Sweetwater Creation Stations

[ForefrontStudio]

are they worth the money? I am in need for a new computer, and the idea of getting one specificly built for audio recording appeals to me greatly. but on the flip side, I also have a $3k credit limit through dell. so I am inclined to think, could I just order a custom built pc through dell that would have just as much power and stability for less $$$? I'd have to get a firewire card to two though. or does anyone have any other suggestions? I'm really fond of the idea of quad processors. I'd like at least 4-6 gb or ram too. I just really want a computer thay I can "grow into"

this is the one I'm thinking about nabbing:
http://www.sweetwater.com/creation_station/csrackxt.php

 

[AdamWathan]

That Sweetwater system is going to perform way better for audio than any Dell unit, if you're like me and want it to work properly exactly as intended right out of the box, go with the Sweetwater PC.

Check out www.adkproaudio.com as well for another somewhat affordable custom audio PC option.

 

[SocialNumb]

If you're going windblows, you're better off building your own. For that money you can get a killer Mac.

 

[Tommy Gun]

http://store.apple.com/us/browse/home/shop_mac/family/imac

or

http://www.apple.com/macpro/

Same price range... more power, more reliability.

 

[ForefrontStudio]

ok. time for a stupid question.... if I use a mac and run cubase, can I use vst's? or are vst's windows based? I always thought the difference was the DAW program, not the platform... am I wrong?

 

[AdamWathan]

ok. time for a stupid question.... if I use a mac and run cubase, can I use vst's? or are vst's windows based? I always thought the difference was the DAW program, not the platform... am I wrong?

There are Windows VSTs and Mac VSTs, you can't use a Windows version of a plugin on a Mac and vise versa. Cubase on a Mac does support VSTs of course! You just need to make sure you get the Mac VST.

 

[AudioGeekZine]

Most respectable brands make VSTS for Mac and Windows. There's plenty out there.

 

[Tommy Gun]

There are Windows VSTs and Mac VSTs, you can't use a Windows version of a plugin on a Mac and vise versa. Cubase on a Mac does support VSTs of course! You just need to make sure you get the Mac VST.

+1
Also with a Mac you get the use of all the Logic-based AU (Audio Unit) plugins. Though, I have no clue whether or not there is a way to use those with Cubase. However, you would have all the plugins either way. They are usually already installed on any Mac you purchase. I use Pro Tools and Reaper. PT, of course, only supports RTAS, but Reaper supports VST and AU, so I've been using Reaper for Mixing a lot lately.

The one thing I cannot stress enough is that IF you decide to buy a Mac, MAKE SURE you buy the Apple Care Protection Plan along with it. It's just about the best warranty-coverage in the business.... unthinkable not to get it.

 

[mick thompson]

looks good and has a high spec - i'd go for it but im a mac man

 

[Tommy Gun]

looks good and has a high spec - i'd go for it but im a mac man

hehe... once you go Mac, you never go back...

 

[ForefrontStudio]

I have very little experience with a mac. but I am VERY comfortable on a PC. I've been building them since I was 12 (although I am much better with software than hardware). the main thing for me is I just want something I am comfortable with, and something I can use a lot of free plugins with. a lot of the plugins I use now are free vst's I downloaded, and a lot of them are vst only... although that's probably not reason enough to stick with PC over MAC...

 

[Tommy Gun]

i use a ton of free VST plugins on Mac

 

[egan.]

For the $ of the creation station I would build or run a mac dual boot. That's just me. FWIW I built a machine comparable to the CS you linked (Asus mobo, i7, 8gb of RAM, 2x500gB HD's) in a regular case for under $1200 including buying the OS several months back.

 

[mick thompson]

i use a ton of free VST plugins on Mac

im not running any vst's on mac - most of the ones i used in the past for windows were .dll only and not vst format so i couldn't convert over to easy