WingsOfAnAngel
Banned
ill o.g.
Battle Points: 3
Everyone has to operate on a budget. Even P. Diddy, Moby or Madonna have bottoms to their bank accounts, although they'd be more concerned with the price of their personal jets than their personal computers. If you're starving to make music like the big dogs but can't afford to replace your old wimp of a computer, there are things you can do to hang in there. Remix often reveals stories of cutting-edge artists who don't own the latest quad-processor driven, DVD-burning, wallet-busting Mac or PC. In fact, some stick by an older machine simply because they intimately know an older piece of software, or just because the machine works and doesn't crash. If your CPU resembles a faded old Pinto more than a brand spankin' new Mustang, never fear; with some small purchases and a little tech-savvy, you can turn that old bucket into a cool lowrider and keep on truckin'.
TIME TO OPERATE
Two factors largely determine a computer's digital audio performance: CPU power and hard-drive speed. The first thing you can do with any computer — old or new — is add an additional high-performance hard drive. For a couple hundred dollars — or potentially much less — you can significantly increase your storage capacity and real-time performance. With any disk-intensive work such as audio or video, it is always highly recommended to separate your boot and applications drive from your data drive. If desktop (tower) computer owners are lucky enough to have a SCSI-type or (less likely) a SATA-type drive bay available, you could even install a 10,000rpm hard disk for superperformance. In any case, it's wise to install at least a 7,200rpm drive with a large cache (8 MB is good). With a laptop, in most cases you'll need to supplement it with an external drive. There are several interface types available such as FireWire, USB and PC Card, but due to its bandwidth advantages and fast drive-speed availability, I highly recommend FireWire — provided that your laptop is equipped with such a port.
The next simple but surefire way to upgrade any computer is to feed it extra RAM. Memory chips aren't that expensive (depending upon MB size) but can help keep hungry applications buzzing along. Almost any computer can accept more RAM, unless you've already filled it to capacity or purchased it fully stocked. If you're not sure of the answer, then most likely you have a little extra room. The how-to for installing RAM is beyond the scope of this article because each computer is different, but a simple Google search should lead you to some manufacturer directions. The one thing I'll say is that some older computers require RAM to be installed in matching pairs; check before purchasing to see if your computer is one such machine.
RUN A TIGHT SHIP
Two other basic tips to increase your old computer's performance include shutting down all unnecessary applications and performing basic maintenance routines, such as regular defragmentation of hard drives. Keep in mind that any running applications use precious RAM — even programs you may not automatically think of, such as those that automatically launch at boot time. A common example is an instant messaging client. For programs such as those, reset their preferences so that they do not launch upon booting up; instead, launch them manually when you want them. Also avoid such practices as working on e-mail while you work on music; your audio applications need all the CPU and RAM juice they can get from an older machine. Allocating all of your system's available resources to your audio can be seriously compromised if you have a fragmented hard drive. That is especially true if the drive running your programs is the same as that which you use to store your songs, audio files and samples. All common operating systems have built-in tools to accomplish basic disk defragmentation; check your computer's online help if you're not familiar with how this is done. Or, for best results, use a professional third-party program such as Norton Utilities.
Moving on to more audio-specific issues, often the biggest CPU hogs are plug-ins (especially reverbs). There is a relatively simple solution to that for the effects- or virtual instruments — happy campers out there: bouncing. For example, say you have a vocal track with a compressor and reverb on it. Once you get it sounding just right, bounce only that track down with effects applied to a new track, then keep the old track in place (in case you need to make any changes down the road), but simply mute it. You have now freed up your CPU from running those two processor-hungry effects. The same routine goes for virtual instruments that you are running as plug-ins; those tend to be the biggest processor and memory hogs of them all. Keep in mind that although virtual instruments work just like traditional MIDI instruments, if you own and can in fact use outboard MIDI synths and sound modules instead, do so. Just running pure MIDI information with even a very old computer is usually fine; MIDI note and controller information require very little RAM and CPU power.
The last little pearl of wisdom I'll leave you with is that if your computer is older, perhaps the applications on it should be older as well. Using the most cutting-edge tools does not mean that you will automatically produce a bunch of Platinum albums. It's not the size of the hammer that counts but the accuracy of the swing. Take it from successful producers such as Norman Cook, Dabrye, Röyksopp and others who have shown up in Remix's pages. They use a computer system that works for them and not simply the latest system that would cost a bundle of hard-earned cash.
TIME TO OPERATE
Two factors largely determine a computer's digital audio performance: CPU power and hard-drive speed. The first thing you can do with any computer — old or new — is add an additional high-performance hard drive. For a couple hundred dollars — or potentially much less — you can significantly increase your storage capacity and real-time performance. With any disk-intensive work such as audio or video, it is always highly recommended to separate your boot and applications drive from your data drive. If desktop (tower) computer owners are lucky enough to have a SCSI-type or (less likely) a SATA-type drive bay available, you could even install a 10,000rpm hard disk for superperformance. In any case, it's wise to install at least a 7,200rpm drive with a large cache (8 MB is good). With a laptop, in most cases you'll need to supplement it with an external drive. There are several interface types available such as FireWire, USB and PC Card, but due to its bandwidth advantages and fast drive-speed availability, I highly recommend FireWire — provided that your laptop is equipped with such a port.
The next simple but surefire way to upgrade any computer is to feed it extra RAM. Memory chips aren't that expensive (depending upon MB size) but can help keep hungry applications buzzing along. Almost any computer can accept more RAM, unless you've already filled it to capacity or purchased it fully stocked. If you're not sure of the answer, then most likely you have a little extra room. The how-to for installing RAM is beyond the scope of this article because each computer is different, but a simple Google search should lead you to some manufacturer directions. The one thing I'll say is that some older computers require RAM to be installed in matching pairs; check before purchasing to see if your computer is one such machine.
RUN A TIGHT SHIP
Two other basic tips to increase your old computer's performance include shutting down all unnecessary applications and performing basic maintenance routines, such as regular defragmentation of hard drives. Keep in mind that any running applications use precious RAM — even programs you may not automatically think of, such as those that automatically launch at boot time. A common example is an instant messaging client. For programs such as those, reset their preferences so that they do not launch upon booting up; instead, launch them manually when you want them. Also avoid such practices as working on e-mail while you work on music; your audio applications need all the CPU and RAM juice they can get from an older machine. Allocating all of your system's available resources to your audio can be seriously compromised if you have a fragmented hard drive. That is especially true if the drive running your programs is the same as that which you use to store your songs, audio files and samples. All common operating systems have built-in tools to accomplish basic disk defragmentation; check your computer's online help if you're not familiar with how this is done. Or, for best results, use a professional third-party program such as Norton Utilities.
Moving on to more audio-specific issues, often the biggest CPU hogs are plug-ins (especially reverbs). There is a relatively simple solution to that for the effects- or virtual instruments — happy campers out there: bouncing. For example, say you have a vocal track with a compressor and reverb on it. Once you get it sounding just right, bounce only that track down with effects applied to a new track, then keep the old track in place (in case you need to make any changes down the road), but simply mute it. You have now freed up your CPU from running those two processor-hungry effects. The same routine goes for virtual instruments that you are running as plug-ins; those tend to be the biggest processor and memory hogs of them all. Keep in mind that although virtual instruments work just like traditional MIDI instruments, if you own and can in fact use outboard MIDI synths and sound modules instead, do so. Just running pure MIDI information with even a very old computer is usually fine; MIDI note and controller information require very little RAM and CPU power.
The last little pearl of wisdom I'll leave you with is that if your computer is older, perhaps the applications on it should be older as well. Using the most cutting-edge tools does not mean that you will automatically produce a bunch of Platinum albums. It's not the size of the hammer that counts but the accuracy of the swing. Take it from successful producers such as Norman Cook, Dabrye, Röyksopp and others who have shown up in Remix's pages. They use a computer system that works for them and not simply the latest system that would cost a bundle of hard-earned cash.
