Digital Audio Workstations, thunderbolt and Reaper software

subbytna

subbytna

subbytna

Soldato
Joined
22 Oct 2008
Posts
11,737
Location
Lisburn
Ok this is a bit of a long one. I am helping a lecturer in my work get a suitable setup for a digital audio workstation/recording studio.

Here is his email to me...


"What I’m looking for is an audio interface for digital recording with a DAW (Digital Audio Workstation).

My software (DAW) is called Reaper, which has a great forum where people discuss what works best for them: https://forum.cockos.com/forumdisplay.php?f=20

Some units that I’ve considered are listed below, but they all tend to be USB 2. And I kinda feel there’s no point buying USB 2 if new units are going to appear soon with TB3. (Oh, and I just avoid the Focusrite and Akai brands altogether – they have a terrible reputation for cheapness, crashing, etc.). Mulitple outs for monitoring would be helpful….

  1. https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00N4LTFOO/ref=dp_cerb_1

  2. https://www.amazon.co.uk/PreSonus-A...e=sl1&linkId=63f4e3b9e92979ea23dbd351888fa652

  3. https://www.thomann.de/gb/behringer_umc1820.htm?sid=41e5075ff8876a507625af21de64eada

"
I've put the music hardware links in spoilers as I think they are ok to quote but if not please tell me and I'll remove them. I don't think OCUK sells this sort of audio stuff.


I'm happy enough to build him a PC that will power the above and do the processing of the raw musical data but I'm not sure what is the best route for him to take. Obviously he's going to be spending a fair whack of cash on the entire setup and I don't want to throw him ideas that won't work.

Anyone that knows anything about sound recording etc, looking at the above links what would you suggest that he should be looking to get in terms of the actual AUDIO INTERFACE? Is there a good brand/model that he can get? He wants to be able to use Thunderbolt 3 (TB3) for bandwidth and I will be looking for a motherboard that supports TB3 use.

Does anyone have a music recording setup that they can give me some advice on? It's quite specific so someone with knowledge, I would be really grateful for some help.
 
Last edited:
I'll let someone else go over a build but if you want to use thunderbolt you're stuck with intel (not that this is a bad thing, they're just more expensive these days). I'm not sure what windows drivers for thunderbolt interfaces are like at the moment. UAD definitely have windows drivers for their interfaces (the apollo interfaces are also excellent if his budget allows).

Also Focusrite aren't really renownd for being cheap with a bad reputation (they actually have a reptty good reputation for budget interfaces), especially when he's listing a behringer interface as a possibility.

A minimum of an i7, lots of RAM is also good. (I make do with 16gb but use very few virtual instruments, if lots will be used 32gb would be good). There's not really anything different between a normal PC and a PC used for music.
 
Hi Subbytna,

Yes, I run a recording studio full time as a producer and have lectured for years on recording.

TBH, its a big subject and I wouldn't even know where to start!

If you ask me specific questions I can chime in.

Best,

Tom
 
subbytna said:
http://www.gigabyte.us/Motherboard/GA-Z270X-UD5-rev-10#kf

A USA based motherboard that I'm looking at to go with the above.
Click to expand...

z370 Gaming 7- pretty much has the best audio on spec sheet bar Asus Zenith x399 which shares the same dac's- also supports Thunderbolt 3

https://www.gigabyte.com/Motherboard/Z370-AORUS-Gaming-7-rev-10#kf

coffee lake chips sets are out tomorrow- whilst everyone will be grabing the K versions of i5 and i7, standard i3 or i5 chip should be fine for yourself- keep costs down and compensating for the board
 
orbitalwalsh said:
z370 Gaming 7- pretty much has the best audio on spec sheet bar Asus Zenith x399 which shares the same dac's- also supports Thunderbolt 3

https://www.gigabyte.com/Motherboard/Z370-AORUS-Gaming-7-rev-10#kf

coffee lake chips sets are out tomorrow- whilst everyone will be grabing the K versions of i5 and i7, standard i3 or i5 chip should be fine for yourself- keep costs down and compensating for the board
Click to expand...

He will be using an audio interface so the audio quality of the motherboard/any other sound card doesn't really matter.
 
@hughythomas thanks squire, I'll get a couple of specific things nailed down from him and give you a sound out if that's ok

@orbitalwalsh and @ShortWarning thanks for the info. All useful for me to fully understand what he wants to do.

In terms of just the actual PC at this stage. I was thinking i7 anyway to futureproof him. Would a 6 core i5 be just as good. No real need for overclocking I don't think as this will never be used for gaming or the like.
 
ShortWarning said:
He will be using an audio interface so the audio quality of the motherboard/any other sound card doesn't really matter.
Click to expand...

Ah i see- if its via USB least the Board has dedicated ports isolated for it - but if PCIe then shouldnt matter to much
subbytna said:
@hughythomas thanks squire, I'll get a couple of specific things nailed down from him and give you a sound out if that's ok

@orbitalwalsh and @ShortWarning thanks for the info. All useful for me to fully understand what he wants to do.

In terms of just the actual PC at this stage. I was thinking i7 anyway to futureproof him. Would a 6 core i5 be just as good. No real need for overclocking I don't think as this will never be used for gaming or the like.
Click to expand...

you'll have to look at the software on forums if it favours speed over cores. If its speed then intel- and i5 with 6 cores would add some lifetime to it. If cores could be ryzen build as the most cost effective .
looked at a thread before - but was audio and video was was a mix of the two and user went for Ryzen but was going to overclock it for core speed for software rather then for gaming
 
orbitalwalsh said:
Ah i see- if its via USB least the Board has dedicated ports isolated for it - but if PCIe then shouldnt matter to much


you'll have to look at the software on forums if it favours speed over cores. If its speed then intel- and i5 with 6 cores would add some lifetime to it. If cores could be ryzen build as the most cost effective .
looked at a thread before - but was audio and video was was a mix of the two and user went for Ryzen but was going to overclock it for core speed for software rather then for gaming
Click to expand...

You wouldn't use anything other than a dedicated audio interface because the latency is too high on standard consumer sound cards as well as a few other reasons (lack of xlr/balanced inputs etc).

I would recommend Ryzen if he wasn't interested in thunderbolt (none of the interfaces he listed above are). As it stands only Intel support Thunderbolt.
 
Personally, I wouldn't touch thunderbolt unless I used a mac as it's still a pretty rare sight in the windows world, not to mention the fact that it ties you to intel. Presumably he does realise that even at 96KHz sample rates and 24 bit depth (4.6Mbps), you can still carry 60 streams via the 280Mbps constant bandwidth that usb 2.0 supports. (it's maximum of 480Mbps is burst) At the more normal 48KHz sample rate and 24 bit depth (2.3Mbps), you can get 120 streams. At the extreme end using 192KHz sample rate, that gives a 9.22Mbps which can still carry 30 streams.

My go to brand for audio interfaces is RME, but they are rather expensive.
 
hughythomas said:
Hi Subbytna,

Yes, I run a recording studio full time as a producer and have lectured for years on recording.

TBH, its a big subject and I wouldn't even know where to start!

If you ask me specific questions I can chime in.

Best,

Tom
Click to expand...

Hello mate, I'm back with a request for you, to give your honest feedback on this if you could...

My work colleague is looking to buy http://en.antelopeaudio.com/products/discrete-4/

What's your thoughts on this? Is there an alternative that would do the same job, that's a better option? Any thoughts you have on this? He isn't a pro but is a bit more technical than average hence he is getting this device for his new build.
 
subbytna said:
Hello mate, I'm back with a request for you, to give your honest feedback on this if you could...

My work colleague is looking to buy http://en.antelopeaudio.com/products/discrete-4/

What's your thoughts on this? Is there an alternative that would do the same job, that's a better option? Any thoughts you have on this? He isn't a pro but is a bit more technical than average hence he is getting this device for his new build.
Click to expand...

Hi Subbytna,

I have not heard that device so cannot comment directly on its sonic quality.

However, when you say he is not a pro but more technical than average it would seem like a silly purchase. The Discrete 4 is designed and built for musicians and as such has features and capabilities specifically for music production. For example, it has mic modelling DSP and also comes bundled with a reverb plugin. SUrely, if your mate isnt planning on doing any music producing this is a wasted purchase and there are cheaper alternatives (like a DAC for example?).

If I am mistaken however and he is indeed a fellow muso then yes it looks like a great unit although I am through and through an RME man myself. German engineering and all that.

Things I like about the Discrete 4:

  • Word clock for external clocking
  • Looks shiny
  • ADAT I/O

Also, if your mate really has the cash to spend and wants top notch sound quality have a look at blacklionaudio.com. Youll notice on the mod ratings page that the newer RME Fireface 802 ranks very highly (once premium modded by them) compared to a lot of other units for the money. A new FF802 can be picked up for £1,200.00 and a premium mod comes in at £600. So, once youve paid customs tax etc we are talking £2,000.00.

I think that is insane value for money considering the sonic quality upgrade that will spank devices 3 times its RRP. Still, youd have to send it to Chicago and back which is terrifying enough in itself!

Best,

Tom
 
hughythomas said:
Hi Subbytna,

I have not heard that device so cannot comment directly on its sonic quality.

However, when you say he is not a pro but more technical than average it would seem like a silly purchase. The Discrete 4 is designed and built for musicians and as such has features and capabilities specifically for music production. For example, it has mic modelling DSP and also comes bundled with a reverb plugin. SUrely, if your mate isnt planning on doing any music producing this is a wasted purchase and there are cheaper alternatives (like a DAC for example?).

If I am mistaken however and he is indeed a fellow muso then yes it looks like a great unit although I am through and through an RME man myself. German engineering and all that.

Things I like about the Discrete 4:

  • Word clock for external clocking
  • Looks shiny
  • ADAT I/O

Also, if your mate really has the cash to spend and wants top notch sound quality have a look at blacklionaudio.com. Youll notice on the mod ratings page that the newer RME Fireface 802 ranks very highly (once premium modded by them) compared to a lot of other units for the money. A new FF802 can be picked up for £1,200.00 and a premium mod comes in at £600. So, once youve paid customs tax etc we are talking £2,000.00.

I think that is insane value for money considering the sonic quality upgrade that will spank devices 3 times its RRP. Still, youd have to send it to Chicago and back which is terrifying enough in itself!

Best,

Tom
Click to expand...

Thanks for that squire. He is a university English lecturer but has a passion for music too. When I said he was a bit more techy than average I mean he has also an interest in the recording and production of music, albeit not at a level you are at, but a level more than Joe Bloggs would be at, if that makes sense. He is looking to delve even deeper into the music side of his hobby hence this purchase...or possible purchase. He does play music on guitar and records it. I THINK he is in a band but not 100%.

I'll fire back your info and see if he needs a bit more guidance or what not. Thanks for your help. Really appreciate you taking time to answer :)

Paul.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom