| Here are tips to improve the reliability of your | | | | and if you are doing a long session without much |
| computer for use as a recording studio for your music. | | | | ventilation you can cook your drive and cause it to fail |
| Working with Audio can place a high demand on your | | | | prematurely. (internal drives are less prone to this |
| computer's capabilities - from the CPU to storage and | | | | because they usually receive cooling from the power |
| memory.Below are some tips that will increase the | | | | supply fan and you can mount them in such a way |
| performance of your computer and make it less prone | | | | that there is an air gap between each of them for |
| to crashes when you are recording or editing your | | | | circulation). |
| music. | | | | Removal or disabling of other programs. |
| Preparation: | | | | The absolute best computer based recording studios in |
| Before you install recording software check the | | | | terms of speed and stability are those that are |
| following.CPU speed and memory- | | | | dedicated units – in other words they are set up to |
| Most modern computers that are only a couple of | | | | specifically record and edit music. |
| years old will have a processor that is equal to or | | | | This means they are not connected to the internet |
| exceeding the minimum CPU speed your editing | | | | (except for updates and registering the software), |
| software requires but it is still worth checking – | | | | they don't have anti virus running, screen savers or |
| particularly if you have machine that is earlier than this | | | | other widgets running in the background that use up |
| (be aware that processor speed, along with memory | | | | memory and CPU. |
| will determine how many tracks of audio you can | | | | The result is that dedicated computers are far more |
| record and the number of effects you can have | | | | reliable and tend to have significantly less |
| running simultaneously. | | | | problems.Windows is particularly notorious for having |
| The same goes for required RAM (most good | | | | many programs running in the background and can |
| recording programs state a minimum of 512 | | | | cause havoc with your audio work. Mac is less |
| megabytes) More is better- a gigabyte or higher (in | | | | so.Consult an expert when disabling background |
| fact increasing the memory of your computer can | | | | programs – some are vital for the operation of your |
| compensate for a slower processor to some degree | | | | computer and should be left alone – others are ok |
| and is probably the cheapest way to add more speed | | | | to shut down (you just need to know what can and |
| to your machine). | | | | cannot be touched). |
| Storage space – | | | | If you are financially able, and serious about recording |
| In most cases you will have enough storage on your | | | | – try to get yourself a computer just for audio work |
| operating system hard drive to install the software and | | | | and keep your current machine for the internet and |
| related effects – what I'm referring to is a second | | | | any other work you might be doing.If you can't do this |
| drive dedicated to storing your songs and all the files | | | | and are stuck with just one machine – do the |
| they are created from. | | | | following. |
| This is a must, because having both your software | | | | Upgrade the RAM if you need to. |
| and songs on the same drive will place a high demand | | | | Uninstall any programs you don't use and do a |
| both on your drive and CPU as it tries to find, read and | | | | thorough clean up. |
| write and execute a program all at the same time | | | | Disable background processes that are not essential |
| from one location. | | | | to the running of your machine (This applies to |
| Also note that music files are large so you'll need a lot | | | | Windows only) – again if in doubt get expert help. |
| of space – one five minute recording can easily be | | | | Close your internet connection and disable automatic |
| 250 megabytes or more – multiply that by eight for | | | | updates and anti virus etc while you are recording (you |
| a song consisting of eight different instruments, (each | | | | can re-enable them later when you are done). |
| on an individual track) such as drums, bass, guitar, | | | | Use a plain background as wallpaper. |
| keyboard and vocals and you begin to get the idea | | | | Defragment your hard drive and (make sure your |
| that a 40 gigabyte drive will fill up fairly quickly so go | | | | operating system has no errors first and is up to date) |
| for something bigger (say 150 gigs or larger). | | | | before installing your recording software and any |
| Choose a reliable brand and get an external drive to | | | | drivers you might be using for your sound card or |
| keep your files backed up. | | | | external inputs. |
| While we are on the subject of hard drives – if you | | | | You are now good to go – install your recording |
| are planning on using an external drive and writing | | | | gear and enjoy less problems on a more stable |
| directly to it, choose a unit that has a cooling fan. | | | | computer. |
| Enclosed drives can generate and trap a lot of heat | | | | |