DAW'S and the internet

Hi Pauxier, the problem with such a busy forum is that threads get pushed down far too quickly...
 
We've only recently been having such a debate, see this earlier thread:
http://forum.cakewalk.com/Taming-the-Internet-m2897887.aspx
 
My issues are around security & having a streamlined machine with minimal services running as I disable any services which aren't required.
 
There are a number of really good online guides which explain exactly the steps needed, so that you can have a minimal running but stable working Windows XP, Vista & 7 machines.

wizard71
Tbh, if the internet is only used on the DAW to connect to sites you completely trust such as Sonar etc then it's incredibly unlikely you will ever have any issues IMO, especially with an Ethernet connection. Wifi can cause issues.

I've never had a DAW computer that isn't connected to the internet as I believe it's a major PITA for the reasons you stated above. 

+Bapu

My music computer was hooked up to the internet today - but I plugged it in.  Otherwise, no.  A usb thumb drive gives me access to this internet connection too, for small files.
 
@

There is some risk of virus infection with an internet connection, but that can generally be managed by watching where you put your browser and using antimalware while on line.
 
Where you will sometimes run into problems with internet connections is when programs you have installed are set to call home for some reason. A well meaning software vendor may have his stuff set up to automatically download and install updates etc. in the background, thinking that there is lots of dead CPU time between posts to YouTube or while typing in your word processor. This activity is deliberately hidden from the user, and for most things is not a problem. But if it hogs resources while you are trying to do real time audio processing, it can be a problem. And if it changes your system so that it breaks compatibility with other software, it can cause you hours of frustration because you do not realize that anything has changed.

On my DAW PC, I keep the network card disabled and only ever enable it for brief periods whenever some software needs to be authorised.  There is no antivirus software running.
 

Kev999
On my DAW PC, I keep the network card disabled and only ever enable it for brief periods whenever some software needs to be authorised.  There is no antivirus software running.

 
+1
 
That's the best way to do it. You'd be surprised how much high priority I/O time the network stack eats up in the background.
 

I recently updated my DAW since the oldest family computer is crapping out and if I'm gonna spend money on a new computer I'm dang sure gonna get me a nice one for music and use my old DAW for family internet/homework/office use.
 
I just spent about 3 hours trying to figure out why I can't get the NIC card running until I realized I had disabled it and the on board audio in BIOS.
 
I'm frankly tired of running back and forth from machine to machine authorizing software. I'm leaving the on board wireless adapter installed, but it, the antivirus and firewall are disabled while in "music mode".

I was getting fed up running from machine to machine in order to effect offline authorizations, so I bought a wireless dongle which plugs into the front USB port of my DAW.
 
It's a HUGE timesaver (as well as being a lot more streamlined & effective) and the chance of picking up something nasty for that brief time is vanishingly small.
 
The routine is:
 

• Enable AV (MSE)
• Plugin dongle
• Authorize software
• Remove dongle
• Disable AV

Couldn't be simpler

PS: It's not just viruses.
 
Updates may introduce new bugs, side effects or workflow changes that you really don't want to be surprised by when you have the artist in front of you.
 
For this reason I try everything on a test PC for some time before installing on our mastering PC.
 
 

Bristol_Jonesey
I was getting fed up running from machine to machine in order to effect offline authorizations, so I bought a wireless dongle which plugs into the front USB port of my DAW.
 
It's a HUGE timesaver (as well as being a lot more streamlined & effective) and the chance of picking up something nasty for that brief time is vanishingly small.
 
The routine is:
 

• Enable AV (MSE)
• Plugin dongle
• Authorize software
• Remove dongle
• Disable AV

Couldn't be simpler

I used to do exactly the same thing. But after a while and some unscientific testing, I found that just leaving the DAW connected had no meaningful impact on performance or stability, so nowadays I just leave the dongle in place. Windows Security Essentials seems very benign as far as AV software goes.

AT
My music computer was hooked up to the internet today - but I plugged it in.  Otherwise, no.  A usb thumb drive gives me access to this internet connection too, for small files.
 
@

I do the same. I had to connect it once for a Waves authorization issue but that was it.

JazzSinger
The next generation are showing a preference for phone and tablet/iPads for internet access. DAW and plugin companies will need to take note of this trend. But serious companies have, in my experience, always provided a way to register offline. And if not, the choice in plugs is so vast, I have never been stuck for an alternative. As far as Addictive Drums is concerned, it turns out it has a proprietary file format, so we cannot use our sounds anyway. We will stay with Dim Pro for drums.

What do you mean with that last bit? I haven't tried yet but think I read you could use your own samples within AD?

EDIT: NM just checked. You can't indeed. Never needed to before anyway but was curious.

I have a 50ft. long network cord I run from my router in another room that I only connect when I need to. It's easy to connect, but it's also awkward enough having a cord running underfoot that it removes the temptation to keep it plugged in.

drewfx1
I have a 50ft. long network cord I run from my router in another room that I only connect when I need to. It's easy to connect, but it's also awkward enough having a cord running underfoot that it removes the temptation to keep it plugged in.

I have the exact same thing, only 25 feet long to the router, but I just haven't had to use it yet.   
 

Hi Guys.
 
I totally understand what everyone is saying & you're correct as any security is a fine balance between having all access or no access so reaching a safe middle ground is quite difficult.  The machine I'm writing on now is my DAW machine & that is connected to the Internet, however I'm very careful what sites I access & if I'm not sure of certain sites, I don't need to have another physical PC as you can all use Microsoft's Virtual PC which is available for free & you can run a second instance of your OS sandboxed if you're that paranoid.
 
Other more practical measures you can take which will reduce the threat vectors are to browse the Internet with minimal rights, ie, you're all probably logged on now as Admins?  Will lower you're rights when browsing to a minimal user account with hardly no rights, ie, create a User account with no rights so do anything other than browse the web & run your browser with those rights.
 
Another thing you could do is pay for one of those Sandbox programs & run your browser in that!
 
One more thing you can do if put a hardware firewall in front of your computer & configure it to only allow access to the sites you require for downloads & software authorisation.
 
The biggest problem Microsoft machines have & why they get infected with nasty malware is because users do one or several of any of the following things:
 
1. Don't apply Windows Updates in a Timely Manner
2. Forget to turn on AV programs while online
3. Suft the net with full Admin rights - malware uses the current logged on user's privileges to infect its host
4. Turn off the UAC (User Access Control - requires a machine restart)
 
Microsoft put that in there for good reason but because it asks you every time you want to perform an admin task & therefore frequently prompts, users get pissed off & foolishly switch it off.  Definitely not advisable on a machine which has unrestricted internet access.
 
I think if you're mindful of the things above & some of the details in my post (link below), you should be okay as that post highlights why AV programs are near useless & why thinking that surfing known trusted sites is okay when in fact there's no guarantee that they've not been compromised:
 
http://forum.cakewalk.com/FindPost/2898343
 
Hope that helps.