Windows XP

[sanantomexican]

I am using DIGI 002 WITH A DELL DIMENSION 2.8, MY HD IS A SEAGATE BARRACUDA 7200. I WAS TOLD THAT I SHOULD GET THE XP INSTALLED WITH NO SERVICE PACKS WHATSOEVER, YET THE DIGIDESIGN WEB APGE FORUM SAYS THAT WITH PRO-TOOLS LE SERVICE PACK ONE IS THE MINIMUM REQUIREMENT.
WHAT IS THE REAL DEAL? CAN I RUN PRO-TOOLS WITH NO SERVICE PACKS OR MUST I HAVE AT LEAST SERVICE PACK 1?

[Tommy-boy]

Two things:

1 - Turn off your Friggin' CAPS LOCK you (insert expletive here).

2 - Follow the Digi website advice.

[sanantomexican]

HEY TOMMY BOY IF YOU HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THE CAPS LOCK YOU DON'T HAVE TO BE SUCH A (INSERT EXPLETIVE HERE) ABOUT IT.
I didn't post on this site to read your idiotic comments and/or witicisms. I needed assistance. If your stupidity is a reflection of the type of help I will receive from Sweetwater forums I will no longer post on this site or do business with sweetwater in the future.
I think it is quite a shame that you are allowed to post such asinine replies to people who are actually looking for help. As if to think that I hadn't already gone to the digi website for advice. If you can read you would see that the advice I received was from a sweetwater tech. which is why I posted my question here.
Thanks a lot for the help "TOMMY BOY"

[dpd]

1) Go for SP1. SP2, while approved by Digi, still seems a bit risky, since not enough users/seat time around for great feedback.

My son uses a Dell with SP1, no worries at all. Be careful, if you have auto-update installed you may end up with SP2. Check out Digi's site again and here at Sweetwater for some good info.

2) stop the Hate - both of you

[sanantomexican]

I greatly appreciate your informative reply.
If it at all possible can someboby please give me a run down/list of all the spec.s for a Dell computer configured specifically for use with a Pro-tools 002 Desktop. I could then give this to my builder who is a Dell dealer here in my hometown, so that he could make the necessary changes and/or additions to my existing omputer which he built. I took him to the digi compatibility web page but due to the fact that he has no experience with digital audio he gets confused. But if I could get some straight forward computer info. he could simply build what I need no problem. As I said in my previous post I have a Dell Dimension desktop 2.8 GhZ, Seagate Barracuda HD 7200.
My hard drive is partitioned into two 80 g drives.
I have 1 gig of ram. All in all I have a nice little system but it simply doesn't perform. What are the true differences or benefits between PC and Mac? Somebody please give me some solid advice before I spend another $2000.00.
And if it is not too much trouble I would appreciate a list of spec.s

[scottdemarko]

Dell while a great computer for home computing typically won't perform best for audio applications. The computer typically has lots of extra stuff that kill processing power (namely virus protection programs, internet services, security features that run continously etc.) One very important problem is that quite a few Dell computers have the improper chipset for using with pro tools interfaces. Below is a link to check compatibility and references to proper chipsets. Having a pentium is just one step, it must also be of the proper chipset to perform with pro tools.

Digi 002 Software compatibility (Click Here) (http://www.digidesign.com/compato/xp/002/)

Chipset Requirements with Intel P4 processors
Intel 925XE
Intel 915GL/915GV
Intel 875P
Intel 865PE
Intel 850/850E
Intel 845/845E/845PE

Not Tested —_No Known Issues with Digi 002
Intel 915G
Intel 915P
Intel 915PL
Intel 925X (925XE is qualified)

****The questions you are referencing on this forum are excellent questions by the way and the guys and gals here at Sweetwater would love to answer your questions in real time. Feel free to call me at the numbers below with further questions. Best of luck!!

P.S. Service Pack 1 is the best choice because the new service pack 2 has more security features then any normal audio computer should need. These extra features are helpful for computers accessing the net consistently but not for computer designed for high end recording. They eat up crucial processing power and have been known to cause audio drop outs when performing operations in the background during recording sessions.

http://www.sweetwater.com/images/front/320x75_creationstation.gif Check out the Creation Station Series Approved for Pro Tools (Custom Turnkey systems ready to roll!) (http://www.sweetwater.com/creation_station/)

[Tommy-boy]

Sanantomexican - ease up. I meant that comment tongue in cheek. I suppose I should have put a smiley at the end.

I recommend not using Dell for an audio machine, unless you find a specific configuration for the Digi DAW you'll have. Dell tends to make tweaks to the BIOS which interfere with the normal workings of a DAW.

If you are able/inclined - a self built machine will be your best bet. You'll have better compatability and should be able to get more life out of your machine through upgrades. Dell makes it very difficult to upgrade, unless you go directly through them. Their non-standard mobo powersupply connections are one example. not using a standard power cord is another. This list goes on.

However, the machine you currently have should work - with two possible modifications. Get a second hard drive for audio only. this helps immensely. Do you have a separate video card or are you using one integrated into the mobo? A separate video card will speed things up nicely.

Tommy-boy

[sanantomexican]

Tommy Boy: I apologize for my reaction to your post. I suppose the stress of dealing with multiple computer problems at once has caused me to be a bit cranky. Please accept my apology. I greatly appreciate your advice and I am definitley looking into building a new computer designed specifically for use with my Digi 002 Desktop.
I spent 1800.00 on this Dell and it worked great when I was running Cubase but just locked up when I began using PTLE.
I was wondering if I should simply go Mac or continue to attempt to build the best PC I can. I know some people are rabid PC and others Mac but all I want is a system that will perform with the least amount of downtime and I don't care if it is mac or PC. Honestly I like them both. I manage a loan store by day and of course all office computers are IBM based platforms. But I secretly love macs too. I mean no offense to my PC loving brethren but I find the macs to be a lot more simple and user friendly. It seems they have a one track "mind" and tend to dedicate more processing power to the application you intend the machine for, whereas Windows is always running running running. You dig? Thanks again.

[Justin]

You can really go either way. Both PC's and Mac's are completely capable when it comes to ProTools LE.

I'd say go with what you're comfortable with, and what your budget allows. I really enjoy tweaky PC stuff, but if I were building a studio, I'd probably buy a Mac because they seem a little easier to setup for audio. Less tweaking of the OS out of the box.

[Tommy-boy]

Originally posted by sanantomexican
...I spent 1800.00 on this Dell and it worked great when I was running Cubase but just locked up when I began using PTLE...

Why are you switching from Cubase?

[elsteve9]

Yep...def. would not recommend Dell. But I'm guessing you don't want to build your own system, either...
Hm. Is there a local computer store/uncle who can put stuff together for you?

Just an idea, more than a real question.


-Stephen

[sanantomexican]

I purchased the Pre-Sonus Firebox which comes with Cubase LE; and while I found Cubase to be extremely user friendly I prefer the sound quality and higher sampling rates of Pro-Tools.
Not to mention the superior editing capabilites. I have wanted to try out the Digi 002 for quite some time and unfortunately I really haven't been able to yet becuase I can't get this thing off the ground. I am considering selling this Dell to my brother to whom I gave the Firebox. The Dell worked great with the Firebox. Then I may buy a Power Mac G5 with dual 2.0 GHz processoors.
What do you think?

[sanantomexican]

Actually I am considering buying a Power Mac G5 Dual 2.0 GHz from Sweetwater. They will install my software and run diagnostics on my system before it ships and then all I should have to do is plug it in, turn it on and get to work.
The price is not tat bad and at least I will know that I am getting a computer that is set up specifically for use with Pro-Tools.