Don't want to start a product war but

[squids]

Quote:Hey squiddy I'm still using an old Pentium 4 3.2Ghz (yep, that's a single core ) PC with 2GB RAM and lots of hard drive storage (around 600GB, mostly for samples).It's getting long in the tooth and I'm probably gonna upgrade next year, but it still works okay even with my rather busy schedule and the wide variety of sometimes relatively demanding work I do.Oh and it's even a stock Dell . I've had this comp for several years and it's worked pretty much flawlessly, the only thing I don't like about it is that's a little noisy, since it wasn't built to be a "quiet" studio machine.So, you definitely don't have to break the bank if you go the PC route.HTH,mattoHi Matto. What win program are you using, if you don't mind me asking? I lost my old computer in the storm and this new Dell.....I don't know.....it's been a headache somehow. It shouldn't be, it's a perfectly good computer but perhaps it's xp? Unless someone else here thinks it's the motherboard.

[squids]

Quote:My experiences with Macs are that I've been able to open the box, hook it up and start working pretty much right away. My experiences with PCs have been more mixed. I use both and because of my trepidation with PCs I bought a purpose built PC (single core 3.2G Pentium with 2G RAM) that had the OS tweaked by experts to be fully efficent with audio. I've never had a problem with it. I only use it for streaming samples.The modern Macs (Intel Processors) can run both Windows and Mac OS. You have to buy Windows and install it yourself if you go that route.Some people say Macs are more expensive but if you compare a similarly configured PC it pretty much comes out the same. The Macs are extremely easy to add hardware to due to the way they are designed. The thing about Macs is that you can only get them from Apple which means that they have total control over all aspects of the machine. Some people like that, some don't. Macs have always worked for me because I find dinking around with a computer tweaking this and that excruciating and a huge waste of time and as I said, I've had very few issues with my Macs.Not advocating one way or the other, just trying to share my experiences.MazzI know, I know. My whole family (brothers, dad, you name it) use Macs. They think I'm a neanderthal for using a pc. I've been using Tommy's mac in the studio and also in the studio before that and it's easy as pie. It does seem more expensive but after all the decking you add on with a pc, seems like it might come out about the same.After this computer, I'm almost ready to give up on PCs. It's so frustrating to do something simple like click on email and get booted right back to the beginning. GRRRR. I have a vicious urge to chuck it clean out the window.

[matto]

Quote:Quote:My experiences with Macs are that I've been able to open the box, hook it up and start working pretty much right away. My experiences with PCs have been more mixed. I use both and because of my trepidation with PCs I bought a purpose built PC (single core 3.2G Pentium with 2G RAM) that had the OS tweaked by experts to be fully efficent with audio. I've never had a problem with it. I only use it for streaming samples.The modern Macs (Intel Processors) can run both Windows and Mac OS. You have to buy Windows and install it yourself if you go that route.Some people say Macs are more expensive but if you compare a similarly configured PC it pretty much comes out the same. The Macs are extremely easy to add hardware to due to the way they are designed. The thing about Macs is that you can only get them from Apple which means that they have total control over all aspects of the machine. Some people like that, some don't. Macs have always worked for me because I find dinking around with a computer tweaking this and that excruciating and a huge waste of time and as I said, I've had very few issues with my Macs.Not advocating one way or the other, just trying to share my experiences.MazzI know, I know. My whole family (brothers, dad, you name it) use Macs. They think I'm a neanderthal for using a pc. I've been using Tommy's mac in the studio and also in the studio before that and it's easy as pie. It does seem more expensive but after all the decking you add on with a pc, seems like it might come out about the same.After this computer, I'm almost ready to give up on PCs. It's so frustrating to do something simple like click on email and get booted right back to the beginning. GRRRR. I have a vicious urge to chuck it clean out the window. Squids,I'm on my third Dell PC for music now and none have ever given me any problems. Nor have I encountered any installation problems with third party hardware or software. By contrast I have a friend who's been on three Macs in the same period, and both his G4 and his first G5 had MAJOR problems. So I guess my experience has been the opposite of mazz's. I think in general current home computers are very stable and user friendly, unless you get a lemon.Where Macs have a BIG advantage is in the relative lack of adware/spyware/viruses written for Mac OS. So if you're planning to do a lot of surfing on your music comp (or worse, letting your kids surf on it ) you'd be better off on a Mac. Is it possible your kids' surfing got your PC riddled with Adware? If so, it would act real weird and slow...I use Cubase, have been since the Atari ST days...

[sgs4u]

Quote:Where Macs have a BIG advantage is in the relative lack of adware/spyware/viruses written for Mac OS. So if you're planning to do a lot of surfing on your music comp (or worse, letting your kids surf on it ) you'd be better off on a Mac. Is it possible your kids' surfing got your PC riddled with Adware? If so, it would act real weird and slow...I use Cubase, have been since the Atari ST days... This truly is the only REAL advantage to Macs. They simply don't have as many problems, because they're not the target of all the PC/Windows/Gates, haters out there in the world.But I depend on my Mac much more than the pc's we have in the house. If a PC isn't attached to the net, I see no reason why a PC would be less reliable than a Mac. Logic is a DAW program like Protools. Most guys that have used Protools a lot, and are not nerdy keyboard players, prefer Protools for a lot of reasons. I think the biggest would be that it's used by so many more studios/producers/writers,than logic ever will be. Logic Audio When it comes to programming keyboards, soft synths and general all around automation, (anal retentive and slow moving data entry) Logic has a lot of stuff you can do. It also ships with terrific Virtual Instruments, that sound awesome IMHO. And it's very easy to become addicted to it, and waste time with it...Matto is the king of not wasting time, again.

[crs7string]

I'm a PC user and have kept my music PC completely off the internet. I do my authorizations of software on a different computer etc.I have found that even with that, installing new software and just using the computer can turn things upside down. Drivers get written multiple times on occasion etc.I read about registry "cleaning" software in some music magazine. The software is around $35. The software goes thru the registry and fixes problems. I perform this function about once a month and a lot of issues disappear.From doing a lot of reading and paying attention the issue of Mac vs. PC seems to be nearly a dead issue (except for Mac users) In terms of DAW software, the lines seem to be very blurred. It's a competetive world amongst the top three or four and features seem to keep up with each other on the platforms. If you listened to Mazz, Matto and Dave's music you'd be hard pressed to tell which DAW they used. (in order: Logic, Cubase, Sonar) They all work.I use Sonar by Cakewalk primarily because I've been using their sofware since Cakewalk 3.00 when the entire program was on one floppy disc.Chuck

[matto]

Wait, I thought mazz used DP...i guess you REALLY can't tell LOL.

[squids]

[quote author=crs7string board=nick thread=1198418937 post=1198451468]I read about registry "cleaning" software in some music magazine. The software is around $35. The software goes thru the registry and fixes problems. I perform this function about once a month and a lot of issues disappear.Yes, Winzip has some registry cleaners that apparently get rid of some of the glitches. Uniblue I think is one. I had Sonar LE loaded but there seemed to be a driver issue with it. Perhaps I'll give it another go when I've reformatted and cleaned this mess up.

[crs7string]

Matto,I was going to surprise Mazz with Logic for Christmas. Thanks for blowing the surprise. I guess he'll have to stick with DP. Chuck

[squids]

Thanks all y'all for your advice. Everyone had great input here and it sounds like you've all found systems that work for you. I'll read it all over carefully, do some comparisons, see what I can come up with. Whatever it is will have to do orchestral arrangements plus some live recording.....I'm so picky about production (sigh).Anyway, thank you a lot, I appreciate it. I hope all y'all have a wonderful, wonderful Christmas. I'm grateful to you for taking the time to write in your thoughts on this. It's an adventure to build a studio and that's a fact! If I'd had my druthers, I'd jes move in with Stick but maybe next year......

[jh]

Quote:It's unchecked, I looked a month or two ago as well. I strongly suspect an xp/bill gates curse. My next step is to reformat it and drag it all down to the basics, see what it does. I miss win 98. But thanks tons! No prob. It could be malware.. try this http://www.lavasoftusa.com/products/ad_aware_free.php (it´s free). Though the best way is to reformat and reinstall everything. Try not to install anything "extra", that slows down the computer (or a mac). For example games will mess up your PC. BUT, get those updates for windows (service pack 2 etc.)Quote:It's when something goes wrong that I've found a notable difference: Windows is an absolute NIGHTMARE to troubleshoot! I've had problems that total PC experts couldn't figure out, and that's not the case with Macs.I´ve never had any major problems with my PCs. More often than not, those "nightmares" are hardware problems, or "too much software and different drivers" kind of problems. Windows is not always the one to blame IMHO. btw. I´m doing music AND surfing without any problems. (sometimes even at the same time ) However, the most important thing is what works for you. - JH