My little tidbit is this. When I got into this years ago I could not afford a dedicated computer for recording. My system had to double as a home computer and multitask. Well here I am almost 20 years later and still using one old laptop to do everything. I had a dedicated laptop but, my everyday system died. So the point is I have rock solid performance recording, playback, etc. why? The key element is the interface.

When I started I tried to use the built in sound card. While I tweaked and tweaked, it still would breakdown and studder and such. My wife and I were out one day running errands and I walked into a guitar center, and bought a m-audio sound card. Went home installed it and boom a smooth solid recording experience. I never looked back. I spend several years over at the cakewalk forums and every one that joined complaining about audio issues were using the built in sound card. Once they switched to a dedicated card or interface their problems melted away.

Here I am today I use a USB Presonus interface and have it setup up to handle all audio tasks. I never have issues like that.

Literally having a true recording interface either Presonus, or focusrite, or any other name brand (although those two are awesome) will take the fight out of this process. I know they are an expense, but if your going to do this. They are vital.

Something like this will change the game. https://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/AudioBoxUSB96--presonus-audiobox-usb-96

One last note. If you have a 1TB hard drive and only 120 gig is free, you might think of cleaning it up some. Always get off the internet to record, just switch off the WiFi. Stop any background processes that can grab resources. With a PC if you have email it will update while your working. Ever see the little notices float in from the side? Antivirus checking them, etc. I only use Windows defender on my system it runs more “quietly in the background”

HP Win 11 12 gig ram, Mac mini Sonoma with 16 gig of ram, BiaB/RB 2026, Reaper 7, Harrison Mixbus 11 , Presonus Audiobox USB96