Hardware reform.

REAP3RMusic · Post by **REAP3RMusic** » Fri Feb 25, 2011 1:28 am

So, at the moment, i'm running Ableton Live 8 through a standard Asus Laptop with a 2ghz Intel Celeron processor and 2gb RAM. Along side the Korg Nanokey and Korg Nanokontrol.

I'm on a Major low budget but for a long term goal of this year, i'm looking at getting the following:

Acer Aspire 5742

Processor - Intel Core i3 - 2.4 GHz
RAM - 3 GB
Hard Drive - 250 GB
Operating System - Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium (64-bit)

Novation Launch Pad

Akai MPD18

Behringer Xenyx 1202FX 12-Input 2-Bus Mixer

M-Audio Studiophile Av40 - Home Studio Monitor Speakers

CREATIVE LABS Sound Blaster X-Fi Surround 5.1 Pro Audio Station (External Sound Card

I was wondering if i'm going for the right stuff, could anyone possibly tell me what items i should add/remove/change from my list with suggestions of replacements if necessary.

Thanks very much.

nowaysj · Post by **nowaysj** » Fri Feb 25, 2011 2:55 am

Skip the Behringer Xenyx unless you have a lot of audio hardware that you want to run into your computer. Skip the M-audio for any purpose. Krk rokits are pretty generally used for their relatively high quality and low price. If you want to get something from creative, get something from their emu line of soundcards.

Maybe get the apc40 and a padkontrol, rather than the launch pad and mpd18. Launch pad is cool, but you get similar functionality plus all the faders and knobs on the apc, and you WILL like the pads on the padkontrol better.

If budget is killing you. Keep the laptop you have now, get decent enough entry level monitors, like the rokits. First step. Then get a decent enough soundcard. I constantly recommend the emu. Really is the best value out there in my opinion. Now you can hear what you are doing. Pretty important for music making.

From there, the launch pad/apc40 seems like the next logical step.

When adding gear (soft or hard) add shit one at a time. You can spend more on each individual item, and you can actually have time and focus to learn the ins and outs of the particular device. Think of it like walking up stairs. It would be cool to just jump to the top each time, but do one step at a time, you'll get to the top, guaranteed.

fragments · Post by **fragments** » Fri Feb 25, 2011 4:00 am

All of this ^

My route has been monitors/sound card/new desktop, now thinking about an external controller(s). Some tips on the workstation end--I'd buy a desktop (way easier to upgrade). I'd say you want 4 gigs of RAM minimum.

drake89 · Post by **drake89** » Fri Feb 25, 2011 4:02 am

yarp, the desktop is much more bang for your buck. craigslist can be your friend too, got some monitors on the cheap from there.

Basic A · Post by **Basic A** » Fri Feb 25, 2011 4:05 am

I had an Aspire One, granted it was the model before that one but it only lasted a year and a half.

fragments · Post by **fragments** » Fri Feb 25, 2011 4:16 am

@Basic A: Agreed. If you are going to buy a pre-built production machine I'd probably go with Asus? ...dunno, I pretty much feel like all pre-fab computers are going to be made out of low to low-mid range parts. But really I recommend building a desktop. To really get the most out of your components you need a rocking mother board. I always see production PC's in the Sweet Water catalog, don't know anything about them except they $$$ and would theoretically kick ass.

I didn't know much about computer hardware until I built mine. Now I have a way better understanding of one of the most important pieces of music hardware I own!

nowaysj · Post by **nowaysj** » Fri Feb 25, 2011 4:38 am

I do agree that a hand built pc gives way more bang for the buck over a store bought one and especially a store bought laptop. 2 to 3 times the power for the same price, at least. That is what I've done, but with that said, laptops are really great for taking the production away from the little pit of your studio, to the couch, the bedroom, coffee shop, airport, girlfriends house, other girlfriends house

just wherever. You loose power and audio stability, but you do gain mobility, this is not to be undervalued.

fragments · Post by **fragments** » Fri Feb 25, 2011 4:49 am

nowaysj wrote:I do agree that a hand built pc gives way more bang for the buck over a store bought one and especially a store bought laptop. 2 to 3 times the power for the same price, at least. That is what I've done, but with that said, laptops are really great for taking the production away from the little pit of your studio, to the couch, the bedroom, coffee shop, airport, girlfriends house, other girlfriends house just wherever. You loose power and audio stability, but you do gain mobility, this is not to be undervalued.

That is a good point. If I cleaned up my laptop I could probably do some production on it. Right I have that Hammerhead drum machine installed on it so I can write beats when they occur to me ;p.

Just make sure when you are at "other girlfriend's" house you aren't working on a song about "girlfriend"

REAP3RMusic · Post by **REAP3RMusic** » Fri Feb 25, 2011 11:34 am

This has been really helpful. I heard the audiophiles were quite good and as for the launchpad, i considered the apc40 first but because of my budget, i was recommended the launchpad. Granted the apc has faders but i can still run the launchpad along side my nanokontrol for sliders and knobs. As for the emu, i dont think my laptop has a PCI slot, and i really don't like the idea of forking out for another motherboard. For me, its all about budget. I'm 17 in full time education (College) So i don't have much time for a job. What i do earn can go towards my hardware. I'll consider the KRK rokits anyway. There's a pair that are relatively the same price as the audiophiles and if reviews are anything to go by, i'll end up going for them. I'm looking at possibly taking out a loan in 2 months to fund all of this seeing as i dont think i can apply for a grant from EMI because i don't study any form of music at college. Thanks for the replies, it has helped alot. Peace.

kebnoa · Post by **kebnoa** » Fri Feb 25, 2011 12:06 pm

REAP3RMusic wrote:I'm looking at possibly taking out a loan in 2 months to fund all of this

really man dont get a loan for this i think its a really bad idea to get a loan as soon as you turn 18 (i think its a really bad idea 99% of the tbh). Also if your going to get a loan from the bank they will do all they can to get you a nice funky credit card to match. might even get a letter or phone call from your banking when you turn 18 asking you to come in. this might of changed with how lending has change with the economy but this happend to me but i was lucky with my fuck you attitude. some of my friends weren't as lucky as me and got loans credit cards ect. and just got into more and more debut, taking out higher interest loans to pay of other loan and just end up getting deeper and deeper down the spiral. one ended up in over 10k in debut in just a few years and only borrowed a few hundred to begin with and has now done some upspeakable things because of this. not sure what its like getting a loan noway days tbh should be harder but i got a funny feeling it ain't.

just save man if you cant save for it how do you think you will be able to pay off a loan anyway. I do know what it's like being 18 it a funny time but its fucking great if your going to fuck up its probable the best time to do so. you got freedom know one depends on you ect. just have fun man just dont fuck up your future while doing it imo.

hope all goes well for you

benjam · Post by **benjam** » Fri Feb 25, 2011 12:37 pm

Yea gotta agree with above dont get a loan for all this shit just save and put all your money towards decent monitors first. Also check out the studio photo thread theres some beasty producers that are rockin the most basic set-ups it proves you dont need much to make quality music.

REAP3RMusic · Post by **REAP3RMusic** » Fri Feb 25, 2011 12:40 pm

kebnoa wrote:
REAP3RMusic wrote:I'm looking at possibly taking out a loan in 2 months to fund all of this
really man dont get a loan for this i think its a really bad idea to get a loan as soon as you turn 18 (i think its a really bad idea 99% of the tbh). Also if your going to get a loan from the bank they will do all they can to get you a nice funky credit card to match. might even get a letter or phone call from your banking when you turn 18 asking you to come in. this might of changed with how lending has change with the economy but this happend to me but i was lucky with my fuck you attitude. some of my friends weren't as lucky as me and got loans credit cards ect. and just got into more and more debut, taking out higher interest loans to pay of other loan and just end up getting deeper and deeper down the spiral. one ended up in over 10k in debut in just a few years and only borrowed a few hundred to begin with and has now done some upspeakable things because of this. not sure what its like getting a loan noway days tbh should be harder but i got a funny feeling it ain't.

just save man if you cant save for it how do you think you will be able to pay off a loan anyway. I do know what it's like being 18 it a funny time but its fucking great if your going to fuck up its probable the best time to do so. you got freedom know one depends on you ect. just have fun man just dont fuck up your future while doing it imo.

hope all goes well for you

Thanks bro. I do have a job but its just a ball ache buying each piece of hardware seperately over time.
I'd rather buy it all at once and pay the loan back over the course of a few years. I don't plan on going to university straight after i leave college so i would be able to work full time in order to pay it back. Its just so it doesn't take as long to get the hardware i need. If you look at it this way, my job only pays be £68 a month for working sunday's for just more than minimum wage. Once i turn 18 more opportunities within said job will present themselves and I'd be earning more. Like i said, on £68 a month its gonna be a ball ache saving up for one piece of hardware.

benjam · Post by **benjam** » Fri Feb 25, 2011 1:06 pm

I really dont mean to sound old here but youll cherish your gear a lot more if youve saved and grafted for it.

fragments · Post by **fragments** » Fri Feb 25, 2011 5:56 pm

All this ^ I hate my student loans.

A quick note about the KRK Rokits, you'll *probably* want to go with the 6's or 8's. The 5's don't have enough low end to produce bass music IMO. I've listened all three sizes side by side with the same bass material. The difference in low end between the 5's and the other models is immediately apparent.

bigfootspartan · Post by **bigfootspartan** » Fri Feb 25, 2011 6:03 pm

fragments wrote:I hate my student loans.

It's so depressing getting a letter from the government every semester. "You owe us $50 000, if you are not continuing school, please begin payments or the interest will ruin you, if you are continuing school apply for more loans so you can be up to your eyeballs in debt."

nowaysj · Post by **nowaysj** » Fri Feb 25, 2011 6:08 pm

I just paid off one loan, now I only have $700 in INTEREST a month on my student loans (and no job...).

bigfootspartan · Post by **bigfootspartan** » Fri Feb 25, 2011 6:46 pm

nowaysj wrote:I just paid off one loan, now I only have $700 in INTEREST a month on my student loans (and no job...).

Shit! It'd probably be cheaper in the long run to just take more classes haha. Not sure how it is there, but here there's no interest while you're in school. Definitely know a few people who graduated, couldn't find a job so just took 3 classes a semester to slow the interest until they could find a job...

EDN · Post by **EDN** » Sat Feb 26, 2011 10:29 am

nowaysj wrote:I just paid off one loan, now I only have $700 in INTEREST a month on my student loans (and no job...).

You wanna skip town dude...
Seriously... fuck that!

nowaysj · Post by **nowaysj** » Sat Feb 26, 2011 10:55 am

Those debts are 99.99% not dischargable... I'd have to move to Somalia to be free of it.

Sirius · Post by **Sirius** » Sat Feb 26, 2011 10:56 am

man another reason i love NZ,

We don't pay interest while we live in our country! & we can claim bankruptcy & get it wiped!

!!chea

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