Upgrading an old system for music production

Tweek_1984 · 22 Nov 2008 at 19:37

I'm wanting to use my old machine purely for music production. I'll be using software such as Reason.

My current spec of my old machine is the following:

AMD XP1800+
Iwill XP333-r 2.1 Motherboard
256mb DDR Corsair memory
Maxtor 40gig HD

I'm concerned about speed, reliability and of course, sound. Now, my current motherboard has onboard sound, but I'd be looking to use a dedicated sound card.

Is it worth working with, and upgrading this set-up? If so, what do I need?

In terms of budget, I don't know, as less as possible lol.

Redgie · 22 Nov 2008 at 19:42

What music production exactly? If you're looking to do a fully fledged music production, you're looking at uncompressed layer audio gallore. I've had songs of 300MB+ in Adobe and I didn't do more than edit a bit out of it. Considering the advised empty storage on your HDD of about 12% (Could be wrong there, it's around that I think?) I'd say the HDD needs an upgrade.

If you're serious about audio editing, I'd say more RAM is in order too, and depending on what the Mobo takes, you may struggle to find some that works well with it.

Processor probably needs an upgrade, but it really depends what programs you plan to use.

In summary, I'd say get a new one, I know it seems expensive to buy a new system but you could find 2nd hand systems more powerfull of this one for similar money than it would take to upgrade this one, and atleast with a more recent system upgrading has a higher boundary, E.G. Not having to source discontinued products.

Tweek_1984 · 22 Nov 2008 at 19:45

I'd be making drum & bass / downtempo chillout tunes. Using a midi controller, possibly other external instruments: guitars, piano, synths.

The motherboard can take 3gig of ram I think, but can only take upto a XP2100+ CPU.

Redgie · 22 Nov 2008 at 19:50

Sounds like your trying to get a centre point for a band or something!

By the sounds of it, you need something new, I've had external sources into an IBM thinkpad laptop from 10 years ago, it's a case of, sure it will work, but to what extent?

Apart from anything, when you've got stuff like what your doing going on, I'd want to keep a backup, music gets stored uncompressed a lot, and if you want to go back to it after completing another project, that's a lot of space needed to sit idle. 40GB is pushing it, and a 2100 is too.

Just my two sense, by no means am I an expert and someone with a post count to trump mine and knowledge to match would be able to give a better view on it!

Tweek_1984 · 23 Nov 2008 at 02:14

I haven't really got the money to buy a brand new system right now. But my old machine is just sitting around.

Redgie · 23 Nov 2008 at 02:27

I know the feeling, but a second hand dual core won't set you back too much, plus atleast you'll get plenty of usage out of it.

Maybe you could get something for your parts in the old PC

Tweek_1984 · 23 Nov 2008 at 15:25

Redgie said:
I know the feeling, but a second hand dual core won't set you back too much, plus atleast you'll get plenty of usage out of it.

Maybe you could get something for your parts in the old PC

Well that's what I'm thinking.

Maybe put a XP2100+ in the Iwill. I think the board also supports up to 3gig ram, and then buy a decent soundcard.

Dharok · 23 Nov 2008 at 15:41

Please can I ask, on what kind of scale here are you producing music? Is it literally for your own purpose/use?

I'd seriously recommend you catch up with the times, you could spend less than £200 on an upgrade, which could potentially last you a couple of years. I can't see how a single core AMD processor is going to be fit for its use here.

How much would you possibly have to spend on an upgrade?

XysteR · 23 Nov 2008 at 15:47

Tweek_1984 said:
I'm wanting to use my old machine purely for music production. I'll be using software such as Reason.

My current spec of my old machine is the following:

AMD XP1800+
Iwill XP333-r 2.1 Motherboard
256mb DDR Corsair memory
Maxtor 40gig HD

I'm concerned about speed, reliability and of course, sound. Now, my current motherboard has onboard sound, but I'd be looking to use a dedicated sound card.

Is it worth working with, and upgrading this set-up? If so, what do I need?

In terms of budget, I don't know, as less as possible lol.

Hi, i use Reason 4 mainly

Any core 2 duo to 3Ghz will do fiine.. 4 gig of ram.. Then get a Edirol Ua-25 usb sound card with a pair of KRK Rokit 5 monitors and a pair of high quality balanced leads and your sorted.. This setup will blow your mind sound quality wise

To get the most outta Reason 4 you really need good controllers too. I use a Novation SL 61 and a Novation SL Zero as controllers for with the above audio gear for reason 4.. Totally brilliant stuff..

If you plan on doing some heavy stuff with Thor you'll really need a core 2 duo.. Just get a low end one and clock it up to 3Ghz

Sound card wise you can get away with Reaktek HD short term and install asio4all to deal withthe horrible delay you'll get. But the sound quality difference when you get an edirol and krk monitors is just out of this universe lol