nikki-k
05-11-2009, 07:09 PM
Hi!
New to the boards.. HI!
I have been using Pro Tools for eons now (since ver 5; used TurboSynth and Session 8 also.. among others). But, I am concentrating on my own music (finally), and PT falls short for me for that. Cubase 5 seems to fit what I need. Hope I am right..
I own a 1st gen Mac Pro dual/dual 2.66G w/4G ram, 4 drives (internal), stock Nvidia card. I will be using my Digi 002 (for now). I write mostly prog rock, little old school metal (Priest, Maiden, etc) influence as well. Will be tracking live guitars (read as: real amps) vocals, and bass, some synths, VI's for the rest. BFD2, Superior 2, Ivory, B4II, etc (still looking for a stellar electric piano set). BFD2= pretty big drum kit (~28 pieces). I could care less if I run Windows or OSX or Linux. It just has to work best with Cubase 5 (primarily). I will still use PT LE 8 once in awhile, as well as Sibelius, Guitar Pro 5, and might break down and try Sonar at some point. I own Logic 8 and DP 5.x, but neither ever really "felt right" for me. I actually bought ver1 of Cubase on Windows many, many eons ago.. still have a copy of that manual! :D
I am leaning toward selling the Mac Pro, and building an i7 based machine.I have read through posts on multiple forums trying to figure the best pieces to use, but I am still a little unsure. I have built my own systems, and others', prior to buying the Mac Pro; so, no worries there.
I have seen successful builds with Gigabyte boards, and am leaning toward that route. Any particular model better than the others? No plans for any DSP cards at this point. I am assuming that using the 002 (Firewire) means I should get a motherboard with a TI chipset, yes? Only other cards I might add would be a PCIe card for audio. Leaning toward an RME solution, but unsure still. I ask because I have seen the GA-EX58 models used- UD4P, UD3R, UD5.. but is one a clear winner?
I own this case already (http://www.newegg.com/product/product.aspx?Item=N82E16811124091) (Enermax ICS-443SB 4U Rackmount Case; very similar to most 4U rack cases). Going for quiet as possible, as it will be in the room with me.
Minimum wattage for power supply? Single rail ok? Quiet models?
For cooling, a Scythe Ninja Copper Rev B was suggested. Yes? No? I imagine I will OC the 920, maybe mid-to-upper 3.x. Noctua? Zalman? Other? Case fans: should I be running any intake fans, or simply have the one rear exhaust?
I have seen alot of builds using OCZ ram. The Platinum has low timing specs, but would I better using something Corsair? I was planning on grabbing 6G (3x2G) of DDR3 1600 (I believe it was Scott from ADK that said, "DDR3 1600; nothing more, nothing less"?), and probably adding another 6G later. I have read that Windows 32-bit OS's may have issue with over 4G? Or should I be ok running Cubase 5 32 under Vista 64 or maybe even W7 x64?
Now the part that makes people cringe.. I have a video game I play online (no, not WoW lol). I will be setting up a partition solely for that. But, it would be nice ot have a good gaming video card for it. I do not need anything outrageous (like multiple cards and such); I am planning on an Nvidia GTX 275 (w/896M GDDR3). Yes, this will likely be the noisiest piece. Anyone use a GTX 2xx series and have issue(s)?
Internal dampening for noise; yes? No?
My main concern is having a stable system that will allow me to record audio and MIDI at the lowest buffer possible with VI's like BFD2, Ivory, B4II, etc running.. 128 is highest buffer I would want to be forced to use (PT + RTAS= Epic Fail). Would I be better off waiting and saving to do one of the new dual Xeon Nehalem machines? Seems to be a significant price difference in component cost, but if I will benefit, then I would rather do it right. BFD2 is a true pig, but I love to hear it squeal, so it stays. If a single i7 920 (OC'd) will do what I want, then I have no reason to waste time or money on a multi-CPU system. I will not be doing video work. Oh- I am assuming USB mouse + keyboard are good to go now? USB keyboards could be hit or miss several years back, and some preferred PS/2 mice.
Sorry for the length of the post, but I would really appreciate some help please, and figure better to provide too much info than not enough. I am limited in budget, so I would like to get this right the first time. I will be buying Cubase 5 on Friday (barring tragedy), and will run it on my Mac Pro for now. Bootcamp'ing into Windows XP is a no-go due to the RAM issues (limited to 2G), so it will have to be Leopard for now. I am hoping to either use Vista 64, or W7 64 eventually; it will solely be whether or not my VI's will still work in either OS.
Thx to any who took the time to read all this, not fall asleep or want to beat me silly, and then manage to reply with info/help!!! :)
New to the boards.. HI!
I have been using Pro Tools for eons now (since ver 5; used TurboSynth and Session 8 also.. among others). But, I am concentrating on my own music (finally), and PT falls short for me for that. Cubase 5 seems to fit what I need. Hope I am right..
I own a 1st gen Mac Pro dual/dual 2.66G w/4G ram, 4 drives (internal), stock Nvidia card. I will be using my Digi 002 (for now). I write mostly prog rock, little old school metal (Priest, Maiden, etc) influence as well. Will be tracking live guitars (read as: real amps) vocals, and bass, some synths, VI's for the rest. BFD2, Superior 2, Ivory, B4II, etc (still looking for a stellar electric piano set). BFD2= pretty big drum kit (~28 pieces). I could care less if I run Windows or OSX or Linux. It just has to work best with Cubase 5 (primarily). I will still use PT LE 8 once in awhile, as well as Sibelius, Guitar Pro 5, and might break down and try Sonar at some point. I own Logic 8 and DP 5.x, but neither ever really "felt right" for me. I actually bought ver1 of Cubase on Windows many, many eons ago.. still have a copy of that manual! :D
I am leaning toward selling the Mac Pro, and building an i7 based machine.I have read through posts on multiple forums trying to figure the best pieces to use, but I am still a little unsure. I have built my own systems, and others', prior to buying the Mac Pro; so, no worries there.
I have seen successful builds with Gigabyte boards, and am leaning toward that route. Any particular model better than the others? No plans for any DSP cards at this point. I am assuming that using the 002 (Firewire) means I should get a motherboard with a TI chipset, yes? Only other cards I might add would be a PCIe card for audio. Leaning toward an RME solution, but unsure still. I ask because I have seen the GA-EX58 models used- UD4P, UD3R, UD5.. but is one a clear winner?
I own this case already (http://www.newegg.com/product/product.aspx?Item=N82E16811124091) (Enermax ICS-443SB 4U Rackmount Case; very similar to most 4U rack cases). Going for quiet as possible, as it will be in the room with me.
Minimum wattage for power supply? Single rail ok? Quiet models?
For cooling, a Scythe Ninja Copper Rev B was suggested. Yes? No? I imagine I will OC the 920, maybe mid-to-upper 3.x. Noctua? Zalman? Other? Case fans: should I be running any intake fans, or simply have the one rear exhaust?
I have seen alot of builds using OCZ ram. The Platinum has low timing specs, but would I better using something Corsair? I was planning on grabbing 6G (3x2G) of DDR3 1600 (I believe it was Scott from ADK that said, "DDR3 1600; nothing more, nothing less"?), and probably adding another 6G later. I have read that Windows 32-bit OS's may have issue with over 4G? Or should I be ok running Cubase 5 32 under Vista 64 or maybe even W7 x64?
Now the part that makes people cringe.. I have a video game I play online (no, not WoW lol). I will be setting up a partition solely for that. But, it would be nice ot have a good gaming video card for it. I do not need anything outrageous (like multiple cards and such); I am planning on an Nvidia GTX 275 (w/896M GDDR3). Yes, this will likely be the noisiest piece. Anyone use a GTX 2xx series and have issue(s)?
Internal dampening for noise; yes? No?
My main concern is having a stable system that will allow me to record audio and MIDI at the lowest buffer possible with VI's like BFD2, Ivory, B4II, etc running.. 128 is highest buffer I would want to be forced to use (PT + RTAS= Epic Fail). Would I be better off waiting and saving to do one of the new dual Xeon Nehalem machines? Seems to be a significant price difference in component cost, but if I will benefit, then I would rather do it right. BFD2 is a true pig, but I love to hear it squeal, so it stays. If a single i7 920 (OC'd) will do what I want, then I have no reason to waste time or money on a multi-CPU system. I will not be doing video work. Oh- I am assuming USB mouse + keyboard are good to go now? USB keyboards could be hit or miss several years back, and some preferred PS/2 mice.
Sorry for the length of the post, but I would really appreciate some help please, and figure better to provide too much info than not enough. I am limited in budget, so I would like to get this right the first time. I will be buying Cubase 5 on Friday (barring tragedy), and will run it on my Mac Pro for now. Bootcamp'ing into Windows XP is a no-go due to the RAM issues (limited to 2G), so it will have to be Leopard for now. I am hoping to either use Vista 64, or W7 64 eventually; it will solely be whether or not my VI's will still work in either OS.
Thx to any who took the time to read all this, not fall asleep or want to beat me silly, and then manage to reply with info/help!!! :)