Time to switch back to PC

[Bender]

I use a Mac at work on a TDM system with a Sony DMX R100 and it is great.
So I bought an 002 a while back and I use a imac 1 gig and 1 gig of ram.
I just do not like it but I was told it was the only way to go. I am a PC guy and I am completely comfortable do anything on the PC, registry and all. I also own so many PC software stuff, Acid, Fruity Loops etc.
So my question is.
What would I need to get to be similar or to meet the requirements of someone doing almost exclusively acoustic tracking and mixing. I have never used more than 12 tracks with plugins on about 8 at one time.
I do not really care about the amount of RTAS plugins because I can take the files to work and do my final mix and burn there.

Can I use my Lacie firewire drive on a PC ( I think So )
If I want to pick up some plugins for PC what are a basic set of Reverb, Compressor, and EQ.
What will I need to spend?
How much Ram?
How big a processor?
Anything to look out for.

It feels good to be on my way back home.

Thanks

[Bender]

come on guys

[SSRJazz]

You'll need a built-in firewire interface (rare) or pcmcia card (probably your best bet) in order to use your firewire drive on a pc laptop.

Just about any typical standard pc laptop's cpu would be fast enough nowadays.

Ram....as much as you can afford/squeeze into the thing.

PTLE on pc comes with the same plugins as the mac version does....except for maybe the special bundles.... compressor digiverb and eq plugins are standard. I prefer the plugins from Waves, myself tho. www.waves.com

As for how much you need to spend....that all depends on which manufacturer you buy from. I prefer IBM thinkpads...but they're typically more expensive for a laptop with comparable features from say Sony or Dell, etc. I wish I could afford a new laptop and a digi002R.....that'd make my travelling studio life much easier.. =)

[mikeW]

Hey Bender, check out the Best PCs for under 1000 thread at the top of this forum. Page 1 is regularly updated with the lastest H/W recommendations.

My advice is, get an AMD processor. They work better for PT systems than Intel for some reason. I'm typically an Intel guy. I sell them for a living but bought an AMD for my DAW and it works great!

Though, if you are only planning on doing 8-12 tracks, pretty much any current cpu speed will do. If you are not loading up on plugs, you can get by with 512MB, maybe less. Make sure you buy a digi recommended firewire card, like the SIIG or Adaptec. Make sure you have a recommended chipset. Avoid SIS for PT. Your drive should work fine but you'll probably want to reformat it as fat32 on the PC so that both platforms can read the drive.

Can't answer your plug questions. I use outboard gear and digirack plugs for most stuff. Reason, Amplitube, tracks, sampletank, Antares Tube, AutoTune are the only other plugs I really use.

Welcome home, bro.

[tele_player]

Just get the stuff that's listed in the 'Best System for PTLE for under $1000.00 ' thread at the top of this forum.

- yes, you can use your LaCie Firewire drive
- Waves Renaissance Maxx or Waves Gold are good plugins
- about $700 gets you a good, fast computer
- 512M works fine
- a fast Athlon is good and cheap
- probably simplest to get an Adaptec 4300 Firewire card, even if you get a motherboard which has built-in Firewire.

[tele_player]

Even if you're using TONS of plugins, 512M is enough. Most plugins use very little memory.

More than 512M might be necessary if you're running soft-samplers with extremely large samples loaded.

If you are not loading up on plugs, you can get by with 512MB, maybe less.

[The Weed]

If it's a laptop you want/need you can also check this thread:

http://duc.digidesign.com/showflat.p...=13#Post535037

Laptop or desktop, follow the compatibility docs and the threads listed so you don't have any rogue parts PT won't play nice with and you should be good to go.

Welcome back, welcome home

Cheers,

[mikeW]

Fair enough, Tele. Just wanted to be sure to recommend enough. Memory is pretty affordable these days...

[vocalize]

Hi Bender!

I would love to talk to you about you Mac experiance! I am so sick of PC that I want to invest into a MAC. I really like the way Mac systems are set up, but I've never really used one for a full session. It was always another producer or engineer using it. I have a lot of questions though before I take the plunge and buy a MAC.

Thanks Man! Hope to hear from you!

[email protected]

[hanzoid]

La Cie yes it works fine between platforms