Adequate system requirements to run audio

[linardos]

Hello Forum. I'd really appreciate any advice you can offer.
I've been doing a lot of research on which MAC to buy to put together a home recording studio. My first impulse was to get a PB 1.67 and bump up the ram to 1.5 gig. get an external hd and motu 828mkII. for portability. Then, after some reading on the other forums, I started thinking I would be better with a dual G%, more bang for the buck. Of course theres 1.8, single, 2.0,2.3 and 2.7 to choose from. How do you decide?
The issue, I know, really comes down to what kind of recording do I plan to do.
I am a jazz pianist that wants to make great sounding sequences, using a a select virtual library of instruments that sound like the real thing. Eventualy once I learn the software and how to maximize the hardware components I pick up, I want to incorporate vocals and a live bass player or horn. I will be using my kurzweill PC88 as a controller. My wife will also be using this system to edit video.
Because we are both new to setting up this system, we don't want to overbuy if it's overkill and yet we don't want to find ourselves shortchanged in quality for not getting a system robust enough to handle our needs.
So, the essential question is, What do you recommend as a good solid system that won't take us to the bank to get started. All suggestions are greatly appreciated. We are really anxious to jump in the water and start the learning process. Thanks again.

[Weekendshooter]

Originally posted by JT:
Hello Forum. I'd really appreciate any advice you can offer.
I've been doing a lot of research on which MAC to buy to put together a home recording studio. My first impulse was to get a PB 1.67 and bump up the ram to 1.5 gig. get an external hd and motu 828mkII. for portability. Then, after some reading on the other forums, I started thinking I would be better with a dual G%, more bang for the buck. Of course theres 1.8, single, 2.0,2.3 and 2.7 to choose from. How do you decide?
The issue, I know, really comes down to what kind of recording do I plan to do.
I am a jazz pianist that wants to make great sounding sequences, using a a select virtual library of instruments that sound like the real thing. Eventualy once I learn the software and how to maximize the hardware components I pick up, I want to incorporate vocals and a live bass player or horn. I will be using my kurzweill PC88 as a controller. My wife will also be using this system to edit video.
Because we are both new to setting up this system, we don't want to overbuy if it's overkill and yet we don't want to find ourselves shortchanged in quality for not getting a system robust enough to handle our needs.
So, the essential question is, What do you recommend as a good solid system that won't take us to the bank to get started. All suggestions are greatly appreciated. We are really anxious to jump in the water and start the learning process. Thanks again.

If you cant do it all, decide on if you're going to bring the performers to your studio or if youre going to bring to bring your recording gear to the venues. I *think* once you've made that decision. many of your options will fall into place. Just my $0.02...

Another option would be to digitally record locally with any machine capable of handing the number of tracks and bits (wintel even), and sneakeer disking the material back to you home machine.

Have Fun!

==========================
Apple G4 PB, 1.67ghz, 2 gigs of ram, 100 internal hd plus 160 gb external fw drive, moto travler, AD 2.0, DP4.52 & Mbox with PTLE, bags and bags bags of cables, adapters, mics, submixers, recording snakes, headphones.

On Site Machine - Wintel 2ghz, 2gb ran, 16 channels of Echo layla conversion., headphone amps, and the house mixer...)

[Studio615]

Well, I own everything that you first mentioned, 1.67pb. 828mkII, xternl firewire hd, and I couldn't be happier. I even have the same amount of ram. Runs great, plenty of power under the hood. Get the most of what you can afford, not what barely suits you now. Chances are you might want it to do more in the future. I chose the pb because I liked the portability. Good luck.

[mortvillefugitive]

The Dual G5 would be better for the video, in fact, it would be way more bang for the buck. I don't think I would buy a powerbook as my sole computer right now. I use mine for some mobile recording, but I wouldn't necessarily want to mix down with VI's on it... The smaller bus speed (167mHz) is fine for right now, but two years down the road, I think you might regret it. Inevitably, new VI's will come out that require more resources. The new G5's have bus speeds of at least 900mHz, and that's important for the kind of work you'll be doing. I would go with the Dual 2.3, it won't run quite as hot as the 2.7, and it will still have tons of horsepower.

<small>[ June 01, 2005, 09:04 AM: Message edited by: mortvillefugitive ]</small>