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Author Topic: Music Production device "PC/Laptop"  (Read 24991 times)

Mohanad

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Music Production device "PC/Laptop"
« on: January 10, 2016, 12:39:13 pm »
Hey guys! I just want to know the specs of your music production device and if it is working good for you, and if there is any tricks to get the most out of it.
Also, are you using it for music production only or storing other different things on it?
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Knappster

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Re: Music Production device "PC/Laptop"
« Reply #1 on: January 10, 2016, 01:03:33 pm »
High CPU for processing power. Right now my iMac has 4GB and it lags and clips when I'm loading it up with plug ins. I have a 1TB HD so its no problem for storage. I also use a Macbook for on the go. I would go as high as possible for RAM and Memory. It might be more expensive but in the end it will save having to upgrade or use an external HD.
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Babasmas

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Re: Music Production device "PC/Laptop"
« Reply #2 on: January 10, 2016, 01:39:47 pm »
If you're looking to upgrade or to buy a new computer, i would recommend you build it yourself. that way, you'll know what you have and you'll also be able to upgrade it if required.

here's specs for an ultimate Desktop PC for music and games It's a bit long but, it's very helpfull ;) (made by Kerosyn):
Kit's Ultimate Guide to building your Perfect Desktop PC

Read everything, and you'll know everything you need ;).
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ion

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Re: Music Production device "PC/Laptop"
« Reply #3 on: January 10, 2016, 02:18:05 pm »
I wrote a little something herehttp://theproducersforum.com/index.php?topic=1021.0
then you can buy an older, cheap macbook pro and amp it up.
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Mohanad

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Re: Music Production device "PC/Laptop"
« Reply #4 on: January 10, 2016, 02:21:59 pm »
Quote from: Babasmas on January 10, 2016, 01:39:47 pm
If you're looking to upgrade or to buy a new computer, i would recommend you build it yourself. that way, you'll know what you have and you'll also be able to upgrade it if required.

here's specs for an ultimate Desktop PC for music and games It's a bit long but, it's very helpfull ;) (made by Kerosyn):
Kit's Ultimate Guide to building your Perfect Desktop PC
Read everything, and you'll know everything you need ;).
That's exactly what i did 2 months ago, i just took a little risk by getting an AMD processor instead of intel due to the huge price difference. Lately, my DAW started crackling in projects that aren't that big so i'm afraid i've taken the wrong decision.
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Babasmas

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Re: Music Production device "PC/Laptop"
« Reply #5 on: January 10, 2016, 02:23:11 pm »
Quote from: Mohanad on January 10, 2016, 02:21:59 pm
Quote from: Babasmas on January 10, 2016, 01:39:47 pm
If you're looking to upgrade or to buy a new computer, i would recommend you build it yourself. that way, you'll know what you have and you'll also be able to upgrade it if required.

here's specs for an ultimate Desktop PC for music and games It's a bit long but, it's very helpfull ;) (made by Kerosyn):
Kit's Ultimate Guide to building your Perfect Desktop PC
Read everything, and you'll know everything you need ;).
That's exactly what i did 2 months ago, i just took a little risk by getting an AMD processor instead of intel due to the huge price difference. Lately, my DAW started crackling in projects that aren't that big so i'm afraid i've taken the wrong decision.

I've an intel, and no problem. Yeah intel is better for producing.
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Mohanad

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Re: Music Production device "PC/Laptop"
« Reply #6 on: January 10, 2016, 02:34:58 pm »
Quote from: Babasmas on January 10, 2016, 02:23:11 pm
Quote from: Mohanad on January 10, 2016, 02:21:59 pm
Quote from: Babasmas on January 10, 2016, 01:39:47 pm
If you're looking to upgrade or to buy a new computer, i would recommend you build it yourself. that way, you'll know what you have and you'll also be able to upgrade it if required.

here's specs for an ultimate Desktop PC for music and games It's a bit long but, it's very helpfull ;) (made by Kerosyn):
Kit's Ultimate Guide to building your Perfect Desktop PC
Read everything, and you'll know everything you need ;).
That's exactly what i did 2 months ago, i just took a little risk by getting an AMD processor instead of intel due to the huge price difference. Lately, my DAW started crackling in projects that aren't that big so i'm afraid i've taken the wrong decision.

I've an intel, and no problem. Yeah intel is better for producing.
Yes i know, not sure why it's better because my AMD FX 8530 runs 8 cores and 16 MB cache, and it's half the price of the i7 4790k
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wayfinder

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Re: Music Production device "PC/Laptop"
« Reply #7 on: January 10, 2016, 07:20:10 pm »
A fast CPU and lots of RAM are good to have, the surprise MVP in my setup is the 21:9 format ultra widescreen monitor though.
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Marrow Machines

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Re: Music Production device "PC/Laptop"
« Reply #8 on: January 10, 2016, 08:49:28 pm »
Quote from: Mohanad on January 10, 2016, 02:34:58 pm
Quote from: Babasmas on January 10, 2016, 02:23:11 pm
Quote from: Mohanad on January 10, 2016, 02:21:59 pm
Quote from: Babasmas on January 10, 2016, 01:39:47 pm
If you're looking to upgrade or to buy a new computer, i would recommend you build it yourself. that way, you'll know what you have and you'll also be able to upgrade it if required.

here's specs for an ultimate Desktop PC for music and games It's a bit long but, it's very helpfull ;) (made by Kerosyn):
Kit's Ultimate Guide to building your Perfect Desktop PC
Read everything, and you'll know everything you need ;).
That's exactly what i did 2 months ago, i just took a little risk by getting an AMD processor instead of intel due to the huge price difference. Lately, my DAW started crackling in projects that aren't that big so i'm afraid i've taken the wrong decision.

I've an intel, and no problem. Yeah intel is better for producing.
Yes i know, not sure why it's better because my AMD FX 8530 runs 8 cores and 16 MB cache, and it's half the price of the i7 4790k

intel focuses on quality.

plus intel made a gamble as to where the direction of the technology would go, where it'd need more cores, but they lost.

so intel has better "hyper threading", i think, per core compared to amd. i switched on my most recent build, and lordy it's fantastic.
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aspenfox

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Re: Music Production device "PC/Laptop"
« Reply #9 on: January 10, 2016, 10:41:15 pm »
I do most of my work on a CyberPowerPC gaming desktop powered by AMD's 4300 Quad-Core processor (3.80ghz)...and I use it for pretty much everything; music, design, videos, occasional gaming). Got it for around $800 on walmart's website about 2 years ago...not bad for the price. I think it had 8gb of standard RAM installed originally, but I upgraded it to 16gb of Crucial Ballistix Sports and noticed a significant difference in performance (if you haven't upgraded your RAM and have the ability to, I recommend it).
This thing handles most tasks pretty well. It definitely handles Ableton better than any other computer i've owned (but i've owned some pretty shitty computers in the past haha). I'm working on a project right now that has about 26 tracks - a few drum racks, several instances of massive, instrument racks, and one or two more VSTs. Very little mixing, effects/processing plugins in use right now and it's running smoothly. ...When I get to the point where i've nearly doubled my tracks and I start slapping more effects and plugins around that's a different story haha. That's when things start to get pretty choppy for me.
Kind of surprised to see you say it starts to get choppy on you with even smaller projects, since you're on AMD processor that's more powerful than mine. Do you do anything to maximize your processing power during a session? Sometimes when my projects start to get beefy I pop open my dock and task manager and make sure there aren't any unnecessary programs running in the background. ...Can't quite say that makes a worlddd of a difference, but it seems to help at least a little bit haha.
« Last Edit: January 10, 2016, 10:46:12 pm by aspenfox »
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Mohanad

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Re: Music Production device "PC/Laptop"
« Reply #10 on: January 11, 2016, 12:26:17 am »
Quote from: aspenfox on January 10, 2016, 10:41:15 pm
Kind of surprised to see you say it starts to get choppy on you with even smaller projects, since you're on AMD processor that's more powerful than mine. Do you do anything to maximize your processing power during a session?
There isn't usually too much happening in my projects since i'm still learning, maybe 20 or 30 layers with 3-4 Sylenth1, some automations and loads of effects in the mixer from eq to reverb and more. A friend told me that it might be a problem in the installation of the drivers so i'll try installing everything again.
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Heymac

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Re: Music Production device "PC/Laptop"
« Reply #11 on: January 11, 2016, 03:33:11 am »
I personally use an old desktop that i've upgraded with more ram, SSD etc. But one thing I learned by accident is that if you have a computer that isn't very powerful that you are forced to

1) be more efficient with bussing, multiple EQ's etc
2) become better at removing things from your song that you might not need.

not to say you should go out and buy a bad computer but its interesting to be in that situation.

also definitely have gaming and music on the same computer.
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Joseph

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Re: Music Production device "PC/Laptop"
« Reply #12 on: January 11, 2016, 04:45:49 am »
Quote from: Heymac on January 11, 2016, 03:33:11 am
I personally use an old desktop that i've upgraded with more ram, SSD etc. But one thing I learned by accident is that if you have a computer that isn't very powerful that you are forced to

1) be more efficient with bussing, multiple EQ's etc
2) become better at removing things from your song that you might not need.

not to say you should go out and buy a bad computer but its interesting to be in that situation.

also definitely have gaming and music on the same computer.

Some producer said if you can make a track with a hunk of junk, you can make a track with anything.
That being said, if you have the money to buy a good pc, you should.
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Wontolla

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Re: Music Production device "PC/Laptop"
« Reply #13 on: January 11, 2016, 05:31:18 am »
GET AN AUDIO INTERFACE.

My production PC is a VAIO laptop more than five years old. The specs:
*Core i7 1.73 GHz
*8 GB RAM (upgraded from 4GB, but it worked fine before)
*7200 RPM drive (1 TB) no SSD
*Desktop Pod HD (guitar effects processor) as an audio interface

An interface is the easiest way to reduce latency. Other than that, if you've got plenty of decently fast storage for samples and projects, you're golden. In fact, unless you're using huge sample banks or layering more than 50 synths in every project, don't even worry about RAM.

All you really need is an interface.

I just built a new desktop (with the thread Babas linked) and I'm moving all my stuff on to that, but I'm definitely keeping this laptop around for future DJing and producing on the go. I kind of want to trash it out of spite for Sony, but regardless who put the parts together, a solid machine is a solid machine. Maybe I can pry the VAIO emblem off the back.
« Last Edit: January 11, 2016, 05:40:23 am by Wontolla »
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aaron

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Re: Music Production device "PC/Laptop"
« Reply #14 on: January 11, 2016, 06:04:48 am »
Quote from: Wontolla on January 11, 2016, 05:31:18 am
GET AN AUDIO INTERFACE.
All you really need is an interface.

I'm gonna add to this, any decent PC with enough of RAM and a great audio interface will do wonders for you.

I've been working on the same mid-2012 macbook 13" and only just recently upgraded my ram and hard drive a few months ago from 4GB to 8GB and I've almost never had a project crash on me since then. If you have a decent interface to do all the thinking for your audio apart from just your PC will help a lot too. This is just my experience. Most of my VSTs are very CPU/RAM hungry..

The interface part is really important though.
« Last Edit: January 11, 2016, 06:06:40 am by aaron »
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