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  3. New computer for Cubase, VIs and MIR. Advice needed!

  • New computer for Cubase, VIs and MIR. Advice needed!

    T
    T

     Hi!

    I have an order in for a new computer. Any advice regarding specs choice are very welcome.
    Specs as of today:

    Supermicro Workstation SYS-7046A-T,

    1 x Xeon W5580 3,2 ghz
    6 x 4 gb DD3 1333 mhz ECC/Reg
    1 x WD VelociRaptor 300 gb (10k)
    2 x Hitachi 1 Tb (7200)

    I'm planning to use only this one computer for sequencing, effects and sample playback.

    I have never worked with this amount of ram, so I'm wondering how much stress a template of around 20 gb ram would put on one SATA drive? Can I put the entire cube on a 1 TB disk, or will this cause streaming issues? Is raid an option to consider?

    Also, when it is released I want to run MIR on the same machine. Would one CPU be sufficent? And what about RAM? If I use all availiable ram for my template, how much more RAM would one need for IR's while running MIR?

    I will also be needing a new soundcard. Any suggestions? I have would be needing a couple of mic pre's and a small amount (4-8) of ins/outs. I have been looking at Echo and RMEs firewire interfaces, but I have no firsthand experience with neither one. Also, is there any advantage/disadvantage with PCI/PCI-E sollutions?


    Thank you!

    -tom
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    @tommalm said:

     Hi!

    I have an order in for a new computer. Any advice regarding specs choice are very welcome.
    Specs as of today:

    Supermicro Workstation SYS-7046A-T,

    1 x Xeon W5580 3,2 ghz
    6 x 4 gb DD3 1333 mhz ECC/Reg
    1 x WD VelociRaptor 300 gb (10k)
    2 x Hitachi 1 Tb (7200)

    I'm planning to use only this one computer for sequencing, effects and sample playback.

    I have never worked with this amount of ram, so I'm wondering how much stress a template of around 20 gb ram would put on one SATA drive? Can I put the entire cube on a 1 TB disk, or will this cause streaming issues? Is raid an option to consider?

    Also, when it is released I want to run MIR on the same machine. Would one CPU be sufficent? And what about RAM? If I use all availiable ram for my template, how much more RAM would one need for IR's while running MIR?

    I will also be needing a new soundcard. Any suggestions? I have would be needing a couple of mic pre's and a small amount (4-8) of ins/outs. I have been looking at Echo and RMEs firewire interfaces, but I have no firsthand experience with neither one. Also, is there any advantage/disadvantage with PCI/PCI-E sollutions?

    -tom

     

     I can't answer your MIR related questions, but I can answer the other ones:

    1. Split your library over multiple drives. One big drive won't cut it. RAID won't help in any way.
    2. Don't get a Firewire interface. FW introduces latency to the system, which is not ideal when you are recording. Get PCI or PCIe. There is no disadvantage that I can see to either of these options. The only thing with PCI is that you have to make sure that there is no IRQ sharing with your other PCI devices. If you don't have any, or the other devices are PCIe, there should be no problem.

    DG
  • T
    T

     DG, thanks for your input!

    Yeah I was afraid that one big disk migth cause some issues. How should the library be split up? Two 500 gb? I suspect my Vienna drives will be under most stress, as other libraries aren't that big or as much in use. So if I space Vienna across two/three disk, then use one big disk for my other current libraries. And maybe one more disk for audio/video purposes? Or should I split those as well? 

    Can you recommend some PCI/PCI-E soundcards? I have no other PCI cards installed, although the graphics card fills up two PCI-E slots!


    Thank you!

    -tom
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    There is no "should" when splitting a library across multiple drives. The thing to try to achieve is equal streaming. For example, with a full orchestra, the strings will probably need their own drive, whereas the brass and percussion could easily share one.

    Audio should have its own drive, as should the system and video. I know that this sounds like lots of drives, but you will get much better performance this way. If necessary stream the video from and external drive.

    As far as soundcards, I have always used RME (for the last 5 or 6 years) and can recommend them. I may have been lucky, but I have never had any problems.

    DG
  • T
    T

    I will go for several smaller disks then.

    Does anyone have any experience with this combination: RME HDSPe PCIe Card + Multiface II

    http://www.rme-audio.de/en_products_hdsp_pci_e_interface.php
    http://www.rme-audio.de/en_products_multiface_2.php

    -tom
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    The Multiface II is a very good interface. I have both a Multiface Ii and a Multiface I. However, I use the PCI card, so I don't have fist hand knowledge about the PCIe card. I can't imagine that it is of lower quality though.

    DG
  • cmC
    VSL Team
    cmC

     we have both types running (PCI + PCIe) and the PCMCIA at fullest convenience ... breakout box is the same

    christian

    and remember: only a CRAY can run an endless loop in just three seconds.