88 thoughts on “General Hardware”

  1. Hi all,

    Question: I’ve been working with the Yamaha AW2816 for about ten years now and it has served me well for the kind of work I do. The burner has gone on me and there is hope that Alactronics here in Wellesley, MA will be able to fix it for me. However, I think this is an omen that it’s time to move on. Since I’m so familiar with the hardware, I think I’d love to get my hands on the 24 track AW2400 which is also not made anymore.

    Any ideas on where I’d get one? Should I just take the leap into the software world? Do you think my AW2816 can be salvaged? Any thoughts here are more than welcome.

    Thanks,

    Colin

    • Hi Colin, I had the 2816 many years ago, and it was a great machine, however after I spent a couple of months recording and producing via software, I lost all interest in going back to hardware recording. Even after the 2400 came out, I just didn’t see the logic in spending that kind of money on hardware recorders when I was doing it all (and then some) on my laptop.

      Maybe if I have to do some mobile recording I would consider it (maybe).

      • Thanks Guscave!

        I knew the day would come when I would have to go the laptop/software route. Any advice on a good place to start. Does it makes sense to just jump into protools and spend a year learning or would you suggest something else. I have a macbook pro. I have mics and preamps.

        Thanks!

        • If you have a macbook pro, you’re already halfway there. Start off by getting your feet wet with Garageband. Get a decent interface and when you’re ready move up to Logic.

          • Yes, I have messed around with garageband. There is a great apple store near where I live as well. Seems like it makes sense to spend money on a good interface!

            Thanks!

        • Hey Colin, I occasionally browse music/audio/media help wanted ads. Ninety percent of them say “must be proficient in pro-tools”. So if you ever think you will be looking for outside employment it seems having pro-tools knowledge will be necessary. Writing for libraries or doing custom composition work, it doesn’t matter what tools you use on what platform.

          I was going to offer you to come out this way if you wanted to take a look at SONAR, but being on a Mac rules that out!

  3. These are the 2.1 speakers I use to put all my music together.
    http://www.google.com/search?q=creative%20inspire%20p380&oe=utf-8&rls=org.mozilla:en-GB:official&client=firefox-a&um=1&ie=UTF-8&tbm=isch&source=og&sa=N&hl=en&tab=wi&biw=1024&bih=580
    Does any one know a suitable usb audio interface that will be compatble with these? Audio goes from my computer output into the sub thru a 1/8 inch output and then from sub to speakers thru RCA outputs. I need an interface output that supports 2.1 audio. Iv been looking at the E-Mu 0204 usb but im not sure if its stereo output will support my 2.1 setup and it seems to have compatibility issues with Windows 7. Im lost now. I cant spend more than £150

  4. Just browsing this string for the first time. Good stuff. I have to share my excitement. I’m listening to my new monitors, Genelec 8040A’s. Wow! Bad news is I discovered that my old mixes all suck! No wonder I can’t sell anything, LOL, I was using a pair of 1995 Alesis Monitor One’s with an Alesis RA100 amp. Not that bad but I believe this will make a big difference in the quality of my final product. We’ll see…

    You Sonar dudes have me feeling guilty. I got very comfortable with 8.5. Upgraded to X1 in December, but I’m still using 8.5 because I’m too lazy and impatient to learn the new GUI. Maybe after this next cue is done I’ll take the plunge.

    Looking forward to following this string
    Cheers!

      • I still use those old Monitor One’s! Mine are powered by an A.R.T. amp. I also have a sub-woofer and a second monitor pair, of the small cube type. All are connected to a speaker selection switch so I can turn any on or off (including the sub). I think adding the sub years ago was really helpful to my mixes.

        Nothing wrong with 8.5 but I’m glad I went to X1. No, it’s not as easy as staying with 8.5 but the pro-channel makes it worth it. I like the compressor and the tube amp simulation. I really think I’m getting a better sound than I did with 8.5’s or third party plug-ins.

        • I’ve been using Mackie HR824s but also a DBX Driverack Studio. I like it as it has a number of speaker emulations as well as the ability to switch between two other speakers. An added bonus is a pink noise generator and a mic to “read” the room and tweak the EQ in the Driverack. I have a sub but rarely use it, mostly because of my neighbors down below! I recently got the Focusrite VRM box. Interesting but I’m not sure what I think about it yet.

          Also been talking to Jim Roseberry PC DAW builder guru and hangs out on the Sonar forum. He’s liking the X1 and has very few problems. Might still might try that.

          • Your setup sounds nice. Those Mackies have always been highly rated. I googled the VRM, pretty interesting. Especially if you mix late at night I guess. My studio takes up two rooms in our big old single family house from the 1860s and volume isn’t a problem.

            Yeah, Jim goes way back with Cakewalk. Back to when I used to work for them. Installing X1 wont screw up your 8.5 installation, you can have and run both. Of course wouldn’t hurt to do an image before install. If your heading to CT any time soon come into MA and check out X1 here.

          • Art,

            I was sitting here kind of chuckling when I read about what you are using. Why? Mainly because what I use is:
            Sonar X1, 64bit version, new update “c” (I just installed it)
            Pair of Mackie HR824’s
            Focusrite Saffire Pro 24 (VRM)

            Jim and Micheal are right, go ahead and make the jump to X1, it’s stable and not really much of a learning curve to it at all.

          • I use Mackie HR824’s with a Tannoy TS10 sub. Always use the sub.

            But I invested as much, if not more, on foam, bass traps and Russ Berger Space Couplers.
            My studio is on the top floor, with lots of difficult angles.

            I’m using MOTU hardware, but the Focusrite VRM headphone box seems like a good idea.
            No neighbors to worry about, but it might be nice to not bother my wife, if I work too late.

            Anyone have the VRM box?

            • I have the Auralex de-couplers on the Mackies and the sub. Also have the room fitted out with Real Traps realtraps.com and, for us CT lovers, they are located in New Milford CT.

              I do have the VRM box and find it useful. It puts a little more “air” around everything but that’s to be expected as it’s emulating various room and speaker combinations.

              • Real Traps are highly recommend by a Grammy winning engineer buddy.

                I use the Auralex decouplers under my Mackies, as well.

                The Berger space couplers are wooden boxes that look sort of like honeycombs.
                They hang over my mix area.

                • I should really have something hanging from the ceiling also, either Real Traps or what you have. I have been too lazy plus the Real Traps are heavy to try and do it alone.. Are the Bergers heavy?

              • Used Auralex also when I built 15 years ago. Put the Lenard bass traps in the corners and two inch above and behind the monitors and a few other choice places. Also constructed some home made baffles from six inch fiberglass and cambric cloth.

                “I might be back in October. If I get a chance I’ll give you a shout.”

                Sounds good!

            • I recently moved mine upstairs and am in the process of doing the DIY thing. I just built my own monitor stands out of 3″ PVC, filled them with sand. I decoupled the monitors by using some small button sized rubber feet on the corners of the monitors and mouse pads. That worked out good. They look pretty nice to boot. I also built my own bass traps with 1″x4″ wood, rock wool and fabric. Made a huge difference. My next project is to build around 6 acoustic panels. I’m also looking at possibly putting together a diffuser. The stuff I’ve done myself took about a day and a half and I’ve saved big bucks doing it.

              If your not in to that ATS Acoustics is a good place to get treatment already made.

              @MichaelL I think you would like the VRM box. Mines not the stand alone box, but like Art said it comes in pretty handy.

  5. Can anyone reccomend a good soundcard for music production in the sub £100 range? I dont know anything about buying a new soundcard, are there important things to look out for? What’s important feature wise for a software based composer such as myself? Are there compatibility issues with soundcards? At the moment im using a Sweex (sub £20 soundcard!) which has problems with 44100khz!

    • Alas the inevitable rule applies : you get what you pay for.

      If you can stretch to about £140, there’s some reasonable USB audio interfaces from Lexicon and Tascam.

      Goes without saying, make sure it’s compatible with your operating system though !

      • Thanks darkstar. I hadn’t considered an audio interface before. I cant really stretch beyond £100 at the moment tho. I was hoping to be able to replace this dodgy souncard I have with one that at least can convert audio properly (bit depth and sample rates) and has good sound quality for producing music with cubase (Kontakt, Massive, Albino, Battery). Im not recording real instruments or vocals so I didnt think I needed an interface. Ive been looking at cards online but theres that bloody many of them I thought id ask here first for some tips.

  6. Just found out that my version of cubase is only allowing me to use around 33% of my cpu power. Iv a 6gb AMD-tricore system. my vst performance meter was maxing out even tho my task manager was showing arout 33% total cpu usage! Is there any way of improving cubase SX1 performance without having to upgrade to a newer version.

  7. Hi all, anyone have any feedback on this PC build?

    Computer Case Antec P193 – Silent
    CPU Intel Core i7 970 (6 x 3.2GHz) 12 MB
    CPU Heatsink Corsair Hydro Series H60 (Advanced Liquid Cooling) – FREE GAME
    Memory Corsair 24GB (6x4GB) XMS3 1333MHz – Lifetime Warranty (DDR3)
    Graphics Card NVIDIA GeForce GT 210 – 1 GB – (Asus) – Silent (PCI-E)
    Motherboard Gigabyte G1-Killer Series G1.ASSASSIN (Intel X58)
    Sound Card Asus Xonar D2X Ultra Fidelity 7.1 Hi-Def (PCI-E)
    Networking Edimax Wireless LAN 300Mbps (PCI-E)
    Power Supply Cooler Master 1000W Silent Pro
    Case Wiring Professional Cable Standard
    Hard Drive #1 250 GB SATA-II 8MB (FREE UPGRADE TO 500GB BEFORE 11:59 PM ON 29-05-11)
    Hard Drive #2 1.5 TB (1500 GB) SATA-II HDD UDMA 300 7200 32MB
    Hard Drive #3 1.5 TB (1500 GB) SATA-II HDD UDMA 300 7200 32MB
    Optical Drive #1 Samsung (SH-D162D) 16x DVD-ROM – Black (SATA)
    Card Reader Internal Card Reader 50-in-1
    Noise Reduction Sound Proofing Kit – Extreme
    Operating System #1 Microsoft Windows 7 Ultimate 64 BIT (Genuine DVD & COA Included)

    • It looks like it will do the job nicely. Dunno about the soundcard – you may want to use your own pick for it. I’m still using a 2005 Audigy 2zs Platinum and love its sound – it’s a gaming card! 🙂 When I build my next machine, I’m opting for an E-mu 1616M or a Presonus Firestudio.

      Also, if you’re not going to use the wireless LAN, just disable it when you set it up.

      Now I have machine envy.

    • Looks like a killer system Emmett. I’ve been debating going 64 bit Sonar on my 4 core or stepping up to something like what you are considering. That setup will be able to make you breakfast and dinner:-)

        • Thanks Steve. I’m thinking of dual booting WinXP and 7 as I still want access to some of the older projects just in case they don’t play nice with 64 bit.

          I’m still on 8.5. How did you find the migration to X?

          • I upgraded from 8.5 as well. It went very smoothly. Not one hiccup for me. Sonar X is a bit of a different animal concerning the GUI. Because of that some of your older projects may have to be re setup graphically. Took me a couple of hours to figure out what was where. I have to say though I absolutely enjoy it. Midi editing is really sweet as well as some of the newer features.

              • Hi Art, I’m on SONAR X1B also. I built a new system back in October. I decided on Windows 7 32 bit. Didn’t have a choice really, the 32 bit version gave me a better chance of compatibility with my older plug-ins and older audio hardware (Frontier Designs Dakota card). I’m finding myself using my older plug-ins less though. SONAR X1 gives you many plug ins and the Pro Channel. I like the Pro Channel compressor in cases where the compression doesn’t have to be very transparent.

                Going from 8.5 takes a bit. They changed all the keyboard commands. For example F11 used to drop a marker, now I think it is CTRL M. Stuff like that. I just went and used the key-binding feature to put things back to where I was used to after 10 years of using Cakewalk (I used to work for them way back). There are also changes in accessing tools. I wrote an article about this which was published in the June issue of “Recording Magazine”.

                Anyway, feel free to drop me a line if you have questions.

                Michael

                  • Hi Art, sorry, the magazine doesn’t make articles available online. Gotta subscribe or go to the newsstand. My piece is just a one-pager in the “DAW Details” section that describes how the new “Smart Tools” feature works. Something that 8.5 doesn’t have. I’m sure you could learn about over on the Cakewalk site.

                    Michael

    • Save yourself some money and go with Win 7 Professional instead of Ultimate. Professional does the same things Ultimate does. Ultimate just has a couple of bells and whistles you don’t need in my opinion.

    • I’ve actually decided to go for this instead:

      Intel Core i7-960 Box 8192Kb, LGA1366 – €213,13
      ASUS RAMPAGE III BLACK EDITION, Sockel 1366, ATX, DDR3 – €374,33
      Corsair Hydro Series H70 (Sockel 775/1156/1366/AM2/AM2+/AM3) – €74,89
      12GB-Kit DDR3 Excelram Black Sark PC12800/1600, CL – €116,27
      12GB-Kit DDR3 Excelram Black Sark PC12800/1600, CL – €116,27
      12GB-Kit DDR3 Excelram Black Sark PC12800/1600, CL – €116,27
      Antec MidiTower “P193” schwarz, ATX – €149,93
      Xilence Power 1000 Watt – €119,55
      Sapphire HD 6970 2GB GDDR5 PCI-Express – €282,67
      WD AV-GP 1,5TB, 64MB Cache, SATA II (WD15EURS) – €63,92
      WD AV-GP 1,5TB, 64MB Cache, SATA II (WD15EURS) – €63,92
      Western Digital Caviar GreenPower 1,5TB SATA II 64MB (Western Digital15EARS) – €55,64
      LG BH10LS30 Blu-Ray Brenner Retail – €78,58
      ASUS Xonar D2/PM, PCI (90-YAA021-1UAN00) – €93,18
      OEM Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit – €79,90

      Intel Core i7-960 Box 8192Kb, LGA1366 – €213,13
      ASUS RAMPAGE III BLACK EDITION, Sockel 1366, ATX, DDR3 – €374,33
      Corsair Hydro Series H70 (Sockel 775/1156/1366/AM2/AM2+/AM3) – €74,89
      12GB-Kit DDR3 Excelram Black Sark PC12800/1600, CL – €116,27
      12GB-Kit DDR3 Excelram Black Sark PC12800/1600, CL – €116,27
      12GB-Kit DDR3 Excelram Black Sark PC12800/1600, CL – €116,27
      Antec MidiTower “P193” schwarz, ATX – €149,93
      Xilence Power 1000 Watt – €119,55
      Sapphire HD 6970 2GB GDDR5 PCI-Express – €282,67
      WD AV-GP 1,5TB, 64MB Cache, SATA II (WD15EURS) – €63,92
      WD AV-GP 1,5TB, 64MB Cache, SATA II (WD15EURS) – €63,92
      Western Digital Caviar GreenPower 1,5TB SATA II 64MB (Western Digital15EARS) – €55,64
      LG BH10LS30 Blu-Ray Brenner Retail – €78,58
      ASUS Xonar D2/PM, PCI (90-YAA021-1UAN00) – €93,18
      OEM Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit – €79,90

      Total €2.036,18

      Will prob go for a cheaper graphics card, but overall its about €600 cheaper and has a mammoth 36GB of RAM which should be good for HS Strings finally lol 🙂

      Any thoughts on this build?

  8. Call me a nerd but I’m excited…. I just had delivery of an Akai MPD26. Can’t wait to dig in and see how it goes with Drums of War and Stormdrum. 🙂

    My wife’s a drummer and she has an electronic kit but I couldn’t get it to talk to any of our computers so this was the alternative.

    • Well, it’s already been a month. I love this little box. The pads are sturdy, the transport controls are very handy, haven’t really used the faders or knobs yet. Bit of a fiddle to set up different maps to run various percussion VSTis, but once they’re done, they can be saved and are easily accessible. Much better feel to programming percussion than whacking at keys.

  9. Hi Folks!Just a technical bit of info.I have over a dozen different sites my music is with and my Mac gets into spin mode depending on the site.Solution,I use a PC for uploading and editing when my mac has trouble!Its worked every time and I have read some other posters remarks about having the same issue,most of you probably do this any way.Cheers!

  10. Forgive me guys, this is not a double post. I just noticed that some of you have your photo or logo, etc. on your “postings” and wondered where on this site I can find the instructions, limitations, rules, etc? I was unable to find anything of that description… but, being a “newbie” it’s possible I just did not know how to find them. Thanks for any assistance you guys (and/or gals) may be able to provide.

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