so i'm looking to build a computer mainly to run Pro Tools....basically just sound editing and design, etc.... nothing crazy with video, no gaming or anything....i've built systems in the past but this is for a friend and i'm just seeing if anyone out there is familiar with this software and knows what it really hungers for in a computer, any help would be great, thanks

I've only ever used Reason 4.0, Ableton Suite. From what I've just quickly researched,
ProTools is like Reason. You have quad cores (don't no if Pro Tools utilises all cores),
4Gb of Ram, a decent enough GPU for the Pro Tools GUI so everything should be ok.
However if you have Pro Tools HD, you're going to possibly run into problems with
the GUI and your 7800GTX. Maybe not, but I do think this could be a strain on your
card. If, in the other-hand you have the LE version, graphically you'll be fine.
One thing that you have left out - and is the most vitally important - is the sound card!!

You've listed all your hardware bar the sound card. So at this stage, your computers
performance with regards to Pro Tools in nil because for all I know you could have
an onboard sound card, and if you did, then Pro Tools wouldn't work. If you do have
a sound card in the PCi, I hope it's a decent one. Any onboard or cheap sound card
will give clicks, white noise, stutters.....

Let me know what sound card you have. I'll have to check out this Pro Tools. It does
look like Reason.

Edit: Just checked up on Pro Tools, and if you have HD version you get a series
of sound cards to fit into your computer!! Sweet. Actually, just looking at the
pro tools on YouTube, and your GPU will handle this no problem!

Yes, Pro Tools HD comes with the tools you need for audio playback. I've always been a Cubase/Nuendo person; thus, I've always had to search out for ASIO compliant sound cards and/or use ASIO4ALL drivers.

Your build should be able to handle Pro Tools, but I do have one concern. I'm not quite sure if Pro Tools has ever had issues, but certain keyboard and mouse drivers would make Nuendo glitchy for me and many other Nuendo users, which is why I would be a bit concerned about installing the drivers for the Logitech MX700 set.

I hope the build goes well.

Just been looking at the latest Cuebase the other day. Looks pretty good. I used
Cuebase way back in 1998 on my old crappy Atari with the Yamaha DJX I had at the
time. Hey, it done the job!

actually the build i have listed is for MY current computer....the computer for pro tools i'm building for a friend...i just wanted input on an ample amount of RAM needed to run programs like this, and maybe what processor would suffice but NOT be overkill, he's looking to spend $700 max on this build and i just wanted to know wut main things i would need to focus on

Any dual or quad core would do the job perfectly.

would i need any special type of sound card?? or well something decent obviously not onboard suffice...he also plans to hook up a keyboard (piano) and microphone to the computer too

I think that you can get some recording packages with Pro Tools, where you'll get the sound card you need. If you go Cubase, you'll be better off to go with a ASIO compliant sound card. I have a Creative xi-fi extreme gamer card which is ASIO compliant and it really increased the amount of VST effects and tracks I can load into a project with out lagging in performance and recording has zero artifacts in the wave files.

Also, I've always read that it's good for digital audio workstations to match the motherboard's chip set to the processor. Another thing that I would consider is to incorporate a firewire card, preferably one with a Texas Instruments chip set. This would give the user expandability in the future in case he wants to start incorporating firewire recording devices.

Speaking from my experience, I would prefer to go with a 32 bit OS. A dual boot system would be even better since you could fully optimize one OS for audio editing and recording and set up the other OS for everyday stuff.

I hope this helps.

In order to run Pro Tools you need a Pro Tools compliant Audicard/Interface, so your looking $250-$300 at least for one of those. As far as I know only Digidesign makes Pro Tools Hardware:
http://www.sweetwater.com/shop/pro-tools/

So if he only wants to spend $700 he has to look else where for an Audio Program or save up about $300 more.

Sean's post is why I've stuck with Cubase and Nuendo. However, the good thing about Pro Tools running only on compliant hardware is that you will, hopefully, run into less issues.

Thanks for the post, Sean.

Hmm I tend to disagree. If you are going to invest in music software equipment
(which can cost from hundreds of £'s/$'s and upwards) and if you are serious and have
passion about it, you will invest in the best hardware. If on the other hand, the originator's
friends is doing this as a bedroom hobby, then I'd say the HD version is not for him.
Ask anyone who's serious about music production.

One can't recommend another piece of software since this ProTools has - by the sounds of it - been already purchased.
If there's Midi Equipment to be used, an interface to the
sound card will be required and if you're not wanting to dig deep, then there's little
room for compromise. The only piece of music hardware I'm lacking is the M-Audio
sound card, which I'd love to have, but can't afford at this time. So I'm stuck with
my X-Fi sound card. But it'll do for me at this time.

Overall, if you are wanting a music production system, cheap Hardware will only hinder the overall
quality. Fact.

"Overall, if you are wanting a music production system, cheap Hardware will only hinder the overall
quality. Fact."

I fully agree with you there, Tam. Also, I do apologize as I did not realize by the posts that Pro Tools has already been purchased. Thanks for the help.

Chad Mcaulay said:

I'm just assuming that he has from what he's posted lol. But it does sound like it's
already been purchased.

You're right, Tam.

I record and edit audio as a hobby (my own music and projects for others). Sometimes I can't resist making Cubase/Nuendo suggestions since I use Nuendo 2.

Lol that's cool because I also mentioned Reason and Ableton!!
Both excellent tools, but I use Ableton for Mixing, and Reason for Music Production.
I used to use Cuebase about 10 years ago. An excellent tool might I add.
This Nuendo sounds interesting. I'll have to check it out!

Cool, Tam. I really like Nuendo, but if you're doing audio editing, Cubase is really the way to go. I'm wanting to upgrade to Cubase 5 (full edition) soon, but I'll have to save up

I also use the waves diamond bundle v5.0 with Nuendo 2. It has a ton of really good effects and tools for mastering.

Is Reason better than Fruity Loops for creating drums? Thanks for all the info, Tam.

Yeah I use Sony recording products my self, Soundforge 9 for recording and Acid 6 Pro for the sequencing/mixing part. And Fruityloops with Addictive Drums for...well drums and other things.

The reason you can only use Digidesign hardware with ProTools is that the hardware it's self acts as the Cd Key, so it's pretty much impossible to run without it.

Reason is the way forward! It's a virtual studio based on actual studio hardware.
It's the most versatile software i've used. So many samples/loops/synths you name it!
ReDrum's excellent for drum patterns & loops. So many samples 2 upload.
I have fruityloops also and this's an impressive tool. Good for the learner also,
but some professional tunes been made on this.
The Prodigy used Reason to produce all their tracks for one of their albums - Always Outnumbered Never Outgunned

I used 2 use soundforge. I've started using Ableton in place of soundforge - it can do
pretty much what I could do on soundforge - nonetheless, soundforge is a good tool as well.

On the note of Ableton, that's another excellent software package not only for dj'ing,
but also for music production - although i've not really used that for production... yet -
I've yet to explore that a lot more. There's so much out there to choose from!

Thanks for the information, everyone. I'm gonna have to look into Reason. That sounds like an interesting program. I'm a bit different when I record than when I edit. I use a Tascam DP 01 hdd mixer to record and then use my computer to edit the exported tracks from the DP 01. Sometimes I use the computer to record, but I kinda like to keep the recording environment separate from the computer. For editing, mixing and mastering I'll use Nuendo 2 along with the Waves diamond bundle. Other programs I use:

Audition 3.0
Sound Forge Audio Studio 9 (came with Sony Movie Studio Platinum Pack)
Audacity 1.3
Fruity Loops (for creating my drum tracks)

I'm in the process of slowly upgrading some of my equipment; thus, my music creation has slowed some. If you guys would like, I can post a link in another thread to some demos that I've created.

Thanks again, everyone.

I'll make an HWA Musician thread, so we aren't completely Hijaking this one lol

Awesome, Sean! Just saw it. Will be back to post soon.