Critique this computer setup for sonar x1

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PlatinumPi4u
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2010/12/06 13:22:55 (permalink)

Critique this computer setup for sonar x1


I'm building a new machine for our 2nd engineer room. The first room already has a mac pro 8 core protools LE setup, but this 2nd engineer room is going to be a Sonar X1 room. 

This is what I have in mind: 

ASUS P6X58D Motherboard (link) 
Intel i7 950 (link) 
Patriot Viper II 6GB (3 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) (link) 
CORSAIR CMPSU-750TX 750W ATX12V / EPS12V SLI Ready CrossFire Ready (link) 

...and 2 of these, to run on RAID 0: 
Crucial SSD C300 128GB SATA III (link) 

in short, am I doing it right? 

Do I need to get a soundcard? One like this asus one?   http://www.neweggbusiness.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16829132001&cm_re=sound_card-_-29-132-001-_-Product
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    jcschild
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    Re:Critique this computer setup for sonar x1 2010/12/06 18:11:21 (permalink)
    nope not right at all

    dont like the ram or power supply
    dont care for the mobo either...

    Mushkin ram is what i recommend
    Coolermaster silent M PS would be quieter

    the wrong part is the raid 0.. for any reason other than maybe a samples drive.

    you need a separate OS drive from the Audio drive
    and a separate samples drive (if any)

    and none need to be ssd.

    Scott
    ADK
    Home of the Kentucky Fried DAW!
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    PlatinumPi4u
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    Re:Critique this computer setup for sonar x1 2010/12/06 18:17:45 (permalink)
    I was thinking raid 0 for the OS and the programs, everything else on a seperate sata.

    I will look into the mushkin ram. What about the mb?
    #3
    jhughs
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    Re:Critique this computer setup for sonar x1 2010/12/06 20:43:46 (permalink)
    On the soundcard, Beagle has a helpful write-up:
    http://beaglesound.com/1.html

    ASUS P5ND/Intel E8500, Line6 Toneport UX2/PODFarm, Sonar, Axiom 25, Blue Bluebird, Audio-Technica AT3035s, Blue Snowflake, Line6 Spider IV 150 & AMPLIFI, Crate 1

    J Hughs Soundclick
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    PlatinumPi4u
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    Re:Critique this computer setup for sonar x1 2010/12/07 00:11:32 (permalink)
    Thanks for your input...

    I'm more of a web designer / photoshop guy, not really an audio guy, however i'm the IT for this studio, and the bottom line is the 2nd room is to be a sonar x1 room, and I need to build a beast for it.

    Feel free to shoot your recommendations! I'm all ears!


    #5
    jcschild
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    Re:Critique this computer setup for sonar x1 2010/12/07 08:25:50 (permalink)
    PlatinumPi4u


    I was thinking raid 0 for the OS and the programs, everything else on a seperate sata.

    I will look into the mushkin ram. What about the mb?

    1) never raid the OS especially raid 0 there is absolutely no reason for this. its a very bad idea.
    i dont even like raid 1. (redundant)
    2) SSD is overkill but they are getting affordable enough
     
    and yes you absolutely need a sound card..
     
    this is your "b" room? and you dont know what interface you need?
    how many tracks at one time is needed?
     
     
     

    Scott
    ADK
    Home of the Kentucky Fried DAW!
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    Beagle
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    Re:Critique this computer setup for sonar x1 2010/12/07 09:40:03 (permalink)
    PlatinumPi4u


    Thanks for your input...

    I'm more of a web designer / photoshop guy, not really an audio guy, however i'm the IT for this studio, and the bottom line is the 2nd room is to be a sonar x1 room, and I need to build a beast for it.

    Feel free to shoot your recommendations! I'm all ears!


    jhughs


    On the soundcard, Beagle has a helpful write-up:
    http://beaglesound.com/1.html


    If it's for a studio, I'd recommend something like the MOTU, RME or even the m-audio ultra 8R.  those are not on my site for soundcard recommendations because those recommendations are mostly for beginners.

    http://soundcloud.com/beaglesound/sets/featured-songs-1
    i7, 16G DDR3, Win10x64, MOTU Ultralite Hybrid MK3
    Yamaha MOXF6, Hammond XK3c, other stuff.
    #7
    gustabo
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    Re:Critique this computer setup for sonar x1 2010/12/07 10:04:34 (permalink)
    Beagle

      those are not on my site for soundcard recommendations because those recommendations are mostly for beginners.


    I wondered why you use the MOTU UltraLite mk3 and don't recommend it


    Cakewalk by Bandlab - Win10 Pro x64 - StudioCat Platinum Studio DAW - 32 GB Ram - MOTU UltraLite-mk3
    M-Audio Keystation 88ES - Akai MPD26 (hot-rodded) - Alesis DM10 - a few guitars, a few amps
    Novation Launch Control - Korg nanoKONTROL2 - PreSonus FaderPort - DAW Remote HD on iPad
    Adam A7X - Behritone C50A
    PreSonus Monitor Station v2 (controlling the mons)
    https://www.facebook.com/groups/sonarusergroup/

    #8
    Beagle
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    Re:Critique this computer setup for sonar x1 2010/12/07 10:19:42 (permalink)
    gustabo


    Beagle

    those are not on my site for soundcard recommendations because those recommendations are mostly for beginners.


    I wondered why you use the MOTU UltraLite mk3 and don't recommend it


     
    my website is in dire need of an update.  that's on my "to do" list - maybe during my Christmas break I'll have time to work on it.  I plan to update the soundcard recommendations so that it has beginner/intermediate/advanced recommendations.
     
    but even the MOTU I have is probably not best for a studio.  with a studio I'd probably go with an 896 or even an 8PRE so that I have the ADAT available to add more channels easily.

    http://soundcloud.com/beaglesound/sets/featured-songs-1
    i7, 16G DDR3, Win10x64, MOTU Ultralite Hybrid MK3
    Yamaha MOXF6, Hammond XK3c, other stuff.
    #9
    PlatinumPi4u
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    Re:Critique this computer setup for sonar x1 2010/12/07 13:15:02 (permalink)
    ..let me get a breakdown of whats in room #1 (..not that it matters..) and then we can see what is what as far as external peripherals..

    So Raid 0 is overkill then for the OS and Programs drive. I may have been reading outdated material when looking for bottle necks.

    As far as # of tracks to record, the goal is to go beyond the protools LE limit, and to obtain full HD sound.
    #10
    jcschild
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    Re:Critique this computer setup for sonar x1 2010/12/07 16:02:25 (permalink)
    full hd sound? do you mean 96k 192k?
    Sac CD?

    a single HDD can handle 120+ 48k,
    about 50 96k
    and about 20 192k

    you may need raid 0 for an audio drive if you are talking about 96 or 192 <-- no pros record at this level i know of..



    Scott
    ADK
    Home of the Kentucky Fried DAW!
    #11
    PlatinumPi4u
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    Re:Critique this computer setup for sonar x1 2010/12/07 17:09:36 (permalink)
    Ok so basically, the OS / Program drive is safe at 7200rpm+, but the audio "scratch" drive is the one that needs to be faster in order to record at 96 or better...?

    Also, what about the ASUS motherboard?

    forgive my newb.
    #12
    wormser
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    Re:Critique this computer setup for sonar x1 2010/12/07 21:31:41 (permalink)
    I've used Asus boards over the years with no problems but this time I jumped ship and went with a Gigabyte X58A-UD3R and it's solid as a rock, literally. This is one heavy board! Seems to be built like a tank.
    Time will tell of course.



    Windows 8 x64
    Intel i7 950 3.06ghz 6 GB DDR3 1333(1066) OCZ memory
    Gigabyte X58A-UD3R v.2.0
    Delta 66.
    Seagate 1.0tb drives x4 OS, Audio, VST, Backup Stuff. 
    Mackie MCU Pro Latest.
    Faderport.
    Sonar X2, PreSonus 2.x, Reaper.
     
    #13
    RogerS
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    Re:Critique this computer setup for sonar x1 2010/12/07 21:39:25 (permalink)
    wormser


    I've used Asus boards over the years with no problems but this time I jumped ship and went with a Gigabyte X58A-UD3R and it's solid as a rock, literally. This is one heavy board! Seems to be built like a tank.
    Time will tell of course.

    +1 on Gigabyte. My EX58-UD4P has also been very solid.

    PE 8.5.3,  Windows 7 Pro 64-bit,  i7 920,  GA-EX58-UD4P,  6gb Corsair DDR3,  2 x Barracuda 500gb,  HIS Radeon GS-4670 Fanless 1gb DDR3, dual 24" monitors,  Axiom 61,  Korg Triton Pro,  Focusrite Saffire Pro 40,  VG-99,  Yamaha MSP5,  Fostex PM0.5       
    #14
    tyacko
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    Re:Critique this computer setup for sonar x1 2010/12/08 08:24:41 (permalink)
    You can't go wrong with a ASUS or Gigabyte board at the moment.  I'd get as much CPU as you can afford.  I use a SSD drive for my OS drive and love it, but as Scott said it is a bit pricey still so you can do pretty well with a 7200rpm drive.  I got my SSD really for the speed, but also for how quite it is during tracking.

    I'd also suggestion considering more RAM if you know that you are planning a lot of internal synths and/or audio effects per track/project.

    Tom

    Our SoundClick page

    ASUS P9X79 PRO, Intel i7 3930K, 32gig RAM G.SKILL Ripjaws, RME Babyface USB, GeForce GTX 550 Ti, UAD-2, Intel 510 120gig SSD Drive, Win7 64-bit, Sonar X1E 64-bit, Studio One V2 
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