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Re: post processing setup questions

Subject: Re: post processing setup questions
From: "Rob Danielson" danielson_audio
Date: Tue Dec 7, 2010 10:10 am ((PST))
At 11:05 AM -0600 12/7/10, Kenton Brede wrote:
>
>
>I've decided to purchase either a windows or mac laptop for post
>processing my audio files. I've also just begun playing with
>photography, so I will process my photos on the laptop as well.
>Reaper is what I plan to use in terms of PP audio.
>
>What I would like is recommendations for a set of near field speakers.
>I'm not planning on doing anything but stereo, no surround sound ATM.
>I'm not looking for top of the line here, and I don't know how
>realistic this is, but something that would do the job well enough for
>producing a CD possibly in the future.
>
>I'm assuming I'll need an external sound card, are there any
>particular cards anyone would recommend?
>
>The last question I hesitate to ask, but if anyone who has processed
>audio in both windows and mac environments, is there any compelling
>reason to go with one operating system over the other? I'd rather get
>a mac since it's unix based, but I really need some other reason to
>justify spending double the money.
>
>Thanks,
>Kent


Hi Kent--

I'd go with the OS that reliably runs the software you've settled on. 
Check the software user lists. If you can''t trouble shoot a computer 
with confidence, buy the OS that your friend who can trouble-shoot 
suggests. Lost data is unacceptable.

One can certainly produce a CD with a post 2004 laptop, without an 
audio card, and with ~$100 each "reference monitor" speakers but one 
cannot get by without at least 2gb ram. Ditto for photo apps.

Laptops are fantastic for all the pleasures of portability but they 
can't match a used post 2004 fast desktop with 4GB ram if you need to 
get things done. :-) One can buy a fully decked-out, used PPC Mac G5 
desktop for under $500 today. It won't be that long until there will 
be no PPC software upgrades for it-- but there is killer software for 
the macs right now. Maybe you'll have other ideas by the time 
available software upgrades are irresistible.  A new Mac computer 
with no audible advantages would cost a bunch. There are people who 
can help you spend $500 towards a new or used PC desktop go a long 
way too.

The following upgrades will probably make audible and practical 
improvements to the laptop option in order of greatest impact:

(1)  Properly layout and acoustically treat your mixing room
(2) > $600 each monitor speakers
(3) > $400 audio card
(4)  Good parametric equalization plug-in (software)
(5)  Desktop computer (more CPU headroom and processing power)
(6)  Two 19" or larger LCD monitors to spread your work out on.
(7)  Mastering software.

Rob D.


-- 











"While a picture is worth a thousand words, a 
sound is worth a thousand pictures." R. Murray Schafer via Bernie Krause.



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