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Computer recommendations: Buy or build




Mates,

I'm considering organising a somewhat unusual computer sound system, and would appreciate suggestions as to buying or building.

This computer would be specifically to use Hauptwerk 3, a software for a virtual pipe organ. This is because the 4- church organ sounds on the Yamaha S90 synthesizer sound like combinations of the accordion, bagpipe, and harmonica sounds as played by a asthmatic.

Hauptwerk is quite amazing, very large samples are available in sets from 94 historic organs, controlled by a MIDI keyboard. The screen shows a mock up of the keyboards, pedals, and other controls- couplers, generals and so on:

http://www.hauptwerk.com/index.php?src=directory&view=Instruments

- I've loaded the evaluation software [370MB download] and through the 1995 Audiowerk2 soundcard in a Dell 3Ghz/1.5 GB RAM Dimension 8400 and my Logitech Z-2300 THX 2.1 powered speaker system., I can play individual notes on the virtual keys with the mouse. Even on the computer speakers (Z-2300 135W subwoofer is rated to 30HZ), I can hear the true timbres o the various stops.

The thing is, because of the number of sounds that an organ can make at once- with 10 fingers and two feet with many stops on, it's not difficult to have 200-300 "pipes" sounding- that's 200-300 discreet sounds/pitches. But, that's the tip of the iceberg if the reverb or any other effect is on as the polyphony with all the sounds repeated in a calculated decay and the computer must then produces 1000 sounds at once or more.

The computer to do this without obvious limitations requires a fast processor, 64-bit OS, lots of RAM, and the least possible other software and devices taking processor and/or RAM function. My specification:

Intel quad core 2.66 or better (socket775) with 6MB L2 or better
8GB RAM- ideally, expandable to 16GB for when the cost comes down a bit
2- 600GB HD's
2-PCI slots for soundcards
Firewire
Vista 64-bit

-My current recording computer is a 1998 Dell Pentium 750 with 256MB RAM and W98 and whicc will not install Hauptwerk.

I've looked at building such a thing ($1,200) but in fact, I can see that I can buy a Dell or HP with these features for somewhat less- ($950). The problem is that no mass maker offers a motherboard that can accomodate the future 16GB of RAM. I've had good luck with the two computers I assembled, but would also like to be as frugal as I can for what has to be a fairly high-level performer.

In the future, if this works as well I hope, I'm thinking to buy an Allen or better yet, Rodgers organ with MIDI and use that to control Hauptwerk. This is however too big a commitement in cost without knowing how I'll get along with the software. The sample sets are expensive too- $200-1,200.

I'm assured by some on the Hauptwerk forum that I needn't worry about a supercomputer, but then someone else would waltz in and say that his dual Xeon with 32GB RAM was just about right- that would be a $5,000+ computer.

I've also seen a recent Dell XPS with my specification on Craigslist for $550, but I've never had a used computer.

What would you do?

Cheers,

Bambi B

PS: My first computer was an IBM 486/ 25 with 2MB RAM and 85MB HD running DOS 6 and Windows 3.1. I had AutoCad 10 for DOS, Worpdperfect 6 for DOS, and CorelDraw 3. By the way, with all the software and files, it took 6 months to fill the 85MB HD and the 2MB RAM upgrade cost $180.



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Topic - Computer recommendations: Buy or build - Bambi B 09:58:49 09/9/09 (9)

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