|
If ever there was an industry designed to bewilder all but the enthusiastic few then it’s the computer industry. Somehow we’ve all managed to get computers without really knowing the first thing about them. I guess it’s a testament to the skills of the sales industry and our own ability to swallow a whole load of mysterious nonsense in order to get something we believe we need. I’m always amused by those PC World adverts where the hapless customer asks about the computer and the sales guy says “Yes, that’s our new system with a speedy Intel E6600 processor with HT Technology” at which everyone looks blankly while the Intel logo fanfares onto the screen – what on earth does it mean and does it really matter? Modern computers are completely capable of running a home studio, however, if may be worth paying a bit more attention to it if you want to get the full potential out this computer music lark. It’s a bit like buying a new car. You may buy a car based upon the look, the colour, how fast it goes and feel of the leather interior but if you had a particular purpose in mind, say, going on a camping trip in the mountains with four adults, six children and a dog then it might influence your choice of vehicle. Similarly we’re asking a computer to do a lot more than write a letter or surf the internet and that should push us towards getting something suited to the purpose. As with the car, you don’t need to know how it works to get the right one but let’s try to demystify it a bit so you can avoid being bamboozled by a sales guy who’s trying to sell you his choice rather than yours.
A computer is made up of a number of key components. Each is important and each has an affect on the overall performance. To avoid even more confusion we’ll concentrate on Intel products.
CPU
Our PC World guy only refers to the processor, the CPU (Central Processing Unit), which is like selling a car based on the engine size without any reference to how many wheels, seats or head lights it has. The CPU is the brain of the computer, it dictates how fast it thinks, how fast it does the maths and so has a direct affect on how quickly programs can run and how many things can be thought about at the same time. CPU speed is measured in gigahertz (GHz) but is becoming less useful as a measurement of “power”. Both Intel and AMD, the manufacturers of PC CPU’s, have moved away from GHz and introduced confusing number schemes to better describe the processors. Intel’s reasoning is that if you compare the Pentium 4 3.8GHz CPU with the Pentium D 3.2GHz you’ll find that the Pentium D 3.2GHz is more powerful, this is because it’s built on newer technology, has two CPU cores built into the same chip (Dual Core) and a larger L2 cache (super fast memory built onto the chip). Compare that with the Core 2 Quad 2.4GHz and it's way more powerful again than the 3.2 or 3.8 Pentiums because it's got four cores on one chip and is made in a completely different way. Now I believe that we’re all intelligent enough to grasp that but Intel doesn’t and has renamed the first one a 670 processor the second one a 940 processor and the Quad a Q6600 – see, that makes sense now doesn’t it. Let’s move on.
Motherboard
No high street computer shop is going to talk about the motherboard or know much about them, however, it’s useful to know a little bit as it kind of knits everything together. The motherboard is what everything else plugs into. It routes all the incoming and outgoing data between hard drive, memory and CPU and allows for other cards and interfaces to be plugged in and accessed. There’s a couple of chips on the motherboard that run the show, these are called a “Chipset”. The chipset dictates how well everything runs together and what the system is capable of in terms of connections, ports and managing data. There are bargain basement chipsets and there are professional grade chipsets, but if you buy a system with the right CPU in the first place then the chipset should be the right one for the job. Motherboard names, of course, have their own array of confusing numbers and letters which refer to the chipset. There’s also a few speeds thrown in like Front Side Bus (FSB) which are really unimportant when buying a complete system – the system speeds should already be matched up for you. When buying a system the only thing that really matters with regards to the motherboard is whether it has the right connections for what you want to plug in. For instance, if you have a PCI soundcard then you will need to make sure it has a free PCI slot, if you have a Firewire soundcard then you’ll need to be sure it has a Firewire port – keep that in mind and insist on answers.
RAM
Random Access Memory, or simply “memory” is where data is held while the CPU processes it. The larger the memory the more information can be processed and more things can be done at once. You should never skimp on memory, rather have a slower processor than less memory. The basic requirement for any system running Windows XP these days I would say is 512MB of RAM (1GB if running Vista). For a kick arse music recording system I would aim for 2GB (or 2048MB) but 1GB (1024MB) would do if your budget is really tight. RAM speeds are again unimportant if you are buying a complete system as they all have to match up with the motherboard and CPU.
Hard Disk (or drive)
This is where all the data is stored. It’s where your programs are installed, your documents held and where your audio tracks are recorded to.
It’s a bit like a massive filing cabinet. Hard drives are huge these days but few people would ever fill them up. For music recording though we need tons of space, the more the better. Ideally you want two hard drives in your system. One that has Windows on it and all your programs and another drive that’s purely for recording audio – this will give you the best possible performance. The current drive technology is called “Serial ATA” which has replaced the older Parallel ATA or IDE connection. Insist on a SATA drive. As far as size is concerned then you want as big a drive as you can afford. If you are able to have two then the first drive doesn’t matter as long as it’s at least 40GB. If you have a single drive or for a second drive you want 250GB or more which will keep you going for a fair while.
Other advanced definitions
Core 2 Duo – Intel trademark for it’s more recent series of processors running 2 processors on a single chip. The Core 2 Quad is the latest processor series running 4 processors.
HT – Hyperthreading. The idea is that in each cycle the CPU isn’t always full and so HT technology stuffs in extra threads of data in the holes giving a boost to performance.
EM64T – Extended Memory 64bit Technology. This means the CPU is capable of running a 64bit computer system.
Dual Core – grafting two processor cores onto the same chip. This is not quite the same as running two independent processors as many resources are shared but it is how processing power is going to increase from now on. Intel has quad and eight core processors in the pipeline.
Cache – super fast memory built directly onto the CPU, often called “Level 2” or “L2 cache”. A large L2 cache increases the performance of the processor.
PCI – Peripheral Component Interconnect – this is your standard slot for soundcards and other computer cards. It’s slowly being replaced by PCI Express
PCI Express – New version of PCI that increases the speed of the data flow. Most common use is for high performance video cards. Very few other cards available for this format as yet.
USB - most popular on PC’s as it’s an Intel technology and most computer peripherals such as printers, scanners, cameras, mice and so on connect via USB. Regular USB1.1 is quite a slow connection capable of moving stereo audio in and out of the computer. USB version 2, found on most modern PC’s, is much faster and can easily cope with shifting multi-track audio.
Firewire - is an Apple technology which is also available on the PC but less common. You can add a Firewire card to your PC for about £10. The most common use of Firewire is with digital camcorders and external hard drives. Firewire is very fast and tends to be the choice for most multi-channel soundcards.
What about Windows?
We're in a transitional time at the moment where a new version of Windows has been released and everyone is wondering whether it's going to be any good or not. The most important thing is to check that what software and hardware you want to run will actually work on the version of Windows you have or plan to get.
Windows XP Home and Professional have been very good and stable for a few years now and pretty much everything runs on it. The Media Center Edition has had some problems and so you should stay away from that for music making.
Vista
There are many versions of this beastie but to be honest, for music, it doesn't really matter. I would recommend at least Home Premium version, or Ultimate if you want to make sure you've got it all covered. Vista is the future, it's a dream to use, looks fabulous and has the ability to take advantage of the most recent advances in computer technology. If you are buying a new system then I believe that Vista is the way to go - however, I wouldn't recommend upgrading an existing system as you won't get the benefit.
Before you do anything make sure that the software and hardware you want to use are compatible!
This will help - http://www.rainrecording.co.uk/vista
Buying with Confidence
So, walking into an electrical shop with the intent to buy a computer you should ask for:
- An Intel Core 2 Duo E6600 (2.4GHz) or above
- 2GB’s of RAM
- An extra 250GB hard drive for audio that must be SATA.
- Vista 32 Home Premium or XP Home
Then you need to check that it has either the PCI slot, USB or Firewire ports that you need to connect your soundcard or audio interface. Other considerations might be whether the video card has two outputs so you could use two screens, and why not have a DVD writer in there for playing and writing DVD’s and CD’s. You don’t have to aim this high and as I said, any computer would do the job, but if you can then go for it.
What about Apple?
The beauty of Apple is that there’s only one machine, made by a single manufacturer, warranty sealed and delivered to you the same every time insisting that you sign up to an exclusively Apple orientated lifestyle that you will be constantly paying through the nose for. The beauty of PC’s is that they are made from bits of old circuit board from a hundred different places and manufacturers, where any good idea can be plugged in, used and abused, in fact it’s a wonder that any of it fits together at all. Purchasing it in kit form is completely accepted as something normal and even to be encouraged. Imagine buying a Hi-fi in a kit, or a microwave oven, or a phone – a bit mad really but also quite wonderful. In the world of PC’s the consumer really is king and this has brought astonishing technology down to extraordinary prices and PC companies know if the customer can build the same thing themselves then they have to offer something extra, better, cheaper or all three to get the sale. This has made cheap yet powerful and capable machines for everyday use available off the shelf. Apple computers are fabulous, but they’re also expensive, under powered, less compatible and quite restrictive in what they can run. However, they will do the job really well and I would never talk someone out of the purchase. For me, PC’s are just more fun.
Buying from an Audio PC Specialist
Making music on a computer is a specialist activity, it’s not your common and garden sort of computing and so your man at PC World, or Dell or Curry’s is not going to have the first clue about running music software and hardware. Ask them about soundcards and they will talk enthusiastically about the Creative Labs Audigy and that it’s the best thing ever – and it is, for games. They will not have any advice regarding music recording and they will not be able to offer any support if you have any trouble relating to music. If your computer catches fire then fine they can fix that but if you seem to getting clicks and pops in the audio on outputs 3 & 4 then are going they are going to tell you to take your problems elsewhere.
What an Audio PC Specialist does is provide a system that includes support for music software and hardware. They would have already tested their systems with every bit of recording software and a range of soundcards to ensure it’s trouble free. They may also be able to install and set up all the music stuff as well. There’s not going to be anything particularly special about the computer itself, although they may offer a rack mountable case or a much quieter system, but the support and compatibility is worth it’s weight in gold. If you have trouble with Cubase, or the audio is glitching or plug-ins are crashing then they are going to know what you’re talking about and be fully prepared to help. It will be more expensive going this route but you are buying into tried and tested technology and the security of knowledgeable support.
If you want to get your hands on a ready made computer for music then check out the computer section under the "Hardware" menu, or just give me a shout directly or through http://www.rainrecording.co.uk
Building your own
The final option is to build your own machine. Conjures up images of a Dr Frankenstein type laboratory strewn with burnt out circuits and electricity arcing between huge transformers. It’s not really like that. All you need is a Philips screwdriver, a pair of needle nose pliers and enough DIY savvy to wire a plug. Everything inside a computer plugs in easily and nicely into it’s own socket. Nothing can be wired backwards, nothing can go in the wrong slot, it’s like a Fisher Price “My First Electronics Set”. Building the thing is fine, it’s choosing the components that’s the hard bit. Now you are faced with matching the CPU and RAM to the motherboard, making sure they are compatible, choosing a power supply powerful enough to run everything, you have to worry about cabling and the case, cooling and fans and with technology always on the move it’s really hard to keep up with it all. My advice, if this is something you really want to do, would be to pop along to the website of an Audio PC Specialist and copy the specification you find there, that way you can be sure the thing should ultimately work. If you’re hoping that building your own will save you a load of money then think again, there’s little or no financial advantage. The advantages lay in getting to know your computer from the inside and being able to have exactly what you want.
Noise
Computers are noisy. Like little miniature jet engines, hoovers or air-con units. As computers get faster they get hotter and require more and more cooling to keep them functioning correctly. Thankfully in recent times people have cottoned onto the idea that they don’t have to put up with this sort of noise pollution and for the musician this is really quite desirable.
One advantage of building your own is that you can design the system to be quiet choosing better cooling systems and better fans but there are still a few options open to those who have bought a noisy system off the shelf. A computer will have at least 3 fans. There’s one on the CPU, one in the power supply and usually one in the side of case pumping out hot air. The CPU fan is usually what causes the most noise. There are now loads of really good CPU coolers available with large, slow running fans that make a whisper in comparison to the stock cooler than came with your system. Similarly you can get better quieter case fans and better quieter power supplies. By replacing these three items it’s possible to render your computer almost silent. Complete silence is possible using special cases or cooling systems but it’s also very expensive. At the very least replacing the CPU cooler will cost you 20 quid and is well worth it. Be aware though that replacing the CPU cooler may require you to remove the motherboard – fiddly but not beyond someone with patience.
Making the best of what you have
If a new computer is out of the question then there are things you can do to your current system that will help you get the best out of your music software and hardware. Let’s see if we can give Windows a quick tune up (this is aimed at Winows XP although most of these points also apply to Vista).
Take a glance at your clock in the bottom right corner of the screen, in what is called the “System Tray”. Do you see all those icons? If there’s a “Hide inactive icons” arrow then click it to reveal the full horror. Each of these innocent looking graphics hides a greedy and jealous heart. They represent a program or a service that’s running on your computer and each one requires a bite of your CPU’s processing pie. Some of these icons are regular Windows things like network connections, volume controls but most of them get installed when you install other software. Some have their own settings which enable it to run in the background. Microsoft Messenger is a good example. If you open Messenger, which will probably be sitting next to the clock, and go to the “Tools” menu and then “Options” and then “Preferences” you can uncheck the boxes next to “Run when Windows starts” and “Allow to run in background”. Click “OK” and close the program and Messenger will no longer appear in the system tray. You can look at the other icons and many of them will be able to let you turn them off.
Now there is a more aggressive way of dealing with this and it can also unearth a bunch of other services that are running hidden away, without the politeness of a little icon to announce its presence. We’re going to look at the System Configuration Utility.
Hold down the Windows key on your keyboard and press “R” and the “Run” window appears (keyboard shortcuts are very handy and always impress). Now type “msconfig” (without the quotes) and the System Configuration Utility will appear. All we’re interested in is the “Startup” tab, so click it and have a look at the list shown there.
All of the items listed run when your system starts up. Some of them will have a corresponding icon in the System Tray but many will not. Now they are not all bad, one may refer to your soundcards volume or control panel, another to your graphics card drivers, but the vast majority can be deselected. Classic annoying services are things like Apple’s “iTunes Helper” (who needs help with that?), Quicktime, Realsched, Adobe acrobat updater and the Nero update utility, none of which needs to be running in the background of Windows. In fact it’s probably best to “disable all” of them and see what happens. Click “OK” and restart your system when prompted.
If there was a lot to disable then the first thing you should notice is how blisteringly fast Windows booted up – from the “Welcome” to the desktop in no time at all. Then you’ll see a warning telling you what you’ve done. Check the “Don’t show me again” box and close the window. Now look at your clock, hopefully much less crowded down there. Start your usual programs and make sure it all works. If you get any errors on startup then you may have something connected that requires a driver or service that you’ve now disabled. Go back into the System Configuration Utility and enable it. If you look at the “Command” line next to each item you can usually see where they come from and what they refer to.
You should find your system is much less clunky, a bit more speedy and less likely to give you glitches in your audio work. If you install any new software or hardware check to see if any new icons appear in the System Tray and routinely check the System Configuration Utility for those sneaky, power sucking little gremlins.
|
