11-05-2016, 10:28 PM
(This post was last modified: 11-05-2016, 10:29 PM by Otto Halmén.
Edit Reason: clarity
)
Welcome aboard, Viktor!
As to computer hardware, a CPU that's an i5 or greater typically suffices, especially for conventional sample-based orchestral productions. An i5, in my experience, lets you run plenty of sampler instances and several reverb instances without breaking a sweat.
If you're running low-to-mid level libraries, your best bet is to focus on RAM over solid state drives. An SSD can be helpful, but most samplers load the samples into RAM on the fly so the benefits of faster disk access aren't that significant. If you're using libs in the tens or hundreds of gigabytes (e.g. EWQL Hollywood series, Orchestral Tools Berlin series), an SSD does help a lot, as such vast amounts of samples often won't fit into RAM at once and will have to be streamed from disk during playback and recording.
In any case, an external hard drive with a copy of REAPER, your sample libs, plugins, and project files backed up is a good idea. If your main computer breaks, you'll be able to pick up your work the moment you get a new computer.
As to a USB interface, be sure to check out plenty of user reviews. Placing the interface box away from the computer helps with the noises in most cases, and your recording booth should in any case be some distance away from the computer. For a low-cost basic multi-purpose interface, my own recommendation is the Presonus Audiobox USB. It's fully USB-powered, has two DI/line/mic/phantom inputs and is fairly low on noise.
I wouldn't consider this a strictly Noob Zone topic. That forum is mostly aimed towards people who are just getting started in concepts such as MIDI and digital audio.
As to computer hardware, a CPU that's an i5 or greater typically suffices, especially for conventional sample-based orchestral productions. An i5, in my experience, lets you run plenty of sampler instances and several reverb instances without breaking a sweat.
If you're running low-to-mid level libraries, your best bet is to focus on RAM over solid state drives. An SSD can be helpful, but most samplers load the samples into RAM on the fly so the benefits of faster disk access aren't that significant. If you're using libs in the tens or hundreds of gigabytes (e.g. EWQL Hollywood series, Orchestral Tools Berlin series), an SSD does help a lot, as such vast amounts of samples often won't fit into RAM at once and will have to be streamed from disk during playback and recording.
In any case, an external hard drive with a copy of REAPER, your sample libs, plugins, and project files backed up is a good idea. If your main computer breaks, you'll be able to pick up your work the moment you get a new computer.
As to a USB interface, be sure to check out plenty of user reviews. Placing the interface box away from the computer helps with the noises in most cases, and your recording booth should in any case be some distance away from the computer. For a low-cost basic multi-purpose interface, my own recommendation is the Presonus Audiobox USB. It's fully USB-powered, has two DI/line/mic/phantom inputs and is fairly low on noise.
I wouldn't consider this a strictly Noob Zone topic. That forum is mostly aimed towards people who are just getting started in concepts such as MIDI and digital audio.