-How much power do we need ?
-Do we make better music if we are using the latest and greatest?
-Do we have to change our computers very often to catch up with the current trend?
-Have we passed the point of usefulness ?
-Is the technology we are using an overkill?
No to all. You only need a lot of horse power if you are doing I guess huge modern film or TV scores and using tons of track of sampled instruments. I work on mostly demos with other songwriters. I am still pretty much running on a 10 year old DAW and get my work done. Where you will get nailed is with some VI or effects plugin software makers who make some product that are computer resource hungry. If you chose to use them (I will not mention names) you will need to upgrade your DAW system. Does it make a difference? Yes, sometimes, the newer fancier products do sound better. But from my experience, my music has always pretty much sounded like my music in my style – regardless of what products I use or when it was made. But technology needs to advance and more forward. And VIs and plugins are big consumer centric business today, and have gotten amazing and advanced compared to what we were using 10 or 20 years ago. You probably have more tools and options today in your home bedroom DAW than some of the studios that made big records for labels did 20 years ago. Maybe thats a good thing? Maybe it’s a bad thing? I dont know the right answer to that. I just use what I know how to use that gets me results and gets things done. I try to limit having to re-learn to do certain things unless its really gonna make a big difference in the end result.
1 Like
I agree with you i can make my work even with Cubase SX it is up to the user
It depends on what you are doing with that computer/software. I think that I should upgrade stuff only when there is real need for that. For example if an old PC or MAC can do work fine - then its awesome. Same for software. Being on the edge of technology could harm stability and overal creative experience. But on the other side when things start to slow down creative process or just cant do what you want from them - then could be the time for upgrade or update of stuff.
I agree that you only need a fast cpu, lots of ram and great psu (if you have a heavy video card) only if you are using the latest software and make more than 400/500 tracks per project with sample libraries, video editing and so.
In my case with my realtively old machine (i7 6700 from 2016) i can manage to use 220 tracks purged with lots of effects and 12 minutes of midi data across the entire project and the cpu is handling quite nice but in some parts it reachs at 99%, but it can handle it (this is an orchestral mockup of a big ost).
So in summary it will depend of the number of tracks, type of libraries and type of music that you are doing and of course the hardware requeriments of all the software that you are using.
Personally i dont think the newest hardware is an overkill, one can always stress to the limits the hardware with more vst tracks xD
1 Like
Overkill = longer lifespan.
3 Likes
Are you talking about technology or music?
If you’re talking about music, a good instrument and a voice if you’re writing songs, that’s all you need, and Love…
If you want to produce everything yourself, Cubase with Steinberg’s recommendations for IT requirements is more than enough. A good audio interface, microphones and a suitable Midi keyboard will be necessary.
Cubase gives you all the tools, no additional purchases needed. Only your limitations will prevent you from producing quality things.
On the other hand, if you let yourself be tempted by all the technological offers, Plugins, hardware, etc. open your wallet and take out the cash… There are no limits…
2 Likes
Yes i know a piano and piece of paper will do but what about the in the middle approach ?
the sweet spot not the extremes for example will i need an 8 core or a 32 core CPU, 32or 64 GB Ram?
what are most Cubase users use?
At the bottom of the page, you have the recommendations according to the various versions and operating systems.
You have to identify your needs correctly, otherwise the bill can mount up quite quickly.
Here is what I have and it will suit me for a few more years:
Processor Intel(R) Core™ i7-10700 CPU @ 2.90GHz 2.90 GHz
Installed RAM 32.0 GB (31.8 GB usable)
System Type 64-bit operating system, x64 processor
Windows 11 Home Edition
Version 22H2
Can you give me an idea of how many VSTs you can get out of it in a typical scenario? (OK Roughly)
I like doing everything in the box. My last system before changing to M1 Mac Studio was windows 10 with ryzen 2700x (8 core - 16 thread) system with 64gb of ram. I would have my buffer settings 256 and pretend not to notice the redundant echo (latency). If I was just tracking 1 guitar to mess around with ideas, I could go 128 for a couple of tracks but I would start popping and having audio dropouts. I could direct monitor with 256 buffer settings in windows and I worked like that since the PENTIUM 4 days.
With the M1 mac studio, I can do live drums, 4 gtr tracks, bass, 3 vocals, reverb on send, delay on send and still keep the buffer setting at 128 (which gives no noticeable latency). I have been told by other musicians that they get about the same benefit from an M1 mac mini.
That being said, you can get quality results from older equipment. It’s about optimizing your setup. Don’t go plug-in happy on the tracking stage. Understand limitations with VSTi vs FREEZING or bouncing tracks. You can deactivate a track, hide it after bouncing/exporting the track, and still go back to it if you feel like a change is needed.
i have seen a somebody in these forums with 155 VSTs and 1500 effects in one project
When tracking (64 bit buffer or 128 bit buffer) to avoid latency and glitching, use the least plug ins to get by. As you build up, especially if you are VSTi heavy, you can start upping the buffer size… when editing you can definitely up the buffer size.
But bear in mind you may want to FREEZE or bounce your tracks because computers can work with sound easier than VSTi. Some issues on older system might be the inability to get multiple tracks from the hard disk fast enough. If your system is old enough that it has a spinning hard disk, this might become a bigger issue than your processor or ram.
How old of a system are you dealing with? I still use 1st generation core i7-920 from 2008/2009. The hard drive speed is the limiting factor. Still a great family room computer for Netflix and good enough for me to noodle around on guitar when no one is in the living room.
And you read the replies, yes?
Your point is … ?
My point is that we have way passed the point of usefulness .,
My system is built around An I9 9900k
In terms of raw computing power, your system is fine for any DAW. Cubase will work well. If you are running windows, check out this site:
https://www.sweetwater.com/sweetcare/articles/pc-optimization-guide-for-windows-10/
or
https://www.sweetwater.com/sweetcare/mac-pc-optimization/
If you are using multiple NVME in your system, speed should not be an issue either. DAWs will be fine. Music production is nowhere near as intensive as Video production. You should have many more years of use out of that system.
Thanks.