[timhumParticipant]

Although not a computer expert, I have just ordered a 4 core 4GHz 16Gig RAM USB3 capable computer to address my audio needs. Speed and capacity are not particularly expensive these days. The total cost of the computer is £580. It has 120Gb of Solid state memory for the programmes and 1TB of HDD for the files. I specified an optical (SPDIF) output to isolate the computers electrics from the monitoring. Other than that it is not special, it does not even have a separate sound card although there is space for one later.
The computer will be used for the number crunching, the analogue will get no closer than the input to the QU16 mic amps or the outboard optical DAC’s output.
I only mention this because I have been going through the business of choosing a system for audio myself in the past few weeks and await delivery tomorrow!
If I had confidence in building myself, I might have gone down the route of a fanless Haswell SSD, low power computer but they are expensive, double the price above and I couldn’t justify the price or be bothered learning Linux.
However, as I mentioned in the first sentence, I am not an expert, far from it and the above solution should be blisteringly fast with no audio drawbacks. My present computer takes up to 4 minutes to render an EQ change and ages to load up a project and had to go!

[timhumParticipant]

Or if it was recorded onto a hard disc or fast USB stick, it would be weird indeed

[timhumParticipant]

Just make sure you buy the USB stick from a reputable dealer and do a trial recording before you use it for real.

There are fake copies out there and you do not want to find out the hard way!

This goes with any sort of kit but it is sometimes easy to fall into the “Plug and Play” trap

[timhumParticipant]

+1 to that.
I would not dream of updating any software without reading the “read me” notes and having a rehearsal with the newly updated mixer or any other equipment I use to make a living. I was caught out this way in a similar situation years before software driven kit was thought of, (replacement microphone had new improved connector, non compatible with the old version!)
Thank you eotsskleet for the warning about auto updates on iPads etc. That is a good tip!

[timhumParticipant]

I use the WD Elements 500GB drive. It was used recently for a two hour gig with no breaks and there were no dropouts or any other problems. I bought a Sandisk extreme USB stick and will use that next time after testing it of course. Make sure you buy the USB stick from a reputable source, there are a lot of low spec pirated copies out there.

[timhumParticipant]

The disc I use does not have a power input, just the usb. It works fine. It is a WD Elements 500 GB disc. I have a Sandisc Extreme 64GB to try when I have the time. I guess if your disc is capable of being powered it needs more than the usb can supply so use the supplied psu but if it does not and you use a listed OK one it will be fine

[timhumParticipant]

Thanks for those suggestions guys. I have always demanded a separate room for mixing music and prefer to monitor on speakers where I can of course.
I will look out for drummers cans George. I might try a drummers forum! I did a gig recently and the PA mixer I took feeds from seemed happy with headphones on but I could hear nothing worthwhile until my cans broke up with every pluck of the bass guitar. I clean forgot to ask him what he was wearing.
Please keep the suggestions coming, cheers,

Tim

[timhumParticipant]

I bought a roll of white glossy magnetic tape which I use to label the channel faders. I use a Sharpie pen to write on the tape, it is permanent but can be cleaned off with alcohol. I have several pre-cut strips sticking to the underside of the mixer and when I need to label a new scene there is a fresh one ready to use.
Existing scenes are preserved in this way too. It would be a simple matter to do the same for the custom layer. In a gig where many different layers of scenes are used it would not be so useful though.

[timhumParticipant]

Hey Mark,
Thank you for getting back so swiftly. I realise now what I had not considered. There are 18 mono files, of course! I can record the whole evening including the speeches and whatnot.
The QU16 and your advice and clarification gets me the gig. Many thanks again.
Tim

[Author]

Posts