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Thread ID: 81947 2007-08-11 20:34:00 Musician needs pc - sound card, speakers? Morpheus1 (186) Press F1
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579676 2007-08-11 20:34:00 I am helping a friend get a desktop PC. Is it best to stay away from 'all in one motherboards' so that a sound card can be added? He mainly wants the pc for recording / editing music that he creates - he is a musician, guitar and songs. Am I correct in saying that a sound card is only for playback and not recording?

Probably we will stay with whatever onboard or sound card the pc comes with and add something better later if he wants.

Can anyone recommend a good set of speakers? I don't know if it is possible to connect the pc to his sound system or even if that is a good idea. It seems better to have a stand alone set of speakers. Any comments on this? www.qmb.co.nz

Or any on this page? There would be no need for surround sound although it seems any good speaker system is 5.1.
www.qmb.co.nz

As for the pc itself, he can spend up to $1500 or so but this www.qmb.co.nz system is only $910 and probably would be OK - but will go for a larger HD and hopefully we can still get WinXP instead of Vista. Any other ideas would be appreciated, thanks.
Morpheus1 (186)
579677 2007-08-11 20:49:00 The best 2.1 speaker system is the Logitech Z-2300.
The Z-4 isn't as good.

The components in the PC look good to me.

Can't advise you on the best sound crad for recording, not my area.
pctek (84)
579678 2007-08-11 20:50:00 For a musician who wants to easily create music in his or her home studio I would also suggest looking on trade me for a second hand iMac with Garageband.
I am assuming that the person in question is not interested in gaming.
www.apple.com
If your friend can't find a suitable iMac on trademe then just go with a PC.
winmacguy (3367)
579679 2007-08-11 21:05:00 The best 2.1 speaker system is the Logitech Z-2300.
The Z-4 isn't as good.

The components in the PC look good to me.

Can't advise you on the best sound crad for recording, not my area.

Yeah Ive been using logitech lately, found them more tolerant of music from a mixing desk then say JBL. Which is pretty weird since JBLs are normally made for this type.

I would say he is better off spending 1500 on a portastudio, tascams are awesome, easy to use and digital. Then hook that up to a pc, then you dont have to adjust the PC in anyway. Also as the title implies you can record anywhere then hook it up to a pc.

I have found this the best way after experimenting last year. From the desk he can do a simple line out to line in in the PC. There are tons of free software on the net for conversion into mp3 format if he wishes plus the portastudio will do this too.:thumbs:
rob_on_guitar (4196)
579680 2007-08-11 21:35:00 I would say he is better off spending 1500 on a portastudio, tascams are awesome,

I have no idea what portastudio and tascams are but should explain further that the software he will use is Cool Edit Pro - he must use this as his musician brother is an expert using it, I can guide him through the basics and he will ring his brother for the details of mixing tracks, etc.

poctek - thanks for the Logitech Z-2300 advice.

A Mac? :yuck: Oh for %$#@X sake, give us a break. :lol: :lol: Like sure, I'll get him to spend heaps more $$, and get new editing software that none of know how to use. :rolleyes: Read the title of my post: it says "pc". Push your macs on another thread please, not here.
Morpheus1 (186)
579681 2007-08-11 21:38:00 Rob, re: mp3s, I should have explained that he will use the pc for making his own CDs, of his own original music. He does not have a mp3 player and probably does not even know what its all about. Morpheus1 (186)
579682 2007-08-11 21:41:00 poctek - thanks for the Logitech Z-2300 advice.

A Mac? :yuck: Oh for %$#@X sake, give us a break. :lol: :lol:

Maybe you should check out Garageband before you knock it Morpheus:groan:
It is software designed by musicians for musicians, and I was offering it as a suggestion.
winmacguy (3367)
579683 2007-08-11 21:42:00 macguy: I see we cross posted. See my edited post above. Morpheus1 (186)
579684 2007-08-11 21:46:00 macguy: I see we cross posted. See my edited post above.

I wasn't "pushing" it as you say, I was suggesting picking one up within the $1500 range from Trademe due to the fact that the areas that Macs are suited to are creative design, creating music and editing DV and your friend is a musician :)
I call it horses for courses, if you want a top gaming machine build yourself a PC, if you want to make music consider using Garageband on a Mac. Or get a PC if you prefer to use one.
winmacguy (3367)
579685 2007-08-11 21:58:00 Or get a PC if you prefer to use one.

:thumbs: thank you :)
Morpheus1 (186)
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