Best desktop specs for the music indusrty

As for the budget, as cheap as possible yet with good quality.

For this giant sound card debate, I was going to go with an external firewire or USB audio interface for both in and out.

Is there a better motherboard out there? It didn't look like it had too many good reviews...
 

It isn't about surround sound in the audio world. This computer is just the middle man between recording and the final CD. Most audio pros recommend using both cheap and high quality speakers when finalizing the audio. If anything I just need a nice high deffinition 1 output card with some nice definition speakers to make sure it was a good quality recording.
LIKE THESE ONES
 
I gotcha! But still I personally prefer surround sound and Logitech but for audio producing surround sound probably isnt good. I just like Logitech and was not digging the diss!!
 
If you are serious about it, get a Mac. I support some independent recording studios and record labels, they all use Macs.

There is no compatibility issue either like others mentioned, they are just ignorant. You can run MOTU, DP, Pro Tools, Logic, or whatever your poison is on a Mac.
 
Apple is nowhere near where you should be. I have talked with pro audio guys from ABC and they use ProTools for their work and it is only windows compatible with its needed hardware. It is the industry standard.

Those guys are morons, I just watched my friends album get cut with pro tools on a Mac.
 
Just goes to show what they know about the computer world. You also have to remember that they pretty much have all the money they need to throw into new computers.

The one thing that would bug me mac wise is the cost out of my pocket. I'd rather throw together a computer based on windows and save money. I've only got so much to spend.
 
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I gotcha! But still I personally prefer surround sound and Logitech but for audio producing surround sound probably isnt good. I just like Logitech and was not digging the diss!!

There was no diss to that what so ever. They are good for other applications, but they are too shallow on frequency response for the audio world. They are 33Hz - 20kHz Vs 53Hz - 20kHz. They wouldn't provide the full response sometimes needed.
 
Just goes to show what they know about the computer world. You also have to remember that they pretty much have all the money they need to throw into new computers.

The one thing that would bug me mac wise is the cost out of my pocket. I'd rather throw together a computer based on windows and save money. I've only got so much to spend.

While you could build a cheaper PC, but it wouldn't compare to the specs of a Mac Pro. You can't build a dual xeon desktop system for cheaper than you can buy a Mac Pro. Trust me. Plus the warranty, service, and quality of the system is well worth the investment.

Like I said, it depends on how serious you are.
 
Guys this about a computer needed to be used for recordings.

There is no need for high quality speakers - sure they will be good to listen to, but not necessary.


The sound card will only be for output.

You would as firepod for the actual recording

Here is a link - http://www.zzounds.com/item--PRSFIREPOD

My light + sound team i'm with at school - we use the firepod and we have recorded bands and singers and have been really happy with the sound quality.

My computer specs were good, i believe that that would be ideal along with a firepod.

If it is really that bad - when i get back to school, i will get the specs out our computer and get links of newegg.com and give them to you. This will include what software we use for recording and inputs, mobo, cpu, ram, video card.

The Whole Lot.

For our speakers - we have some good monitor speakers, but the bass isn't to good in them, but they work for just "listening" if we want something speaker we go out to the theater and use our good system!
 
"As cheap as possible with good quality"

That's great, but I'll need a shove in the right direction :) (More specific please?)
 
I'm looking for something with ability to handle multiple hard drives preferably via both IDE and SATA
Need a good processor speed to handle mulit-track recording via firewire or USB 2.0
A good but not overkill video card with possibility of going dual
2+ gigs of the fastest ram

Basically, I just need a fairly high quality setup.
 
I'm really serious with this, but a $2,799.00 minimum isn't exactly in my budget.

Programs like DP, MOTU, Ableton, Pro Tools, Logic, etc aren't cheap either. They range from 500 to 1000 or more depending on the license type.

Unfortunately you will just need to save up and get what you want. You also don't have to go out and buy brand new. Check out things like ebay or any place that may sell used Macs. Things like craig's list, or a college campus auction. I bought a dual G4 500mhz mac for like 40 bucks from a college auction a few years ago, and it was only missing a hard drive. Still have it, still runs, now it would not meet todays standards but back in 2004 when I bought it, it could have ran pro tools then, or the version that was out.
 
If you want lots of IDE HDD's then you'll have to use up PCI or PCI-E x1 slots to put controllers in because most modern motherboards support 2 IDE devices, some 4. I agree with tlarkin, a used Mac is good and if it's a production machine then you want someone with inside out knowlege on how it works on the phone with not, not just guess work. Although if you want to build your own look at Shuttle case, they're good for sound I think.
 
http://clubit.com/product_detail.cfm?itemno=A1938452
Q6600

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128059
P35-DS3L

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820145034
Corsair XMS2 DDR2-800 2GB Dual Channel Kit (x2 for 4GB)

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814127325
MSI 8800GTS G92 512MB PCI-E 2.0

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827106228
Lite-On Black PATA DVD Burner

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136073
WDC SE16 500GB SATAII 16MB

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811119047
Cooler Master Centurion 5 ATX Case

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817341002&Tpk=OCZ+700W
OCZ GameXStream 700W

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16829102006
Creative Sound Blaster X-Fi XtremeGamer 7.1 Channel Sound Card

After rebates including shipping: $987.69

This is an example of a great computer. It could tackle any game or application fast and easy. The CPU gives it great multitasking ability, and the P35-DS3L has the support of 45nm processors, giving it a big plus over non-45nm supported motherboards.
 
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