I'm getting ready to buy a new computer. What do you suggest for home studio? What sound card is good to have installed? Any other suggestions? My current HP has a lot of fan and hard drive noise. There is also noise on the recording vu meters in Sound Forge Studio even when no source is connected.
-
Get involved.
We want your input!
Apply for Membership and join the conversations about everything related to broadcasting.
After we receive your registration, a moderator will review it. After your registration is approved, you will be permitted to post.
If you use a disposable or false email address, your registration will be rejected.
After your membership is approved, please take a minute to tell us a little bit about yourself.
https://www.radiodiscussions.com/forums/introduce-yourself.1088/
Thanks in advance and have fun!
RadioDiscussions Administrators
Computer for home studio
- Thread starter DavidSC
- Start date
The best SOUNDING card for the money is the E-mu M series (i.e. 1212m). They have the best specs and the most transparent sound. They use the same converters as Pro Tools HD systems. Hard to beat for the price. But they can be a pain to set up. The software is useful and powerful, but complicated.
Lynx cards aren't cheap, but they're sort of the Rolls Royce of sound cards. DAL CardDeluxe cards are close behind.
M-Audio cards are a good buy if you just want it to work. The converters aren't quite as outstanding as others, but they're easy to set up and inexpensive. Compatability is better than with just about any other company. As a bonus, they'll allow you to run Pro Tools M-Powered. And the sound, though not as pristine as E-mu, is worlds better than any 'consumer' card.
Echo cards are also very good. Generally, the converters are very good, as is the compatability. The connectors are rock-solid. And the price is right!
As for other suggestions, larger fans (120mm) make less noise in the case. SATA hard drives are better and often quieter. And 10,000 RPM drives are generally the quietest performers. Antec makes silicone gaskets for fans and drives that can cut down the noise a bit, as well.
Emmett
Lynx cards aren't cheap, but they're sort of the Rolls Royce of sound cards. DAL CardDeluxe cards are close behind.
M-Audio cards are a good buy if you just want it to work. The converters aren't quite as outstanding as others, but they're easy to set up and inexpensive. Compatability is better than with just about any other company. As a bonus, they'll allow you to run Pro Tools M-Powered. And the sound, though not as pristine as E-mu, is worlds better than any 'consumer' card.
Echo cards are also very good. Generally, the converters are very good, as is the compatability. The connectors are rock-solid. And the price is right!
As for other suggestions, larger fans (120mm) make less noise in the case. SATA hard drives are better and often quieter. And 10,000 RPM drives are generally the quietest performers. Antec makes silicone gaskets for fans and drives that can cut down the noise a bit, as well.
Emmett
Although a lot of people seem to rubbish Dell, I recently purchased two of their new Vostro 200 PCs for my studio; one for on-air equipped with an existing Echo Mia Midi, the other for production with a new Focusrite Saffire Pro 26.
Other than making the mistake of buying a Dell firewire card (which has now been replaced by a Lacie) and some issues with the transfer of the Echo card to a dual-core PC (sorted out with a Microsoft hotfix), the two PCs are now performing well and are very quiet. I have no problem recording voice tracks in the studio with both of them running.
Other than making the mistake of buying a Dell firewire card (which has now been replaced by a Lacie) and some issues with the transfer of the Echo card to a dual-core PC (sorted out with a Microsoft hotfix), the two PCs are now performing well and are very quiet. I have no problem recording voice tracks in the studio with both of them running.
Easyfm..you're right the Vostro systems are really fine for what we do as long as you UP the RAM a lot. After all these computers are basically obsolete after we get them anyway. Why go overboard as long as our outboard gear is up to speed? We got three of those Dells also and I equipped them all with 2 GB of RAM..and as far as sound cards go I really like my M-Audio Delta 44s..The CardDeluxe not really all that much I have those in the Atlanta location, and I am not all that impressed..they're okay, but no hige difference.
The
The
Macs have been having their way with audio file since Gore invented 'em.
I've been a fan since the first two or three years of the digital age (I started
out on a PC). The new dual (and now dual-Quad) CPUs make things blazing fast.
Just don't use much compression when recording; the process of converting to
MP3s for emailing adds compression of its own, and your stuff may end up
sounding muddy.
I've been a fan since the first two or three years of the digital age (I started
out on a PC). The new dual (and now dual-Quad) CPUs make things blazing fast.
Just don't use much compression when recording; the process of converting to
MP3s for emailing adds compression of its own, and your stuff may end up
sounding muddy.
O
OttoM
Guest
skyrocker said:
Uh - audio compression and MP3 compression are not tjhe same thing.
DavidSC said:
I'm certainly not saying it's the best, but I've been very happy with my Tascam US-122L. I picked it up almost a year ago to use as a starter home studio in the interim when I could no longer access a studio in the evenings. It acts as a sound card when plugged into the USB port, and phantom power comes from the USB as well (so make sure you have an outlet or your laptop battery will drain quickly). The great thing is that it's completely portable and I frequently use it with my laptop (which makes very little noise) to record people at their location instead of bringing them to mine. While it's not at par with the studio at my office, I've never looked back. I didn't use the software that came with it, save for the drivers, as I have Adobe Audition and it works with the Tascam without a hitch.
If you still want to use your HP - build a box, or buy a box, to isolate that noise. Replacing the current fans with high efficiency ones cut my PC's noise down considerably - and could likely help yours too.
- Status