computer talk!

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SWscreamer
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Posts: 36
computer talk! -
24 February 2009, at 02:44
:D Good Monday evening everybody! I got some nice input on some of the equipment pro dj's use in my previous forum. Now I'm on the hunt for a computer, which I really need in my apartment about as badly as someone standing in the middle of the Sahara Desert, in the middle of the day, needs water! Can someone tell me what type of computer is most commonly used by dj's? What's best for someone just getting started (yours truly)? Will I need to break the bank?
# Re: computer talk! - 24 February 2009, at 14:04
hmmmmm in my opinion it pays to have a computer built for audio applications. Sure, you can run into problems with any computer - but with audio work the last thing you want is components overheating or your computer crashing when out and about. Therefore, stability and system flexibility must be the first thing to look at (aswell as brand ov course). Finding a good computer for audio/production/dj work is not easy. However there are a few which may do the job but they will cost a lot of money. I recommend searching for purpose built audio pc's like carillon. Then on the other end of the scale you have producers like myself using AMD 2GHZ, 512mb memory - nothing special and I get by lol =]
SWscreamer
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Posts: 36
# Re: computer talk! - 25 February 2009, at 02:31
Thanks Nightshadevalley for the reply. I cringe at the idea of paying tons of money for a new computer because I don't make much more than a living wage right now. If you know anything about college basketball, I'm the 16 seed going up against the 1 seed right now when it comes to becoming a Trance dj. But I've taken notes on your advice and hoping that it will help "the slipper to fit (Cinderella story!)." Thanks again!
# Re: computer talk! - 25 February 2009, at 08:38
hehe np man sorry i couldn't be more specific. It may also be worth mentioning portability, so keep your laptop in mind! The best thing to do is take a look around, check out computer specs, read reviews/information and don't just buy for the sake of buying! Get it right ^_*  :) Good luck!
R33
TrancePodium Staff
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# Re: computer talk! - 16 March 2009, at 12:33
Pick up the new 20" iMac.  That will get you started in the best way as it comes with some great software like Garageband which will allow you to record your guitar, add loops  (or other live instruments or software based ones) and make a nice little production.

Once you feel really comfortable, you can step up to Logic Studio, which is what 90% of all Trance artists use and is one amazing system.

Best thing is, it is one complete system and you just have to plug it into the outlet and sit it on your desk.  No tower or tons of wires to make your workspace seem cluttered  :D
Rene
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Posts: 2958
# Re: computer talk! - 16 March 2009, at 18:37
I would say the lowest MacBook or the 2 gigabyte Mac Mini, but wait for Snow Leopord [Summer]

On the pc side I'm not too sure, you can save some money building it yourself

AMD Phenom IIs and a good amount of fast DDR2 is cheap now, I could throw together a system easily for less than 500 or sub-1k if you want it for graphics such as 3d design or gaming as well

Trance Über Alles!
Rover
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# Re: computer talk! - 17 March 2009, at 11:14
I love the iMac, as R33 has already stated. You can axe the price a little if you're a student, and they're generally pretty reasonably priced from the start. They're amazingly versatile and reliable. This is coming from someone who has used Macintosh since the early 1990s, so I'm familiar with the well traveled path the Apple computers have taken.
Veritas curat. Vertias vos liberabit.
Rene
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# Re: computer talk! - 17 March 2009, at 15:32
I was just saying MacBook or Mini for mobility, since iMac and Mini share the same board and most of the specs, except for the option of more ram and discreet graphics in the iMac, the Mini now has a nice built in IGP graphics too now, same as MacBook, but this is irrelevant for our music needs.

I'm holding out for Snow Leopord to get my Mini, maybe by then they will announce Logic Studio 9  ^_^
Trance Über Alles!
R33
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# Re: computer talk! - 19 March 2009, at 12:11
The iMac and Mini do not share the same board at all.  They are 2 completely different machines. 

In my experience the Mini is a great device for a standard desktop with medium workload.  It also makes an amazing server.

But for hard core editing and multiple VST's and the like, the iMac runs them better.  Not to mention its all in one nice unit without the mess of cables everywhere :D
Rene
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Posts: 2958
# Re: computer talk! - 19 March 2009, at 16:13
Recently Apple upgraded the minis internals to match the 9400 IGP on the MacBook, ooops I guess I did say iMac, too much Apple, lol, I meant MacBook

I was only adding portability suggestions, hence the Mini and MacBook ideas
Trance Über Alles!
R33
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# Re: computer talk! - 21 March 2009, at 03:23
Yes the Mini has the same video card, but thats where the similarity ends.
They are all different machines, and each have their place for what they do.

I still would recommend a iMac.  For price to what you get, its hard to beat.

If you want to go portable, the current white Macbook has some major bang for buck and its a great computer.

Rene
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Posts: 2958
# Re: computer talk! - 23 March 2009, at 19:04
Theres also a 17 inch iMac coming, I think price should be around $899

You AIO lovers should enjoy that

As always my suggestion is to wait for snow leopard [summer]

*to those who dont necessarily mind stationary equipment should note, that matching hardware in a laptop always loses to the exact same hardware in a desktop, always*
Trance Über Alles!
# Re: computer talk! - 24 March 2009, at 00:27
Well.... I dont seriously produce tracks but i have thoroughly tested my laptop and it is perfectly suited to handle the intense CPU demands authoring studios and what not need. And besides, i would find that the portable element to your music is always a plus. It does come at a considerable cost though and its probably something to consider for the future. it cost me about $2500.

I have a ASUS M51Sn special multimedia edition laptop with a Intel Centrino dual core T9500 2.6 Ghz processor, 3Gb memory DDR2, blu-ray drive and most importantly DVI and VGA outputs. I run the thing on my desk outputting to a 32" samsung tv which is great for viewing alot of things, especially DJ studios. Whilst that setup cost a little more than the 2 grand for a 20" Imac at least its more functionally diverse.

For all the people saying IMacs are great.....well. here they arent. the only model at a base level worth considering is over a grand and the 20" and 17" models forget about. Personally i find their interface despite extensive use to be unituitive and weighed down by proprietary hurdles Apple slaps onto every product they make. I agree they are great for multimedia purposes and a ton of DJ's support them but i could never suggest one.

I dont know about pricing where you live. i dont pretend to. but here, as stated they are  ridiculously expensive for what they are and have a diversity range only evident in software capability and possibly processing. Call me biased but for a fraction of the price, you could build your own Windows based PC. Here, i could buy the new Intel I7 chipset, DDR3 memory and crapload of hard-drive space for roughly $1500.

Hell, i just bought a Q9550 Quad Core processor, a Thermaltake Armor case, G-Skill 1066 DDR2  heatsinked RAM, 500Gb Western Digital HD and a brand new Intel Motherboard with the latest capabilities and HD audio. Cost me like under a grand. In both cases you could use the desktop as a bloody multimedia server let alone your own private usage. You can even buy MIDI input and output cards for a proper desktop PC for your peripheral sound devices like keyboards and such. All the stuff Apple, to my knowledge, does not let you do. I find Apple PC solutions to be such a novelty compared to IBM. For christ sake...they brought out a series of notebooks that dont even have optical drives and protest their new Ibook is a recyclable, green piece of plastic..... who gives a crap? it certainly doesnt justify the price increase.
R33
TrancePodium Staff
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# Re: computer talk! - 24 March 2009, at 13:15
It is not the overall grunt that Apple computers are prized for, its how they use their internals to the max, and run everything without the flaws and poor utilization that the Windows OS does.

You could put 4 GB of memory into your Windows machine, but it will never use it.  Windows  puts a cap at 4GB of "total system Memory".  This means if you have a 512MB video card, and 4 GB of RAM, you are only going to be using 3584 MB in your system.  If you look at your computer details, it will show you (once you have put in, or gone over 4GB) "Installed memory".  This changes in the OS once you have gone over the OS handling limit, and basically says you have installed so much, but you cant use it.

In OSX, you have a ceiling of 32GB of RAM that is usable, not to mention how it handles the RAM architect.  If you quit a program, you get that RAM back.  Windows does not perform this operation however, and thus why you have to restart Windows so often in a work environment. 
Not to mention a true 64bit architecture that utilizes the Core 2 Duo's processors to the highest performance numbers they can put out.

Easiest way to see this is to take both machines into a studio situation.  Run protools on each system, and start loading a good amount of multi-track recordings, VST's effects and the like.  The Windows machines start to bog down very quickly compared to the Macs.

This is the main reason why Apple computers are used in the fields. 

So you may not be able to upgrade a iMac by yourself, but its not due to Apple proprietary hardware, its due to the design of the machine.  I highly doubt you would want to delve into the machine to upgrade the HD.  Main reason why they come with such big HD's stock.  you have the choice between a 320, 640 or 1TB drive.  This should keep the end user happy for a long time.

If you want a computer that is user serviceable, and is the dogs bollox for a studio, then get a Mac Pro.  This machine is ridiculous, and is user upgradeable.  Remove the side panel with the movement of a switch, and you have 4 HD's that you just pull out and push in.  There is also user replaceable RAM, up to 32GB. you also have 3 PCI express 2.0 slots that you can ad your own cards too. You might not be able to upgrade the processor, but I think a 8 core 2.9Ghz Intel Xeon 5500 is fine for many years to come.  Not to mention the casing is made from solid aluminum, like all of the machines, not silly plastic parts.  So it can be moved and used without fear of severely damaging it.

Even the X-Serve has removable and user replaceable / upgradeable hard drives in it.

This is the reason why the machines are prized in the music / video / animation industry.

This is the reason why I suggest them.  They are for serious professionals who are serious about their work.  the iMac is a great place to get started, and stock configured will last for years to come. 



Rene
697 forum
Posts: 2958
# Re: computer talk! - 24 March 2009, at 20:47
that's why you super glue a mini to an lcd and call it a day, lol
I personally love my terabyte chewing tiny god of a pc, thats all of us right?
or just me...

yes windows is sad in its 64 bit launch and Apple did a good job of retrofitting its 32 bit os, but the next big showdown will be very interesting, I am truly excited, lol

p.s. - Win7 is the savior from Vista, as XP was from Millenium, lol
p.p.s. - fucking hate the beachball of death sooooo much more than the bsod
Trance Über Alles!
R33
TrancePodium Staff
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Posts: 3256
# Re: computer talk! - 27 March 2009, at 11:46
haha yes.  The Mini is an amazing machine. I have one running my entire home server, and the darn thing sits in the palm of my hand.  =D

I can just imagine how well the new one works as such.  Mine is still the older Power PC model lol.

And yes.  Im curious to see how well Windows 7 works.  In the beta, It seemd like it worked extremely well, and was what Vista should have been.   

But then there is Snow Leopard....  taking Leopard and making it smaller, faster, and more resourceful then any Mac OS has been.   

Roll on WWDC!  :D