KVR Audio

SiliconDeath · Post by **SiliconDeath** » Thu Jun 26, 2025 8:39 pm

Best windows are the leanest ones, that they don't sell for regular customers, the Windows IoT Enterprise LTSC. It's the one that doesn't come with any of the Microsoft bloat, so is the leanest version of Windows.

legendCNCD · Post by **legendCNCD** » Wed Jul 02, 2025 10:07 am

SiliconDeath wrote: Thu Jun 26, 2025 8:39 pm Best windows are the leanest ones, that they don't sell for regular customers, the Windows IoT Enterprise LTSC. It's the one that doesn't come with any of the Microsoft bloat, so is the leanest version of Windows.

One can use tools like NTLite or such to select parts of the OS to install or not, at least on Windows 10/11 Pro. I did not install defender, store, etc. as this is audio machine first. And with Pro one can say to Update not to run, via GPO's. You can now run it when YOU want to update, eg. after taking backups.

legendCNCD · Post by **legendCNCD** » Wed Jul 02, 2025 10:34 am

nvm. wrong forum/place altogether

vex_cro · Post by **vex_cro** » Thu Jul 03, 2025 7:55 pm

For 2000 bucks you can buy 16 core 9950x cpu, 192gb of ram, 3x smaller nvme drives, Torrent Compact case etc. etc. Just to make a difference...

zerocrossing · Post by **zerocrossing** » Thu Jul 03, 2025 8:55 pm

clintmartin wrote: Sun Feb 02, 2025 4:00 pm So sticking with PC is starting to feel like the wise thing to do.
For audio, is the latest gen i5 just as good as an i7 or i9?
I noticed at Studio Cat Jim Roseberry’s PCs all seem to use i5s.
I think 32gb of ram would be plenty for what I do. EZD3 and maybe EZK2 are the only instruments I usually use. The rest is guitars, bass and vocals.

You can never have too much computing power. That's been my experience. What you pay for in extra money goes a long way to put off the inevitable obsolescence of your computer. Mac build quality is high, but it's a very curated experience. PCs can be all over the place, but you can definitely build something that's as good as a Mac, and maybe even better.

Here's why I go for a PC and have someone build it for me. I've got an old Apollo 8 Firewire interface that's worked on Macs, then PCs (with a $30 PCIe Firewire card) and now that they kind of screwed me over and made their software stop supporting Firewire, for $300 I got a Thunderbolt card for the interface and the computer and I don't have to be stuck on the previous UAD software. I'm going to run that interface into the ground like a 70s Honda Civic.

Macs are not that flexible. I also added a second PCIe USB card to get more i/o without having to resort to a USB hub, which can sometimes be problematic. In the past, I've had issues with developers updating their software to work on the latest OSX, or processor revision. I can update my processor, memory, etc. Add drives. I like that kind of ability.

But either way, you will find things to be annoyed with. Windows is a bit more annoying, always trying to stuff things at you. (no Microsoft, I do not care about the weather or news headlines, and I don't care about the beautify landscape of the day.) Apple also has a great ecology, so it all sort of works in tandem. I can play a song on my Apple TV and then have it move to different Apple devices at will, and even play on a few at a time. BTW, my i11 build cost me about $2,000 and I just went to a local shop who had all the components I wanted, helped me choose stuff, and put it all together for a nominal charge. When I had an issue (user error), they were very nice and helpful. Central Computers is it's name, they're in the SF Bay area, but I don't know if they're national.

jamcat · Post by **jamcat** » Fri Jul 04, 2025 5:50 am

I wouldn't build a whole computer around an obsolete audio device. I would avoid the sunk cost fallacy and just replace it. I have a Firewire device collecting dust which I haven't used in several years. USB3 is faster than Firewire by a lot. There's just no need for Firewire and hasn't been for a long time.

Michael L · Post by **Michael L** » Fri Jul 04, 2025 12:23 pm

Thunderbolt is now at v5 with double the bandwidth of v3. There are good Thunderbolt audio interfaces from Apollo, Presonus, motu, antelope, zoom…
Also, cost should not be the deciding factor. Other things are much more important.

clintmartin · Post by **clintmartin** » Wed Jul 09, 2025 1:46 am

I have the MOTU M4 which I plan to keep.
Still trying to decide whether to have a PC built or give the Mac mini a try.
Other than my iPhone I’ve never owned a Mac. A little nervous about changing my recording paradigm, but also it would be a fresh change.

Should I buy a new PC or new iMac?