The Acoustic Guitar Forum

Go Back   The Acoustic Guitar Forum > General Acoustic Guitar and Amplification Discussion > RECORD

Reply
 
Thread Tools
  #1  
Old 04-27-2019, 09:21 AM
Wrighty Wrighty is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Itchen Stoke, UK
Posts: 2,136
Default PC / Mac for recording - advice

Hi all

I am considering changing from recording into my IPad into a laptop or desktop of some sort.

I use an Audient ID14 interface.

I don’t want to spend a great deal on a new machine so will look for something used - my questions are;

1. Mac or PC - does it matter? Any advantages of one over the other for this purpose? (Price also a factor)

2. What is the minimum usable spec I would need for something like Presonus or similar DAW? (How old can I go without compromising performance)

I would only use this machine for recording so would clear everything else off it.

Thanks in advance.
__________________
Burguet AC-007 (2003 - Cedar/Rosewood)
Webber OM (2009 - Sitka/Sapele)


https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC8A...2TVEhWes2Djrig
Reply With Quote
  #2  
Old 04-27-2019, 10:13 AM
KevWind's Avatar
KevWind KevWind is offline
Charter Member
 
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: Edge of Wilderness Wyoming
Posts: 19,877
Default

In general Mac Or PC does not matter (with the exception that a few DAWs only work on one or the other platform) If only for recording you can get a basic PC with only windows loaded at fairly reduced price compared to a similar spec Mac (because Mac OS automatically comes with a large pallet of additional software).


And that your interface has drivers for both (most do)
Presonus works on either platform

Here are the minimum specs from Presonus

Mac®
macOS® 10.11 or higher (64-bit only)
Intel® Core™ 2 Duo processor
(Intel Core i3 or better recommended)

Windows®
Windows 7 (SP1 + platform update), Windows 8.1 or Windows 10 (64-bit only)
Intel Core Duo or AMD® Athlon™ X2 processor (Intel Core 2 Duo or AMD Athlon X4 or better recommended) Intel Core 2 Duo or AMD® Athlon™ X2 processor
(Intel Core i3 or AMD Athlon X4 or better recommended)


Mac and Windows systems
4 GB RAM (8 GB or more recommended)
Internet connection (needed for installation and activation)
Monitor with 1366 x 768 resolution (high-dpi monitor recommended)
A multi-touch-enabled monitor with TUIO support is required for touch operation
40 GB hard-drive space
__________________
Enjoy the Journey.... Kev...

KevWind at Soundcloud

KevWind at YouYube
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?lis...EZxkPKyieOTgRD

System :
Studio system Avid Carbon interface , PT Ultimate 2023.12 -Mid 2020 iMac 27" 3.8GHz 8-core i7 10th Gen ,, Ventura 13.2.1

Mobile MBP M1 Pro , PT Ultimate 2023.12 Ventura 12.2.1
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old 04-27-2019, 10:21 AM
runamuck runamuck is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Jul 2006
Posts: 2,274
Default

To add to the good advice that Kev contributed, it really depends on what you're planning to record and produce when it comes to the CPU and RAM.

If you're simply recording audio and using logarithmic plugins, you can get a computer that has only the minimum spec for whatever DAW you're using. On the other hand, using convolution plugins and large sample libraries require something more powerful with a lot of RAM.
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old 04-27-2019, 10:24 AM
sdelsolray sdelsolray is offline
Charter Member
 
Join Date: May 2004
Location: Portland, OR
Posts: 6,951
Default

For the most part, it doesn't matter, as the Audient ID14 is compatible with either computer and compatible with either's current operating systems (Windows 10 or MacOS Mojave).

A few thoughts:

1) Cost favors a PC.

2) Most current DAWs favor either, although some DAWs only work on one or the other (e.g., Logic only for Mac, Cakewalk/Sonar for PC, Reaper and ProTools for either).

3) Each DAW uses software plugins, the format of which may be different for one DAW compared to another, e.g., VST/VST2, AAX, AudioUnits. Nearly all plugins come in each of these formats.
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old 04-27-2019, 11:48 AM
Wrighty Wrighty is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Itchen Stoke, UK
Posts: 2,136
Default

Thanks very much all - great advice. Will be recording simple two track acoustic with some plug ins added in post.
__________________
Burguet AC-007 (2003 - Cedar/Rosewood)
Webber OM (2009 - Sitka/Sapele)


https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC8A...2TVEhWes2Djrig
Reply With Quote
  #6  
Old 04-27-2019, 02:35 PM
sdelsolray sdelsolray is offline
Charter Member
 
Join Date: May 2004
Location: Portland, OR
Posts: 6,951
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Wrighty View Post
Thanks very much all - great advice. Will be recording simple two track acoustic with some plug ins added in post.
Then you shouldn't need a super fast computer. An i5 CPU with 4 cores should be more than sufficient. One other point - fan noise. Try to get a computer that has no fan, or at most an ultra-quiet fan.
Reply With Quote
  #7  
Old 04-27-2019, 02:36 PM
Wrighty Wrighty is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Itchen Stoke, UK
Posts: 2,136
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by sdelsolray View Post
Then you shouldn't need a super fast computer. An i5 CPU with 4 cores should be more than sufficient. One other point - fan noise. Try to get a computer that has no fan, or at most an ultra-quiet fan.


Thanks - good point re the fan..
__________________
Burguet AC-007 (2003 - Cedar/Rosewood)
Webber OM (2009 - Sitka/Sapele)


https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC8A...2TVEhWes2Djrig
Reply With Quote
  #8  
Old 04-28-2019, 04:50 AM
paulp1960 paulp1960 is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Jan 2015
Posts: 1,055
Default

If you decide to run DAW software on a Windows machine there is a fair chance you may run into audio latency issues that cause audio dropouts and clicks and pops.

If this happens it is normally due to a poorly written driver supplied by a third party such as a wifi driver.

Here is a link to an article on trying to fix the problem on Sweetwater:

https://www.sweetwater.com/sweetcare...atency-issues/

Here is a similar article from Focusrite:

https://support.focusrite.com/hc/en-...-on-Windows-10

Unfortunately you may never be able to fix it for a particular machine.

These problems are much less common on a Mac.
That's why I gave up using Windows for recording some time ago.
__________________
Yamaha AC3M Acoustic Guitar
Gretch G5220 Electromatic
Squier Classic Vibe 50s Telecaster
Squier Vintage Modified Telecaster Special
Yamaha BB414 Bass
Reply With Quote
  #9  
Old 04-28-2019, 07:53 AM
runamuck runamuck is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Jul 2006
Posts: 2,274
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by paulp1960 View Post
If you decide to run DAW software on a Windows machine there is a fair chance you may run into audio latency issues that cause audio dropouts and clicks and pops.

If this happens it is normally due to a poorly written driver supplied by a third party such as a wifi driver.

Here is a link to an article on trying to fix the problem on Sweetwater:

https://www.sweetwater.com/sweetcare...atency-issues/

Here is a similar article from Focusrite:

https://support.focusrite.com/hc/en-...-on-Windows-10

Unfortunately you may never be able to fix it for a particular machine.

These problems are much less common on a Mac.
That's why I gave up using Windows for recording some time ago.
There will not be significant latency issues recording and mixing a couple tracks - unless one were to put hundreds of plugins on them.
Reply With Quote
  #10  
Old 04-28-2019, 08:04 AM
paulp1960 paulp1960 is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Jan 2015
Posts: 1,055
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by runamuck View Post
There will not be significant latency issues recording and mixing a couple tracks - unless one were to put hundreds of plugins on them.
Not true, if you have DPC latency issues with your Windows PC it will be a problem with only one track and no plug-ins. I've been there and got the t-shirt on several different Windows PCs.
__________________
Yamaha AC3M Acoustic Guitar
Gretch G5220 Electromatic
Squier Classic Vibe 50s Telecaster
Squier Vintage Modified Telecaster Special
Yamaha BB414 Bass
Reply With Quote
  #11  
Old 04-28-2019, 08:10 AM
KevWind's Avatar
KevWind KevWind is offline
Charter Member
 
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: Edge of Wilderness Wyoming
Posts: 19,877
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by paulp1960 View Post
Not true, if you have DPC latency issues with your Windows PC it will be a problem with only one track and no plug-ins. I've been there and got the t-shirt on several different Windows PCs.
What is a "t-shirt" ?
I am a Mac guy and bask in ignorance of Windows
__________________
Enjoy the Journey.... Kev...

KevWind at Soundcloud

KevWind at YouYube
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?lis...EZxkPKyieOTgRD

System :
Studio system Avid Carbon interface , PT Ultimate 2023.12 -Mid 2020 iMac 27" 3.8GHz 8-core i7 10th Gen ,, Ventura 13.2.1

Mobile MBP M1 Pro , PT Ultimate 2023.12 Ventura 12.2.1
Reply With Quote
  #12  
Old 04-28-2019, 08:20 AM
paulp1960 paulp1960 is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Jan 2015
Posts: 1,055
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by KevWind View Post
What is a "t-shirt" ?
I am a Mac guy and bask in ignorance of Windows
It is a common expression in the UK for saying you have experienced something first hand, like going to a gig and buying a fanboy t-shirt while you were there.
__________________
Yamaha AC3M Acoustic Guitar
Gretch G5220 Electromatic
Squier Classic Vibe 50s Telecaster
Squier Vintage Modified Telecaster Special
Yamaha BB414 Bass
Reply With Quote
  #13  
Old 04-28-2019, 08:34 AM
KevWind's Avatar
KevWind KevWind is offline
Charter Member
 
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: Edge of Wilderness Wyoming
Posts: 19,877
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by paulp1960 View Post
It is a common expression in the UK for saying you have experienced something first hand, like going to a gig and buying a fanboy t-shirt while you were there.
Oh OK got ya, I thought maybe it was an expression like in Mac parlance the "dreaded spinning beach ball"
__________________
Enjoy the Journey.... Kev...

KevWind at Soundcloud

KevWind at YouYube
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?lis...EZxkPKyieOTgRD

System :
Studio system Avid Carbon interface , PT Ultimate 2023.12 -Mid 2020 iMac 27" 3.8GHz 8-core i7 10th Gen ,, Ventura 13.2.1

Mobile MBP M1 Pro , PT Ultimate 2023.12 Ventura 12.2.1
Reply With Quote
  #14  
Old 04-28-2019, 08:46 AM
runamuck runamuck is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Jul 2006
Posts: 2,274
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by paulp1960 View Post
Not true, if you have DPC latency issues with your Windows PC it will be a problem with only one track and no plug-ins. I've been there and got the t-shirt on several different Windows PCs.
Yeah, you're right. Without knowing how to change settings that will make a PC work efficiently for audio, this can happen.
Reply With Quote
  #15  
Old 04-28-2019, 08:55 AM
paulp1960 paulp1960 is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Jan 2015
Posts: 1,055
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by runamuck View Post
Yeah, you're right. Without knowing how to change settings that will make a PC work efficiently for audio, this can happen.
No I'm saying that with certain PCs no matter what you try it cannot be fixed. Unless you can re-write the problematic driver(s) yourself.
__________________
Yamaha AC3M Acoustic Guitar
Gretch G5220 Electromatic
Squier Classic Vibe 50s Telecaster
Squier Vintage Modified Telecaster Special
Yamaha BB414 Bass
Reply With Quote
Reply

  The Acoustic Guitar Forum > General Acoustic Guitar and Amplification Discussion > RECORD

Thread Tools





All times are GMT -6. The time now is 03:04 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.11
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions Inc.
Copyright ©2000 - 2022, The Acoustic Guitar Forum
vB Ad Management by =RedTyger=