Message-ID: <30710230.1075861507732.JavaMail.evans@thyme> Date: Tue, 13 Nov 2001 17:30:07 -0800 (PST) From: avramnallison@home.com To: jeff.dasovich@enron.com Subject: Re: On-line Computer Component Info Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable X-From: Avram Siegel X-To: Dasovich, Jeff X-cc: X-bcc: X-Folder: \JDASOVIC (Non-Privileged)\Dasovich, Jeff\Inbox X-Origin: Dasovich-J X-FileName: JDASOVIC (Non-Privileged).pst Hey Jeff -=20 Thanks for getting the word out there, and hi to everyone checking in. So h= ere's the deal, I want to build a DAW (digital audio workstation) - a compu= ter for multi-track audio recording and mixing etc... I've been researching= this for a while but have just gotten more serious about it in the last co= uple of weeks, partly because I lucked into a nice piece of hardware (indef= inate loan from a friend). An 8 to 10 channel interface called a Delta 1010= which gives me a nice head start.=20 From what I have read so far, it seems that there are some specific re= quirements for a machine to be solid and reliable. It needs to be fast (not= so hard these days, but the faster the better within my budget). It needs = to be paired down - anything running in the background like power-managemen= t schemes can cause pops and clicks while you're recording and extraneous h= areware uses system resources. And it should have a seperate, fast and larg= e hard drive just for the audio data (typically a SCSI drive). I'm finding = a lot of recomendations against buying something off the shelf like a Dell= or whatever. Mostly, I think, to have more control over the specific compo= nents and also to cut down on a lot of the unnecessary (to audio recording)= integrated accessories that those computers tend to have. Also, I'm kind o= f looking forward to building it myself. I like that kind of thing and it w= ould mean I know how the thing works. Here's the plan I'm formulating at this point. I'm thinking of putting = together a dual processor system with the fastest pentium IIIs I can afford= . There doesn't seem to be all that big a price range between the different= speeds just now - probably because they're yesterday's news with the P4s o= ut there. (By the way the Pentium 4s have not been getting the best reviews= in the audio world - from what I can tell - and I don't think there's a du= al processor motherboard for them yet. Also, I think they are more expensiv= e.) For this I need to come up with a motherboard. The one that I've come u= p with so far is an Asus Tek CUV4X-D but I'm new to all this and I don't ev= en know what I don't know as far as what's out there so any suggestions are= welcome. Also I know I need a fast SCSI (ideally, 10,000rpm or better, dat= a trasnsfer rate of 80MB per second, sustained transfer rate of at least 24= MB per second or better, and a seek time of 6ms or less - as quoted in one = of my sources). Of course I need a pile of memory but I understand that it'= s pretty cheap right now. There also seems to be a debate going on about AM= D's CPUs these days.=20 Hopefully I can save some money going low end on stuff like the monitor= , the keyboard, and anything else that doesn't directly pertain to audio re= cording because I actually am on a budget . Maybe there are some elements t= hat I can even save for an upgrade. I am willing to spend what I need to, t= hough, because if this works well it could make for a more affordable way t= o record True Blue's upcoming cd than going into a regular studio. =20 So there you have it in a rambling kind of way. I appreciate any info y= ou all can offer. For instance I really don't know what the cheapest source= for all this stuff is and there are probably plenty of issues that I'm tot= ally ignorant of. Clearly, all this points to the old saying about a little= knowledge being a dangerous thing.=20 - Avram ----- Original Message -----=20 From: Dasovich, Jeff=20 To: Dasovich, Jeff ; Avram Siegel ; rory@carmelnet.com ; eldon sellers (E= -mail)=20 Sent: Tuesday, November 13, 2001 8:43 AM Subject: RE: On-line Computer Component Info Thought I'd add Eldon, too, since he likely has some ideas and informatio= n, too. -----Original Message----- From: Dasovich, Jeff=20 Sent: Tuesday, November 13, 2001 10:43 AM To: 'Avram Siegel'; 'rory@carmelnet.com' Subject: On-line Computer Component Info Hi Avram. Meet Rory, Prentice's brother and computer guru-type. Rory = and I talked a little bit about what you're looking for, so I thought I'd j= ust go ahead and facilitate a little chat room here. Avram, could you expl= ain one more time to Rory exactly what it is that you're looking for, just = to make sure that I've accurately and adequately described the situation? = Rory has some ideas. Best, Jeff ********************************************************************** This e-mail is the property of Enron Corp. and/or its relevant affiliate = and may contain confidential and privileged material for the sole use of th= e intended recipient (s). Any review, use, distribution or disclosure by ot= hers is strictly prohibited. If you are not the intended recipient (or auth= orized to receive for the recipient), please contact the sender or reply to= Enron Corp. at enron.messaging.administration@enron.com and delete all cop= ies of the message. This e-mail (and any attachments hereto) are not intend= ed to be an offer (or an acceptance) and do not create or evidence a bindin= g and enforceable contract between Enron Corp. 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