaB 2025, Realband, Reaper 7, Harrison Mixbus 9 32c , Melodyne 5 editor, Presonus Audiobox 1818VSL, Presonus control app.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
RealBand
|
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 10,193
Veteran
|
|
Veteran
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 10,193 |
Try Newegg for this: http://www.newegg.com/Product/NewProduct.aspx?Item=N82E16883107984That is a quad core AMD processor, with tons of RAM and a 750GB hard drive. You can add a 500GB hard drive for about $70. The power supply is 300 watt no name, and I would recommend upgrading that to something a little more powerful, say a 500 watt or something in that range. No PCI slots, so if you have a PCI sound card, don't buy this. It has only PCI-e, on x16 for graphics and 2 or three x1 for everything else. Asus makes the Xonar D2X sound card which has PCI-e. There are really only three manufacturers of computer sound cards that support PCI-e, and that's Creative, Asus and AuzenTech, and AuzenTech still uses Creative chips. I like my Asus card, it offers 7.1, coaxial and optical digital ins and outs. It is expensive, however. If you're going to go Firewire <shudders> or USB <semi-shudder> then you should be pretty well off, as far as your audio interface goes. If you're planning on gaming on this system, it'll support lower end games, WoW, Second Life, Sims, but if you want to run COD4, Crysis, etc., you're going to need to do a major upgrade to the video system. Or, if you don't mind building your own, you can start here: http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboBundleDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.311917...and work your way down.  If you're handy with a screwdriver, and know your way around the inside of a computer, you might try something like this: http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboBundleDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.319352You'll still need some extras, like a CPU cooling fan: I like Zalman. http://www.newegg.com/Product/NewProduct.aspx?Item=N82E16835118056You'll need a video card, but for audio only, and not gaming, that's not a huge issue: http://www.newegg.com/Product/NewProduct.aspx?Item=N82E16814102843Something like that would be a good, general video card, if you want to go blow up some people when you're not making music. Finally, you'll need an OS. http://www.newegg.com/Product/NewProduct.aspx?Item=N82E16832116754Your choice on 32 bit or 64 bit, but 64 bit takes advantage of everything in that package. Gary
I'm blessed watching God do what He does best. I've had a few rough years, and I'm still not back to where I want to be, but I'm on the way and things are looking far better now than what they were!
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
RealBand
|
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 42
Enthusiast
|
|
Enthusiast
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 42 |
There are so many choices out there... If you want to shop for systems that are pre-packaged for music apps, check out musiciansfriend.com http://pro-audio.musiciansfriend.com/computers-peripheralsIf you are going with components, another good place to shop is tigerdirect.com. They also have everything from bare bones systems to top of the line gaming machines. Usually they are pretty competitive. Good luck.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
RealBand
|
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 10,193
Veteran
|
|
Veteran
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 10,193 |
Of course, the other issue is that our OP lives in Johannasburg, South Africa. Somehow I don't think either Newegg or Musician's Friend is delivering there.
However, the stuff that we've posted can at least be an example of what we might suggest.
Gary
I'm blessed watching God do what He does best. I've had a few rough years, and I'm still not back to where I want to be, but I'm on the way and things are looking far better now than what they were!
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
RealBand
|
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 68
Enthusiast
|
|
OP
Enthusiast
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 68 |
Thanks guys for your valued advice. I have purchased an HP with 3 year 24hr response onsite warranty
Processor type Intel® Core™2 Quad Q8400 Processor
• 2.66 GHz, 4 MB L2 cache, 1333 MHz front side bus (with Win 7 64bit) I'll soon upgrade to 8 mb
I got this at a Ridiculous price. Also a 20"LCD monitor
I'm gonna run my Compaq notebook at gigs with BIAB 2010
Thanx again
Intel® Core™2 Quad Q8400, 2.66 GHz. 4 MB L2 cache 1333 MHz FSB, 8MB DDR3 DRAM. HDs 1320MB Win7 64bit. BB2010.ver 304 Reaper DAW. Melodyne Editor
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
RealBand
|
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 1,992
Expert
|
|
Expert
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 1,992 |
plotzie as soon as you get your new system run dpc latency checker on it n strip stuff out that might cause red spikes. http://www.thesycon.de/deu/latency_check.shtmlalso spend an extra 70 buks and install a second drive 7200 rpm with 32 mb cache as a dedicated recording drive. thats what i would do.
retired puter engr....powertracks on amd......NICE !
"what is the black art of audio engineering ?"
my silly songs...motagator.com/bmanning
see my tips in the tips section.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
RealBand
|
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 68
Enthusiast
|
|
OP
Enthusiast
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 68 |
Txs a mill. I have just downloaded the latency checker and I already have a Seagate USB 500gb HDD. What do you mean by "dedicated recording drive"?
My new PC will only be used for BB/RB/Reaper etc. No games or mail etc
Intel® Core™2 Quad Q8400, 2.66 GHz. 4 MB L2 cache 1333 MHz FSB, 8MB DDR3 DRAM. HDs 1320MB Win7 64bit. BB2010.ver 304 Reaper DAW. Melodyne Editor
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
RealBand
|
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 8,506
Veteran
|
|
Veteran
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 8,506 |
Sometimes it is a good idea to have a second drive on the system so you can store all the audio and midi data there. This leave the primary drive to run the programs, and allows it to stream the music files from the second drive. If the mother board has two drive busses, and most do this helps out the process.
HP Win 11 12 gig ram, Mac mini Sonoma with 16 gig of ram, BiaB 2025, Realband, Reaper 7, Harrison Mixbus 9 32c , Melodyne 5 editor, Presonus Audiobox 1818VSL, Presonus control app.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
RealBand
|
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 68
Enthusiast
|
|
OP
Enthusiast
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 68 |
Thax all for valued advice. As you can see I have my new gear up and running. Not one error (BB,RB M-Audio Fast track pro) All on Win 7 64 bit
Regards
Plotzie
Intel® Core™2 Quad Q8400, 2.66 GHz. 4 MB L2 cache 1333 MHz FSB, 8MB DDR3 DRAM. HDs 1320MB Win7 64bit. BB2010.ver 304 Reaper DAW. Melodyne Editor
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Ask sales and support questions about Band-in-a-Box using natural language.
ChatPG's knowledge base includes the full Band-in-a-Box User Manual and sales information from the website.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Mac 2025 Special Upgrade Offers Extended Until August 15th!
It's not too late to upgrade to Band-in-a-Box® 2025 for Mac® and save! We've extended our special until August 15, 2025!
We've added many major new features to Band-in-a-Box® 2025 for Mac®, including advanced AI tools like the amazing BB Stem Splitter and AI Lyrics Generator, as well as VST3 plugin support, and Equalize Temp. Plus, there’s a new one-stop MIDI Patches Picker with over 1,100 MIDI patches to choose from, all neatly categorized by GM numbers. The MultiPicker Library is enhanced with tabs for the SongPicker, MIDI Patch Picker, Chord Builder, AI Lyrics Generator, and Song Titles Browser, and the tabs are organized into logical groups. The Audiophile Edition is enhanced with FLAC files , which are 60% smaller than AIFF files while maintaining identical audio quality, and now ships on a fast 1TB SSD, and much more!
Check out all the new features in Band-in-a-Box® 2025 for Mac® here:
Purchase your Band-in-a-Box® 2025 for Mac during our special to save up to 50% off your upgrade purchase and receive a FREE BONUS PAK of amazing new Add-ons. These include the 2025 RealCombos Booster PAK, Look Ma! More MIDI 13: Country & Americana, Instrumental Studies Set 22: 2-Hand Piano Soloing - Rhythm Changes, MIDI SuperTracks Set 44: Jazz Piano, Artist Performance Set 17: Songs with Vocals 7, Playable RealTracks Set 4, RealDrums Stems Set 7: Jazz with Mike Clark, and more!
Upgrade to the 2025 49-PAK for just $49 and add 20 Bonus Unreleased RealTracks and 20 RealStyles, FLAC Files for the 20 Bonus Unreleased RealTracks, Look Ma! More MIDI 14: SynthMaster, MIDI SuperTracks Set 45: More SynthMaster, Artist Performance Set 18: Songs with Vocals 8, and RealDrums Stems Set 8: Pop, Funk & More with Jerry Roe.
Learn more about the Bonus PAKs!
New RealTracks Released with Band-in-a-Box 2025!
We’ve expanded the Band-in-a-Box® RealTracks library with 202 incredible new RealTracks (in sets 449-467) across Jazz, Blues, Funk, World, Pop, Rock, Country, Americana, and Praise & Worship—featuring your most requested styles!
Jazz, Blues & World (Sets 449–455):
These RealTracks includes “Soul Jazz” with Neil Swainson (bass), Mike Clark (drums), Charles Treadway (organ), Miles Black (piano), and Brent Mason (guitar). Enjoy “Requested ’60s” jazz, classic acoustic blues with Colin Linden, and more of our popular 2-handed piano soloing. Plus, a RealTracks first—Tango with bandoneon, recorded in Argentina!
Rock & Pop (Sets 456–461):
This collection includes Disco, slap bass ‘70s/‘80s pop, modern and ‘80s metal with Andy Wood, and a unique “Songwriter Potpourri” featuring Chinese folk instruments, piano, banjo, and more. You’ll also find a muted electric guitar style (a RealTracks first!) and “Producer Layered Guitar” styles for slick "produced" sound.
Country, Americana & Praise (Sets 462–467):
We’ve added new RealTracks across bro country, Americana, praise & worship, vintage country, and songwriter piano. Highlights include Brent Mason (electric guitar), Eddie Bayers (drums), Doug Jernigan (pedal steel), John Jarvis (piano), Glen Duncan (banjo, mandolin & fiddle), Mike Harrison (electric bass) and more—offering everything from modern sounds to heartfelt Americana styles
Check out all the 202 New RealTracks (in sets 456-467)
And, if you are looking for more, the 2025 49-PAK (for $49) includes an additional 20 RealTracks with exciting new sounds and genre-spanning styles. Enjoy RealTracks firsts like Chinese instruments (guzheng & dizi), the bandoneon in an authentic Argentine tango trio, and the classic “tic-tac” baritone guitar for vintage country.
You’ll also get slick ’80s metal guitar from Andy Wood, modern metal with guitarist Nico Santora, bass player Nick Schendzielos, and drummer Aaron Stechauner, more praise & worship, indie-folk, modern/bro country with Brent Mason, and “Songwriter Americana” with Johnny Hiland.
Plus, enjoy user-requested styles like Soul Jazz RealDrums, fast Celtic Strathspey guitar, and Chill Hop piano & drums!
The 2025 49-PAK is loaded with other great new add-ons as well. Learn more about the 2025 49-PAK!
Bonus PAKs for Band-in-a-Box 2025 for Mac!
With your version 2025 for Mac Pro, MegaPAK, UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, Audiophile Edition or PlusPAK purchase, we'll include a Bonus PAK full of great new Add-ons FREE! Or upgrade to the 2025 49-PAK for only $49 to receive even more NEW Add-ons including 20 additional RealTracks!
These PAKs are loaded with additional add-ons to supercharge your Band-in-a-Box®!
This Free Bonus PAK includes:
- The 2025 RealCombos Booster PAK:
-For Pro customers, this includes 33 new RealTracks and 65+ new RealStyles.
-For MegaPAK customers, this includes 29 new RealTracks and 45+ new RealStyles.
-For UltraPAK customers, this includes 20 new RealStyles.
- Look Ma! More MIDI 13: Country & Americana
- Instrumental Studies Set 22: 2-Hand Piano Soloing - Rhythm Changes
- MIDI SuperTracks Set 44: Jazz Piano
- Artist Performance Set 17: Songs with Vocals 7
- Playable RealTracks Set 4
- RealDrums Stems Set 7: Jazz with Mike Clark
- SynthMaster Sounds and Styles (with audio demos)
- 128 GM MIDI Patch Audio Demos.
Looking for more great add-ons, then upgrade to the 2025 49-PAK for just $49 and you'll get:
- 20 Bonus Unreleased RealTracks and RealDrums with 20 RealStyles,
- FLAC Files (lossless audio files) for the 20 Bonus Unreleased RealTracks and RealDrums
- Look Ma! More MIDI 14: SynthMaster,
- Instrumental Studies Set 23: More '80s Hard Rock Soloing,
- MIDI SuperTracks Set 45: More SynthMaster
- Artist Performance Set 18: Songs with Vocals 8
- RealDrums Stems Set 8: Pop, Funk & More with Jerry Roe
Learn more about the Bonus PAKs for Band-in-a-Box® 2025 for Mac®!
New! Xtra Styles PAK 20 for Band-in-a-Box 2025 and Higher for Mac!
Xtra Styles PAK 20 for Mac & Windows Band-in-a-Box version 2025 (and higher) is here with 200 brand new RealStyles!
We're excited to bring you our latest and greatest in the all new Xtra Styles PAK 20 for Band-in-a-Box! This fresh installment is packed with 200 all-new styles spanning the rock & pop, jazz, and country genres you've come to expect, as well as the exciting inclusion of electronic styles!
In this PAK you’ll discover: Minimalist Modern Funk, New Wave Synth Pop, Hard Bop Latin Groove, Gospel Country Shuffle, Cinematic Synthwave, '60s Motown, Funky Lo-Fi Bossa, Heavy 1980s Metal, Soft Muted 12-8 Folk, J-Pop Jazz Fusion, and many more!
All the Xtra Styles PAKs 1 - 20 are on special for only $29 each (reg $49), or get all 209 PAKs for $199 (reg $399)! Order now!
Learn more and listen to demos of the Xtra Styles PAK 20.
Video: Xtra Styles PAK 20 Overview & Styles Demos: Watch now!
Note: The Xtra Styles require the UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition of Band-in-a-Box®. (Xtra Styles PAK 20 requires the 2025 or higher UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition. They will not work with the Pro or MegaPAK version because they need the RealTracks from the UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition.
New! XPro Styles PAK 9 for Band-in-a-Box 2025 and higher for Mac!
We've just released XPro Styles PAK 9 for Mac & Windows Band-in-a-Box version 2025 (and higher) with 100 brand new RealStyles, plus 29 RealTracks/RealDrums!
We've been hard at it to bring you the latest and greatest in this 9th installment of our popular XPro Styles PAK series! Included are 75 styles spanning the rock & pop, jazz, and country genres (25 styles each) that fans have come to expect, as well as 25 styles in this volume's wildcard genre: funk & R&B!
If you're itching to get a sneak peek at what's included in XPro Styles PAK 9, here is a small helping of what you can look forward to: Funky R&B Horns, Upbeat Celtic Rock, Jazz Fusion Salsa, Gentle Indie Folk, Cool '60s Soul, Funky '70s R&B, Smooth Jazz Hip Hop, Acoustic Rockabilly Swing, Funky Reggae Dub, Dreamy Retro Latin Jazz, Retro Soul-Rock Fusion, and much more!
Special Pricing! Until July 31, 2024, all the XPro Styles PAKs 1 - 9 are on sale for only $29 ea (Reg. $49 ea), or get them all in the XPro Styles PAK Bundle for only $149 (reg. $299)! Order now!
Learn more and listen to demos of XPro Styles PAKs.
Video: XPro Styles PAK 9 Overview & Styles Demos: Watch now!
XPro Styles PAKs require Band-in-a-Box® 2025 or higher and are compatible with ANY package, including the Pro, MegaPAK, UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, and Audiophile Edition.
New! Xtra Styles PAK 20 for Band-in-a-Box 2025 and Higher for Windows!
Xtra Styles PAK 20 for Windows & Mac Band-in-a-Box version 2025 (and higher) is here with 200 brand new RealStyles!
We're excited to bring you our latest and greatest in the all new Xtra Styles PAK 20 for Band-in-a-Box! This fresh installment is packed with 200 all-new styles spanning the rock & pop, jazz, and country genres you've come to expect, as well as the exciting inclusion of electronic styles!
In this PAK you’ll discover: Minimalist Modern Funk, New Wave Synth Pop, Hard Bop Latin Groove, Gospel Country Shuffle, Cinematic Synthwave, '60s Motown, Funky Lo-Fi Bossa, Heavy 1980s Metal, Soft Muted 12-8 Folk, J-Pop Jazz Fusion, and many more!
All the Xtra Styles PAKs 1 - 20 are on special for only $29 each (reg $49), or get all 209 PAKs for $199 (reg $399)! Order now!
Learn more and listen to demos of the Xtra Styles PAK 20.
Video: Xtra Styles PAK 20 Overview & Styles Demos: Watch now!
Note: The Xtra Styles require the UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition of Band-in-a-Box®. (Xtra Styles PAK 20 requires the 2025 or higher UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition. They will not work with the Pro or MegaPAK version because they need the RealTracks from the UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition.
New! XPro Styles PAK 9 for Band-in-a-Box 2025 and higher for Windows!
We've just released XPro Styles PAK 9 for Windows & Mac Band-in-a-Box version 2025 (and higher) with 100 brand new RealStyles, plus 29 RealTracks/RealDrums!
We've been hard at it to bring you the latest and greatest in this 9th installment of our popular XPro Styles PAK series! Included are 75 styles spanning the rock & pop, jazz, and country genres (25 styles each) that fans have come to expect, as well as 25 styles in this volume's wildcard genre: funk & R&B!
If you're itching to get a sneak peek at what's included in XPro Styles PAK 9, here is a small helping of what you can look forward to: Funky R&B Horns, Upbeat Celtic Rock, Jazz Fusion Salsa, Gentle Indie Folk, Cool '60s Soul, Funky '70s R&B, Smooth Jazz Hip Hop, Acoustic Rockabilly Swing, Funky Reggae Dub, Dreamy Retro Latin Jazz, Retro Soul-Rock Fusion, and much more!
Special Pricing! Until July 31, 2024, all the XPro Styles PAKs 1 - 9 are on sale for only $29 ea (Reg. $49 ea), or get them all in the XPro Styles PAK Bundle for only $149 (reg. $299)! Order now!
Learn more and listen to demos of XPro Styles PAKs.
Video: XPro Styles PAK 9 Overview & Styles Demos: Watch now!
XPro Styles PAKs require Band-in-a-Box® 2025 or higher and are compatible with ANY package, including the Pro, MegaPAK, UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, and Audiophile Edition.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Forums58
Topics84,442
Posts779,268
Members39,662
| |
Most Online25,754
Jan 24th, 2025
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Dansk
Deutsch - Windows
Español
Français - Windows
Italiano - Windows
Nederlands
Polski
Português
Svenskt
русский
Japanese
Simplified Chinese
Traditional Chinese
Korean