WINDOWS computers SUUUUUCK!!!!
Go ahead, disagree with me. :?
Tonight I'm playing, and I wanted to put some mp3's and such on the CF card on my GNX. So I hook up the GNX, and the mp3's I transferred over were distorted and corrupted, wouldn't play. Thanks a lot Windows.
Then I unplugged my GNX and went to shut down the PC, the whole thing flamed. It won't even boot now, even after an hour of wackin' the thing off (CMOS resets, various boot type attempts, yada...).
THIS is why I have no interest in using a computer for music...if it weren't for XEdit, I wouldn't even have a computer involved with my music setup. I'm just glad the stupid PC didn't take my GNX with it. :evil:
I don't want to be a computer tech, I just wanna play. Well, that, and to get jiggy with Anne Hathaway...:oops:
PS I'm on the internet with my trusty ol' never-lets-me-down mac. :roll:
Tonight I'm playing, and I wanted to put some mp3's and such on the CF card on my GNX. So I hook up the GNX, and the mp3's I transferred over were distorted and corrupted, wouldn't play. Thanks a lot Windows.
Then I unplugged my GNX and went to shut down the PC, the whole thing flamed. It won't even boot now, even after an hour of wackin' the thing off (CMOS resets, various boot type attempts, yada...).
THIS is why I have no interest in using a computer for music...if it weren't for XEdit, I wouldn't even have a computer involved with my music setup. I'm just glad the stupid PC didn't take my GNX with it. :evil:
I don't want to be a computer tech, I just wanna play. Well, that, and to get jiggy with Anne Hathaway...:oops:
PS I'm on the internet with my trusty ol' never-lets-me-down mac. :roll:
Comments
Just do a search on this forum for how many issues have arisen from Vista and XP Media.
So based on the G@y-Test...I will admit I am 'semi-g@y', which means only on the weekends. :oops:
Your best bet is the build you own computer with select parts. Do your homework on the internet and see which products are rated extremely well for your type of use. I've built every computer I've ever owned and I'm amazed at people buying new package computers years after my computer and my computer smokes these units.
In one instance, years ago I built my Pentium 2. Years later, I worked for a company that touted brand new dell Pentium 4 machines. I couldn't believe it was slower than my P2 at home. The memory was the same amount, but obviously there was something wrong with this scenario. People at work thought I was BS'ing them until I brought my computer in and proved it.
Remember, you get what you pay for. If you buy a cheap Dell (or any Dell for that matter) don't complain about it. It's not windows, it's your hardware.
For those of you that have a home built top model, you have to clean out windows from time to time. Use utilities to clean out the registry, dead files, etc. When things go beyond that, you might need to reinstall windows. You will be amazed at the speed difference. This may seem like a huge undertaking, but if you have 2 drives, you can limit the amount of programs you have to reinstall with windows. Another option is to mirror the disk after a fresh install. If you save your data file (or audio files in recording programs) on the \"D:\" drive, you wont even have to load those files from an external source.
Life can be simpler by using a few minor steps.
If you are working with projects and other resource heavy programs, always check the hdd to see if it needs a defrag. Do this before you decide to create new projects , render files to audio, movie, etc. You can use the analyze to determine whether or not you need to defrag.
Second, they always recommend maxing ram, and having additional hard drives just for storage medium.
In Win, you have to turn off all non essential startup tasks (Start>Run>msconfig (type in run box).
Some sequencer programs are resource demanding. In audio and video this is often performed (rendering) in the hdd, not always the ram. Virtual memory is used in many sequencer and other programs.
Virtual Ram is what sets up hdd space for rendering apps. Win use a paging file and you can set up how much space is allocated. This is from Adobe faq for Win optimization.
To adjust the size of the virtual memory paging file:
1. Log into the system as an administrator.
2. Quit all applications.
3. Choose Start > Settings > Control Panel, and then double-click System.
4. Select the Advanced tab; in the Performance section, select Settings, and then click the Advanced tab.
5. In the Virtual Memory section, click Change.
6. From the Drive list, select a hard disk that has available space equal to at least twice the amount of the installed RAM on the system. For example, if your computer has 1 GB of RAM, select a hard disk that has at least 2 GB of free space.
Note: To determine the amount of space available on a disk, click the drive letter in the Drive [Volume Label] section. The amount of space available is displayed in the Paging File Size For Selected Drive section.
7. In the Paging File Size For Selected Drive section, enter an Initial Size equal to the amount of RAM installed on the system plus 12 MB (i.e. 1036 for a system with 1 GB of RAM. 1 GB = 1024 MB)
8. In the Maximum Size box, enter a value equal to twice the amount of your computer's installed RAM.
9. Close the System Properties dialog box:
* Click Set, and then click OK.
* Click OK in the Performance Options dialog box
* Click OK in the System Properties dialog box.
* Click Yes in the System Settings Change dialog box to restart Windows.
LAST Thing- ALWAYS SAVE PROJECTS AFTER IMPORTS ETC. Nothing is worse than working 30 min into something, importing items and then getting an error. SAVE projects with each big operation. Even if you have only added effects from a few VST plugins. SAVE again and again!
The performance of the PC outside of SONAR/Sound Forge/ACID Pro is fine. But using my Control Surface/Mixer (Tascam FW-1028), firing up the GNX4, and my MOTIF creates a very unstable environment in Windows.
My understanding from MAC users is that the operating environment is much simpler and manages external devices much better, allocating memory, and system resources better than a windows environment.
I will have to do more research and have to tip toe around my issues until I can afford new hardware.
I couldnt agree more. This is what I do - never an issue.
Ya see, I useta think this was cool, a challenge to meet and overcome. Now I just wanna play, and I couldn't care less about diddling my computer. I just want it to do it's little job and leave me out of it. :roll:
BTW I TOTally agree with all youse guyz...building your own is the only way to go. It allows you flexibility to build exactly what you've chosen into a machine.
I've also done all that stuff g talks about...
But the puter I'm griping about just flamed. All I did was command \"Stand By\". Now it won't even boot to BIOS setup. :evil:
The topic should read [ Insert Motherboard make here ] Ssuuuuuuucccks.
:shock: :shock: :evil: :evil:
I've got news for you...if you like the one on the right, you're STUPID.
Oh YEAH!?...well I'm rubber and your glue....
Hee hee hee hee...that would rule!
Oh wait, does that mean no crayons for dessert? :twisted:
or register something. I do all my internet stuff on my laptop. The internet
causes to many unwanted changes on computers and many of them interfere with audio drivers and what not. It's the best way to go.
Want e-mail spam protection?
-or-
Your computer is infected click YES to download... (insert poorly written software name here)
Thanks but no thanks. As for MAC... I have no beef with MACs... other than the people who own them that constantly try to shove it down PC users throat how much better thier MAC's are. Granted they make a fine and beautiful machine, but the bottom line is that BOTH have thier own problems and they are NUMEROUS.
I also love it when MAC users talk so much smack about how they don't get viruses or spyware. I got news for you... Your days are numbered. MAC's are taking up enough of the market share that they are going to draw the attention of some hacker that finally realizes \"Holy crap... these guys are TOTALLY unprepared for a virus...\"
This is NOT a knock on MAC. Like I said they have a terrific platform, but MAC's and PC's both experience thier share of difficulties. As far as cost goes... that is self explanatory.In the coming weeks, I am going to set up my 2nd PC and make it a dedicated workstation for recording. I just need a MOBO for it and some memory. I'll install XP on it and be done with it.
Now I will say that VISTA is still giving me grief. Every time I touch a setting on my GNX4 I get the IRQL blue screen error. Sucks, but after doing some research here I think i just need to uninstall and reinstall my drivers. We'll see.
Enjoy the MAC. I can't say I will never own one myself, but for now as long as the cost is so high, PC will be my main staple.
http://ubuntustudio.org/
Might be worth a shot.
do on PC's. Also the Ipod is making them more a risk as I've seen at
least one security update for them.
I have worked in the IT industry for a long time, mainly in support engineer roles, I have worked on many types of systems including Windows, Sun IBM, Apple... Hardware failures happen to us all, but what really screws up the systems are people
IMO the comments about not connecting to the internet are kinda right, that's where people pick up a lot of Malware. But, I prefer to have Windows installed twice on my system. When it's booted into the recording system it is fully optimised for recording, it doesn't have a lot of unnecessary junk installed, and it just works brilliantly. My day to day version of windows has all the usual stuff people install, and it still works fine, but I make more of an effort to keep this clean, I have a good firewall, AV software, I immunise against Malware. Oh and I defrag my disk. That's about all it takes really.
Next thing is they leave things running and have all sorts of garbage. I've looked at startup toolbar seeing as many as 20 or more hanging out, just hogging up the system. Then they say, It used to boot so fast!! Now it takes 2-3 minutes to just come on.
I've seen MAC's and PC's cluttered. Some are better at some things, some have specific failures. Fact is, most relative WIN problems are user related downloads and back running garbage.
Most people in all fairness just don't know. Or they have their kids get on ebaums world and click everything in sight. Dad comes home fires up Sonar and goes ballistic!
IF you dedicate a PC to only the DAW application it runs fast, stable and can perform as well as anything out there.
you can pay up to $2500 for a Mac or Buy 2 pc's. One for all your BS, and one for recording. The better served recording pc can have Core 2 duo, 4gb ram, 500gb hdd, and still have money left over for any external Firewire recording interface.
For Instance- typical Dell...
Buy a Vostro with Mon for $600
Buy a custom PC for recording under $1000 w 22\" monitor
That leaves $900 for software, firewire interface etc.
You can also buy barebones kits from Compusa etc. Less than $300 for a decent mo board. PSU, add the other hardware, OS, and your are set.
In another post I suggested Comp Shows. Friend of mine bought a PC to dedicate to AUDIO DAW for $75 with loads of features. As core 2 duo and Quad core have become a new standard, pc's at tradeshows like these are going for less than $100 as businesses and gamers etc unload their PC's for the better stuff. Most of these PC's are perfect for audio!!