PC Multitracking Recommendations

[Hanks1]

I am currently running a Gateway Pentium 3, 733mhz, 20 gig, with 128mb ram. I'm trying to decide if I want to go computer based or go with a Roland VS2480. I know that I will need to buy more ram, but how will my computer preform for multitrack recording. Playback, number of tracks, latency, realtime fx, ect.... I realize I should also purchase a separate hardrive to dedicate to audio.
If anyone can give me any advise I would greatly appreciate it. Thanks

[xxFT13xx]

well..being you have a 733...you may run into problems once you start recording tracks.

also, i recommend 512 or higher ram.

also, youll need a good sound card. i recommend the Terratec EWX 24/96.

next thing is to choose wether you want Cubase or Logic. those are the 2 top programs that are duking it out.

i personally like Logic.

-Sin
http://zwap.to/ft13

[Hanks1]

Thanks for your help! Anyone else out there running a similar system?

Thanks!

[ink2002]

I use a gina24 soundcard that works wonderfully with the new drivers and I have Nuendo for sequencing. i think its a really good combination.

[darkangel]

i myself use a gateway that i have moded. its only 600hz pent III
ive goten up to 24 tracks with no problem 24 bit 48khz. I did install
512 ram and a promis fastrack 100 raid card and two 40gig
7200 rpm ide drives , i use a MOTU 24I and Have had no problems.
i also use cubase , with my raid set up at 24 tracks my vst performance
meter shows me at 65-70% disk performance , with a processer under a ghz you do run in to limits with pugins

[nygital]

Dear Hanks,
Whatever it is, avoid getting any Sblive products. Not when ur recording tracks.
Cheers!

Nygital

[Hanks1]

Thanks for you comments! I'm now in the process of determining what hardware I should get. I've thought about the MOTU 828, Aardvark direct pro Q10, Digi 001, Delta 1010..... I just can't decide. I thought I wanted the 828, but I'm running Win 98SE and MOTU doesn't have drivers for it. Plus I'd have to buy a fire wire pci card. The Delta 1010 sounds good, but I've never heard one and It doesn't have any preamps (I plan on using external pre's anyway, but I may need the extra pre's in the future). As far as aardvark products go, I'm just kind of hesitant to buy one for whatever reason.

DarkAngel-- How is the sound of your MOTU? I've only seen good reviews of MOTU stuff.

Thanks,

Hanks1

[Spaldo]

I have had a delta 10/10 since they came out. the most rock solid trouble free card I have ver owned I have owned em all.
The other good option is the Layla

[Hanks1]

What else have you owned, Spaldo? There are so many of these on the market now.

[Ignition]

Suggestion: Lose the PC! DOS is dead! Long live Apple! ;-)

[Spaldo]

Aardvark Q10- quirky but not bad as long as it is the only card in your system, and I did not like the fact that you can not use line single for the XLR inputs (mics only)

moto (not bad but did not work as well with my software (cakewalk) as the others.

Lexicon - very quirky

The cards that I mentioned last time is easy to set up and worke well with out a lot of configuring

The post that says to go Apple is a good way to go because thay are propritory systems configured for digital audio, but it will limit the cards you have to choise from although thier are some real nice ones from the reviews I have read on them..

Also your computer may not be up for the task. If you were not real computer Savoy I would recommend you go with a stand along system like VS880 or something like it.

I custom build my PCs just for recording and recording only. Any time I have had a propritory system it has been a nightmare.. The only reason I have not gong MAC is it cost me a lot less to up grade when I can do it myself.


Good luck

[nygital]

I,ve been eyeing this piece for a long time. Due to budget constraints, im still stuck with soundbastard live platinum. For MIDI, it's totally crappy. Of course i dont expect it to work like a RME or Delta.

"I have had a delta 10/10 since they came out. the most rock solid trouble free card I have ver owned I have owned em all.
The other good option is the Layla"

Spaldo, if you dont mind, what r u sequencing on with the delta1010?

Regards...

[Silent223]

What Im wondering about is interface....

what kind of interface is best?

whats the difference between haveing pre's ON the card or pre's before the card....

and what about eq


...confused.

[Rick Desjardins]

I have the Roland 2480. I also have the AW4416, and I have a creamware Pulsar Card in my pc..Intel 1 gig, ASUS mother board with1 gig RD Ram, and 5 hard drives...Not trying to boast, just setting the stage for my comments. I love the Pulsar Card. 4 sharc chips..has built in samplers, synths, mixers and effects, with easy soft patching of modules.. 16 channels of adat in and 16 channels out! (yamaha 01v makes a good mixer for it but limited to 8 at a time from mixer), plus audio in and outs, spdif, 2 midi ins and outs and lots of support and good user group.. You still need Cubase VST or Logic, or Cakewalk (don't know why no-one mentioned them) to round it out though. The 2480 is a very nice machiine once they worked out some of the more annoying bugs.. It is pricey to load it up though... As much as I like it, I am thinking of selling it, along with the rack mount CD burner, and DIF-AT modules in favor of going back to using the AW4416 as a live mixer and with 2 of the adat cards connect it to my Pulsar Card... I want to do it while I can still get some money back on the 2480...I want to use the pc more and the 2480 is overkill at the price..The 4416 was much less expensive..Also the 4416 still provides me with a live mixer capable of stereo mains, 4 independent monitor mixes, direct to hard disc recording, and cd burning capability in the same unit..Yes it has less effects modules, and is not as user friendly with regard to file manipulation etc. but I don't need that..
if you have any questions, give me a shout...
Rick