Hi.

I want to put together a computer based music workstation for my home
studio.
I've been hunting around to see what to get, and the conflicting
advice is driving me mad. I'm not sure whether to go Cubase,
Pro-Tools, or Logic. Or even if Win98 or 2000 are better? Or should I
go Mac?
Can anyone give me a full rundown of a package to get? Presumably
there's plenty of people out there who have considered this exact
problem, and can just give me an immediate answer.
I need full MIDI capabilities (up to 128 MIDI channels), 24 tracks of
digital audio recording and mixing, as well as either hardware or
software based sampling facilities (which is better?).
I already have several MIDI sound modules, and don't need to purchase
any more. Not for now.
If I should put together my own PC, what parts would anyone recommend?
I'd greatly appreciate an answer like 'get this shpping list. It costs
this much. I've got one (or bought one for somebody else) and it
works.'

Many Thanks.

Karel Bata

Hi Karel,

I have struggled with the same questions you are facing, and, while I
think it’s hard to tell someone exactly what they need, I will tell
you what I know in the hopes that it will help you in your search for
the perfect home studio.

Always buy the absolute best thing you can afford, and you will never
kick yourself later for not having spent the extra $50 to get the next
level product, which really does what you need.

Let’s start with the computer. On the option of Mac vs. Windows, I
would have to recommend Windows because, though the ease of use of the
Mac and its aesthetically pleasing interface are both plusses, my
iBook with both MacOS 9.2.x and MacOS X 10.1.x crashes 75% more than
my Windows XP desktop – a characteristic that is horrific when you are
just about to finish creating some killer tune.

Besides that, I’ve found that Windows has a wider variety and greater
number of supplemental applications you can obtain for free or cheap.
Macs are great, but Windows has a larger user base and therefore
greater resources for you to tap.

The new Macs also require USB audio adapters, as Apple decided to
remove the standard audio in ports, so that may be a factor in your
decision, if you are like me and want as few cables as possible. Macs
also have less hardware manufacturers manufacturing hardware for them,
and the hardware tends to be more expensive because of this.

Since you are often limited by computer hardware, I would recommend at
least a Pentium 4, no less than 1Ghz (2Ghz+, if money is no object),
and as much RAM as you can cram into the slots – minimum 384MB – 512
to 768 would be even better.

With the dropping prices of Pentium CPUs and their being faster than
anything we could have ever hoped for 10 years ago, go for a
refurbished machine (A personal favorite of mine for this type of
cheap, though exceptionally powerful, refurbished machines is the
“Countdown” section of ECost.com (http://www.ecost.com).

I recommend Windows XP be installed on the computer OEM (out of the
box from the manufacturer) because I am using it and it has only
crashed on me once in nearly a year of ownership. This isn’t to say
others don’t have plenty to complain about it, but I find that with
“skins” turned off (and erroneous software removed), it is fast and
reliable.

Creative makes a new series of sound cards called the “Audigy” line,
which are very high quality and they have a very good reputation for
reliable audio cards. Find specs for the Audigy Platinum here:
http://www.soundblaster.com/products/audigyplatinum/specs.asp

Software. If you are going to be recording live -- via microphone,
live mixes, live performances, I would recommend Cubase VST
(http://www.steinberg.net/products/ps/cubase/pc/vst/index.phtml) for
its MIDI capability and because I think it is the easiest to use of
the ones you mentioned (above Logic and Pro-Tools).

You may also want to get other software, depending on your needs. I
use Reason, from Propellerheads
(http://www.propellerheads.se/products/reason/frame.html). Reason is
tremendously simple and powerful and replaces most of my MIDI
hardware. Nothing replaces the ease of buttons and knobs and little
turn-y things, so I also use a USB keyboard made by Midiman called the
Oxygen 8 (http://www.midiman.com/products/midiman/oxygen8.php) to
control MIDI software.

Propellerheads also makes a piece of software called Rewire
(http://www.propellerheads.se/products/rewire/frame.html) that allows
you to hook up pieces of software between each other like you would
with a simple audio cable. It is an indispensable tool if you are
using, for example, Cubase and Reason.

Sampling.  I find hardware samplers limiting in ease of use and cost.
Comparatively, software WAV editors, such as SoundForge from Sonic
Foundry (http://www.soundforge.com/soundforge) are far more powerful,
give more bang for the buck, and are easier to edit and convert music
files. Besides that, software always wins over hardware because it is
easier to carry one laptop with 5 pieces of software loaded onto it to
a show (or a friend’s house) than it is to lug around 5 pieces of
hardware, cables, power supplies, etc.

You’ll also need a CD-Burner – I use an external FireWire Que! Drive
(http://www.qps-inc.com/cgi-bin/display?sn=172415006141141&tm=prod_ext_fire
) to burn CDs. Invest in a re-writable burner and you’ll save money on
CDs you burn for yourself (to listen to on real speakers, in your car,
or to send to a record label).

And finally, get a really really nice pair of digital headphones. DJ
monitors (with earpieces that cover your entire ear, have deep bass,
and very long cords are the best. Headphones always sound better than
computer speakers, but they tend to sound so much better you may have
to burn CDs to listen to on lesser speakers. Be prepared to spend
about $150 on these. Pro Sound and lighting has a nice selection
(http://www.pssl.com/asearchresults.tpl?waGroup1datarq=headphones),
but you may want to hear them for yourself at your local music store.
I use SONY MDRV900 remix studio monitor headphones
(http://www.pssl.com/bitemdetail.tpl?eqint_KeyIDdata=8539) and they
sound great.

I hope this is what you are looking for. Good luck in your searches
and with your music!!

Hi Karel,

If you have not already seen it, you might find a read of the
following article to be good value:
Sound Solutions: A Computer Music and Audio Primer by Graeme Bennett.
Updated Sept.1, 2000.
http://thetechnozone.com/audiobuyersguide/software/audio/music+audio.html

Of course hardware performance has come a long way since Sept 2000,
however most of the points that you raise are covered.

No doubt you will get plenty of opinions. Good luck with your project.

Hello, Karel:

I have no expertise in this particular area, but I will offer one
piece of practical advice.

Normally, with situations like this, a purchasing decision comes down
to personal preference.  What do you like the look and feel of?  In
this particular instance, though, the products you're evaluating are
too complex for the "test drive" scenario to work well.  By the time
you master one of these tools, you'll have made such a significant
time investment that you'll stick with it and not look at the others
(in all likelihood).

In your shoes, I would ask myself, "Where is my help going to come
from?" or in other words, who will be supporting you if you have any
questions?  If you expect to be dealing primarily with the vendors'
technical support people, contact them.  Ask about their procedures. 
Ask a few questions about their product.  A good inquiry is, "What
kind of calls seem to be the most common?"  A tech who will bristle if
asked for his product's weaknesses will cheerfully bend your ear about
"the dumb things end users do," and that can give you insight into any
design flaws that might exist in the product.

It is possible that the staff at one or more of your local music
stores are proficient in the products you are evaluating (in fact, now
that I slow my fingers down long enough for my brain to catch up,
that's probably where a lot of your conflicting input has come from). 
BUT... Don't think of it in terms of trying to find out which one is
"best," because that amounts to a poll of other peoples' preferences. 
Think in terms of, "which one of these places would be able and
willing to give me the most help with my learning curve?"

In my experience, the leading products in focussed market niches like
this are usually all pretty capable.  If one has a feature that the
others don't, it will likely be emulated by the others at the next
upgrade.  You are more likely to be satisfied with a product, not
because of its innate excellence, but because the help was there to
get you up to speed quickly.

Two cents' worth from a long-time compute salesperson.  Oh, and as a
PS, don't get into the Holy Wars between Mac and PC zealots.  Pick the
software, then buy the computer (if necessary) that runs it.

You are looking for a "digital audio workstation" or DAW.  There are
as many opinions in the digital music world about what makes a good
DAW as there are musicians.  You can build your own DAW by picking all
the components yourself (which, from your question, is not what you
want to do).  Or you can buy a packaged DAW from a custom manufacturer
that specializes in integrating these workstations. These are niche
players - not the mainstream Dell, Compaq, HP, etc., manufacturers. 
You can get a good, serviceable computer for music recording from the
mainstream guys - but you can't get a good DAW from them.

Here's a couple of places that give advice and could lead you to some
manufacturers:

http://www.audioforums.com

http://www.dawconnection.com

You can also hang out at the rec.audio.pro group.  (Be prepared for
some strong opinions - not always gently expressed.)

I don't know much about this type of stuff, but I have read recently
that there is now a mother board on the market with a tube amp on the
board for audio. You may want to look into it. Here is an article on
slashdot about it, with pointers specs about the board, and other
information:
http://slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=02/06/03/1822222&mode=thread&tid=126

I thought it was pretty cool, if nothing else.
--jld

Hi - Another online resource with plenty of useful articles on various
aspects of this topic is operated by the International Association of
Electronic Keyboard Musicians (IAEKM).

These detailed and professionally written (most of them originally
published in Keyboard or Electronic Musician Magazine) articles go
back a couple of years, and cover a broad range of topics and levels
of expertise.

And FWIW - they currently have a give-away running, in which you can
win a free digital desktop studio.

http://www.iaekm.org

Good luck!

I hope I don't step on toes with this, as the other advice is quite
good...but here are my 2 cents:

Apple only eliminated the audio in jack from the iBook. However, if
you are at all serious, you would never want to use these anyway. I
work in a studio for a living and have helped set up several home
studios in addition to upgrading the studio I work at to an OS X
(10.3) environment. As for meowcat's crashing problems, I would be
curious about that setup. Most macs, especially running X, do not
crash much at all. I have a crashrate of about 1 per 1,000 hours of
uptime, and most of the time the problem lies with third party
software. I also never turn off my computer.

If you want the cheapest route possible, go with Windows. There is
more software for the platform (mainly the ACID stuff) alas, more of
it is crappy. Still, this remains the cheapest route. Speaking of
cheap, I got my headphones for about $90. They are Sony MDR-V600 cans
that are commonly used as monitors by studio musicians. Also, I would
stay away from standalone DAWs, as they lack the versitality of a
computer.

The last home studio I set up was for two folk singers. It took me 3
hours, and I had them going with a dual G5 (http://www.apple.com),
MOTU's Digital Performer and MOTU's 896 HD firewire interface
http://motu.com/. This system will cost you about $3,500 total, but it
is truly plug and play. The 896HD is firewire, which means your host
computer could be a laptop instead of a desktop. Also, desktop G5s
come with 10 channel I/O S/PDIF optical jacks, opening up a whole
world of options if you are using S/PDIF capable preamps.

Software: Cubase and Nuendo (Steinberg's products) are quite good.
Nuendo was originally meant for use on a quad processor SGI box before
they ported it to Windows and the mac. Protools is amazing, but has a
steep learning curve. Digital Performer is easier to learn and has
good looping tools, as well as good interoperability with MachFive, a
digital sampler plugin.

I hope I didn't add too much to your confusion. Best of luck with the music!

Thank you Littlerubberfeet, but have you looked at the date above?

I've since bought a PT setup running on a XP PC. Yes, a learning curve.

Yours was an interesting read though. Best regards.