Help Build a Computer for Music

My friend is looking for a decktop computer for music producing (softwares like Fruit Loops Syudio and Sony acid pro). I'm guessing a good amount of RAM and a nice sound card would be the most important. My question is, would it be more cost effective to buy a premade desktop or just build one for him? If I build one, what are you guys/gals recommendations?

My friend is looking for a decktop computer for music producing (softwares like Fruit Loops Syudio and Sony acid pro). I'm guessing a good amount of RAM and a nice sound card would be the most important. My question is, would it be more cost effective to buy a premade desktop or just build one for him? If I build one, what are you guys/gals recommendations?

yonikko

I'm not to familiar with recording music or anything but I think a good processor would also be nice.

I'll pick up a good i3 or a decent i5 processor. Oh and I also will need a quiet system for recording so i need some quiet cases. Ill be using the stick heatsink/fan that comes with the processor

Is your friend doing his own recording? (If so what sort of hardware does he have?) Or is the computer just for mixing/composing?

EDIT: nvm just saw the post above, refer to the 2nd question.

Is your friend doing his own recording? (If so what sort of hardware does he have?) Or is the computer just for mixing/composing?

EDIT: nvm just saw the post above, refer to the 2nd question.

NVIDIATI

Oh and he also plugs in his guitar to record it

Anything else you can tell us about the type of recording? Does he plan on using a mic for vocals or instruments (if there are any)? You see there are many different kinds of soundcards, some specialize in recording (taking an analog sound and converting it into digital) while the majority focus on doing the opposite for playback purposes. If there are no analog sources and he wishes to have a high quality sound for playback, then I recommend an external DAC over an internal soundcard.

EDIT: just read the bit about the guitar. If the guitar is running through the keyboard then it is already being converted to a digital sound before being sent to the computer. (unless the midi sends the sound to the PC in an analog state).

Anything else you can tell us about the type of recording? Does he plan on using a mic for vocals or instruments (if there are any)? You see there are many different kinds of soundcards, some specialize in recording (taking an analog sound and converting it into digital) while the majority focus on doing the opposite for playback purposes. If there are no analog sources and he wishes to have a high quality sound for playback, then I recommend an external DAC over an internal soundcard.

EDIT: just read the bit about the guitar. If the guitar is running through the keyboard then it is already being converted to a digital sound before being sent to the computer. (unless the midi sends the sound to the PC in an analog state).

NVIDIATI

Make sure you buy speakers.

Make sure you buy speakers.

dramaybaz

not very familiar with music recording, but it may be one of the few times I recommend a mac, my friend runs a recording studio out of his basement with his mac (bootcamped for anything that needs windows)

apparently the mixing board (that wat it's called?) plugs right in and they're away
course, u need to be able to afford a mac



but yeah, if ur going to be building ur own, go with the standard i5-2500k set-up, 4-8gb ram and add a sound card.

not very familiar with music recording, but it may be one of the few times I recommend a mac, my friend runs a recording studio out of his basement with his mac (bootcamped for anything that needs windows)

apparently the mixing board (that wat it's called?) plugs right in and they're away
course, u need to be able to afford a mac



but yeah, if ur going to be building ur own, go with the standard i5-2500k set-up, 4-8gb ram and add a sound card.

BlackDevil99