Christian, VSL Team: may be an idea?

[laughingbear]

Greetings from Ireland,

I was just reading the thread on "using 1 or 2 PC's".... and I was wondering....

May be it would be a thought worthwhile, if VSL would "compile" a information and post it as a sticky topic, whereby this would contain major setup examples that had been prooven to work on your location. Say for example a single G5 with esx, multiple macs, single Intel/AMD with GS (Kontakt?), multiple PCs with GS (Kontakt?), and a description of the setups and the tools used to optimize the same. May be something categorized such as:

1. "The Beginners System (Songwriter, Ambitious Project Studio)"
2. "The Power User System (Scoring, Recording Studio)"
3. "The God System (Non-Plus Ultra System at the time)"

Matthias Henningsen I think started this valuable thread on optimizing GS unbder windows etc. must be the longest thread I ever came across [H] , and although this is very valid, educational and useful information, may be a sticky topic with VSL recommendations on hardware configurations and setups used on your premises would compliment this?

Further, VSL-User's that have prooven solutions and are willing to share the same could participate and write a summary of their setup in a seperate sticky topic "User Systems".

I think this could make the stoney road for newbies easier to setting up a VSL system, because this is what it really takes, to create a VSL system and it aint that obvious how to obtain a good workflow to start with. In addition, Workflow-Tips such as leaving GS maschines with loaded instruments powered up the whole time, may seem obvious but I think they are very useful for the newcomer. VSL ain't like any other sample library out there, let's say like Symphony of Voices that I just whack into Kontakt and work away with....

Last not least, as this certainly is a dynamic topic that would change every 8-10 month slightly, I am aware that this means work and dedication to upgrade the information, but I can see big advanatges in such examples, and it should not be too hard to compile such info.

Just thinking out loud....

Best wishes
~^..^~
Bear

[DG]

@laughingbear said:

Greetings from Ireland,

I was just reading the thread on "using 1 or 2 PC's".... and I was wondering....

May be it would be a thought worthwhile, if VSL would "compile" a information and post it as a sticky topic, whereby this would contain major setup examples that had been prooven to work on your location. Say for example a single G5 with esx, multiple macs, single Intel/AMD with GS (Kontakt?), multiple PCs with GS (Kontakt?), and a description of the setups and the tools used to optimize the same. May be something categorized such as:

1. "The Beginners System (Songwriter, Ambitious Project Studio)"
2. "The Power User System (Scoring, Recording Studio)"
3. "The God System (Non-Plus Ultra System at the time)"

Matthias Henningsen I think started this valuable thread on optimizing GS unbder windows etc. must be the longest thread I ever came across [H] , and although this is very valid, educational and useful information, may be a sticky topic with VSL recommendations on hardware configurations and setups used on your premises would compliment this?

Further, VSL-User's that have prooven solutions and are willing to share the same could participate and write a summary of their setup in a seperate sticky topic "User Systems".

I think this could make the stoney road for newbies easier to setting up a VSL system, because this is what it really takes, to create a VSL system and it aint that obvious how to obtain a good workflow to start with. In addition, Workflow-Tips such as leaving GS maschines with loaded instruments powered up the whole time, may seem obvious but I think they are very useful for the newcomer. VSL ain't like any other sample library out there, let's say like Symphony of Voices that I just whack into Kontakt and work away with....

Last not least, as this certainly is a dynamic topic that would change every 8-10 month slightly, I am aware that this means work and dedication to upgrade the information, but I can see big advanatges in such examples, and it should not be too hard to compile such info.

Just thinking out loud....

Best wishes
~^..^~
Bear

Great idea...

DG

[Sergino Futurino]

I think nobody, not Tascam or Apple Emagic, nor VSL could give details about the machines to use.
The problems are two: a confllict of interests, as all the brands involved in music (turnkey systems, MIDI and Audio interfaces and so on) would start pushing their products trying to be in "the perfect system" and the users would start claiming "they are payed for that". Not a good brand image!

But the main problem is that no 2 PCs are alike. So a perfect configuration for me could be a nightmare for you. People never take things literally so that little changes would bring user to say: "I have your configuration for the perfect machine and it doesn't work, what have I to do?" And they would pretend to have a clear and fast answer as they bought what VSL or Tascam or whoever suggested (maybe...).

I think the only solution would be in VSL/Tascam or VSL/Emagic turnkey systems. But that would cost a lot and I don't think I would buy it, as I want a PC tailored for just me and no other.

Sergino

[laughingbear]

I understand your point, but this would not be intended as a 100% copycat blueprint to re-build and then complain when it doesn't work the way you expected... [[;)]] May be I was unclear on this, I think to know what systems and what configurations VSL uses inhouse, in addition to powerusers setups, I think of this as guidelines for the not faint-hearted Computer DIY gents'n ladies....

Bottom line things, such as Xp config, GS config, Ram used, Motherboard, Graficcards, drivers etc, can be a useful guide to try to find and spec the maschines best matching your demands.

[cm]

well, although i'm posting our personal experience with hardware or even complete systems from time to time (IIRC the only definitive recomandation i ever posted was for RME audio cards). things are changing very rapidly during the last years and as sergino pointed out: if such a system isn't satisfying for you (for whatever reason) i think many users would complain about this *bad advice*. i've been reading through several threads here and elsewhere about simple harddisks, and opinions/experience seem to vary widely
christian
ps: imo the better solution would be (as it already happened) to post the specs of the system you're intending to build (alongside with your expectations and type of usage) and wait for comments on it

[laughingbear]

@cm said:

ps: imo the better solution would be (as it already happened) to post the specs of the system you're intending to build (alongside with your expectations and type of usage) and wait for comments on it

Well.... will do!

[Julie]

@cm said:

well, although i'm posting our personal experience with hardware or even complete systems from time to time (IIRC the only definitive recomandation i ever posted was for RME audio cards). things are changing very rapidly during the last years and as sergino pointed out: if such a system isn't satisfying for you (for whatever reason) i think many users would complain about this *bad advice*. i've been reading through several threads here and elsewhere about simple harddisks, and opinions/experience seem to vary widely
christian
ps: imo the better solution would be (as it already happened) to post the specs of the system you're intending to build (alongside with your expectations and type of usage) and wait for comments on it

CM-
This is not what laughingbear is asking for, and imo is much more work for you guys at VSL. I would love to see 'exactly' what you guys use at vsl and for what purpose. You could have a disclaimer that says 'results may vary and this is not a recommendation, just real-world example' and then nobody could complain. I am getting ready to spend $3000, 4000 for some VSL products, and would really find it usefull to see an example of a real-world setup. I have still yet to see one, and would just be 'guessing' if I put my own together without any experience. This is the main reason why I am waiting on my purchases, I don't know what I need and what setup is required for various needs. Please do post your setup with a disclaimer!? It would make a huge difference to me [:'(]
thanks,
Julie

[Sergino Futurino]

I've been a computer programmer for 20 years and my computers were (and are) never what the final user would prefer to use. Sometimes we could use old and small one at their 120% and they where good for us and not for the program final users that haven't all that skills and knowledge.
Other where big indeed, too much for the real world. So I found it hard that CM could give you a clear answer.
I understand you. I have pain in my head when I have to spend a lot for something I don't know well. But reaqding the posts in this foorum you can get a good idea.
If you take a good case with a mainboard with an 875 chipset (eg: CM said ASUS 800), 2 giga of RAM, 2 or 3 hard disks (2 of them SATA), a Pentium 2.8 processor and get a friend with IT knoledge to make all the tricks to Windows, you are OK. Don't buy the last end expensive computer. Take a good shop or friend to build it up for you and don't let them build a superfast computer, 2 medium fast are surely better.
Ciao
Sergino

[laughingbear]

Ok, may be someone like to comment on this basic idea for my setup and can give me good recommendation on networking please?....

Nuendo Main System:
2x Intel Xeon 3.6GHz, Asus PPDLE Dual Xeon motherboard, Matrox P650 64MB, 4096MB DDR RAM, 200GB Maxtor SATA Sysdrive 16MB cache, 200 GB SATA Removable (Video), 4x 74GigGB Western Digital Raptor SATA RAID-0, 2x DVD-/RW (1 dual Layer), 2x Lacie 250GB Firewire 800 (Backup), Windows XP Pro

Gigastudio Main System,:
Same as Nuendo Main System above :

3x Gigastudio Cube Subsystems
Each:Intel P4 2.8GHz, microATX motherboard 865 chipset, 1024MB DDR RAM, 200GB Maxtor SATA 16MB cache, CDRW, Windows XP

Now, I plan to buy the entire hardware from http://www.carillondirect.com">http://www.carillondirect.com and I will certainly ask their advise as well as to netowrking soultions .

However, if anyone around could guide me as to what 1GB LAN cards and most important as to what SWITCH to consider..... much appreciated!!!.... I plan to network all 6 maschines ( I have another Tower with 2.4Ghz, 1 Gig Ram, Raptor Raid-0, Lacie drices etc) via FXTeleport and the hopefully soon coming FXGigaport thingy.....

If you wish to look up the maschines, it is the AC-1X dual xenon, and the Cube as subsystems that I consider for this setup.

All your comments and/or alternative suggestions are most welcome!

Thanks for looking at it.
Best wishes
~^..^~
Bear

[Sergino Futurino]

for your main Giga machine I think is it good waiting for GIGA3 (and Gigapulse) before buying.
Ciao
Sergino

[Chris Adams]

Hi

This has been done before for Logic and might be relevant here

Users set up a site where they can post their own measurements on their own systems - according to an agreed set of tests, e.g. you could have a minimalist style piece with a big track count. You would measure their rating by unmuting tracks one by one till the computer chokes - the track you reach is your rating. Once you've done the test submit all the relevant details CPU/RAM/HD, OS, I/O, brief comment and your rating and in due course it appears on the site for all to see...

Any volunteers? [:)]


cheers
Chris

[cm]

laughingbear - wow, as they say on the carillon website: two steps beyond ...
i'd consider 2 GB RAM for the giga subsystems
for gigabit i'd prefer 3com NICs and the unmanaged 8-port switch - they use jumbo packets automatically, thus reducing TCP/IP overhead and the switch has enough bandwidth an it's backplane. the dual XEON station should actually have a 64bit PCI slot, so you could use the whole available bandwith on this system
christian

[laughingbear]

@Sergio:

Yeah, one of the guys at Carillon is a betatester, and things seem to change day in day out, as of now, it seems that dual CPU is not supported, may be will when the product is released.... as of now, just by mentioning hyperthreading GS3 beta seems to crash.... LOL

@Christian:
[:O]ops: Me being total network zombie.... 2 Gig for the Giga subs, ok done.
As for the switch and the card.... do you have a more specific thingy please.... something like what card exactlty, and what 3com switch.... I looked it up at DABS.com, but there are so many vards and switches, i am lost.... Ideally, I need to get back to them and tell them THIS is what I want preinstalled..... Sorry for such dummy questions Christian, and thanks again for looking at it. I probably go with the Nuendo Maschine and the Sub-Maschines to setup FX Teleport, Wait until GS3 is out, hopefully this year... and then buy the GS Maschine accordingly...

[Jean]

@laughingbear said:

my setup

Thank you for making me feel small! [[:|]]

[cm]

laughingbear, we have this NIC in almost every machine and this switch as well as the 24-port *brother*.
i'd like to add the switch has some very noisy fans, so you should place it in an extra room, but i think this is what you will do with all this beasts on your shopping list ...
christian
ps: maybe you should ask if some of the pc's have already gigabit built in to avoid extra costs
pps: i cannot detect any problems with GS3 and hyperthreading here, but it runs exclusively on P4C800 and shuttle SB-75G, both have the Intel 875P chipset, be it prescott or northwood processors ...

[laughingbear]

Dear Christian, thanks VERY much for the links!!.... on another note... interestingly enough... I learned that carillon is testing out dual opterons as we speak, so chances are pretty good that they may also offer those beasts in the near future....

So long
Best wishes
~^..^~
Bear