Recording using Windows XP vs. Windows 7

[ghostred7]

Ultimately boils down to the recording software. If you've got a 64bit processor, 4GB+ RAM, and 64bit recording software, it should scream in Win 7. Like Fred and others, I've had zero problems with Win 7...and lemme put this disclaimer out there: I HATE WINDOWS!!! That being said and running a side gig as a freelance video person (music, weddings, whatever), I needed to run Win b/c I couldn't afford a Mac AND the Adobe Master Collection CS5.

For recording software, I go a weird route....I use Sonar for the basic tracks and such and then export them in lossless quality to an aiff, wav, or something similar and then use Adobe Soundbooth to master in. Soundbooth has a substantial amount of FX built in...AND....should I do anything that would end up on video....i could do up to 7.1 surround.

[Gemmeadia]

BTW, i really like Windows 7 and love it on my laptop.. but like this thread is saying, i would go for XP for strictly recording purposes. I would get bored with it otherwise though

[Taylor]

As someone who records on a daily basis with 50+ tracks and many plugins, I have to say that Windows 7 (ultimate 64-bit) is by FAR the most reliable and stable OS I've used.
Period.

[bubingaisgod]

Originally Posted by ZackP3750

Holy shit guys, didn't think this one would be revived! Haha, thanks for everyone's input. When I say I want to do some recording, I really mean basic stuff (literally GuitarPort -> DAW). I'm not skilled enough to program drums like the djent kings, and being in my last semester of college doesn't afford me much time to learn, but I still plan on recording some guitar riffs just to get them down.


I'm also considering getting a new hard drive for my desktop. Right now I have an IDE-cable hard drive, but am thinking about jumping to SATA. Does hard drive speed play into recording? I know SATA hard drives are quite a bit faster than IDE, but would that impact recording (ie latency issues)?

Sounds like the key word here is IDE Hard drive. That will certainly cause cracks and pops, and latency, especially when playing back tracks while recording to the click. I record over a hundred tracks sometimes on Windows 7 with my RME Fireface UFX, and have had no issues whatsoever. A firewire card with a Texas Instruments chipset is also needed to record on Windows 7 PCs.

[Frank_Domine]

Originally Posted by Gemmeadia

^ yeah, 7 is not so great for recording. For me, recording with a pod x3 is tough because once in awhile it will cut out all sound and the only way to get it back, even through my laptop speakers is to manually shut down. If i was building a computer for only recording, i would go with XP for sure.

Same problem, bud

[DGKarehere]

I certainly prefer windows 7 to windows xp. Never had any problems with it

[philoking]

As an employee of Microsoft I just want to say you guys suck. (Kidding) Let it go. Put the XP down. Step away from the XP. It's time. I am happy to provide free grief counseling to anyone experiencing separation anxiety.

[Frank_Domine]

Originally Posted by philoking

I am happy to provide free grief counseling to anyone experiencing separation anxiety.

hahaha

[bubingaisgod]

Originally Posted by philoking

As an employee of Microsoft I just want to say you guys suck. (Kidding) Let it go. Put the XP down. Step away from the XP. It's time. I am happy to provide free grief counseling to anyone experiencing separation anxiety.

In all seriousness, if you have any tips on configuration of Windows 7 64-Bit, to gear it more towards audio recording, that might help a great deal of people here.

One issue I hear a lot about and randomly happens to me as well, is unexpected software monitoring latency. As in, I'm recording for several hours, and then out of nowhere, I will start getting 100-200ms latency through the SOFTWARE monitoring in my DAW.

Using DPC Latency Checker, it seems that call instructions for the USB bus, and the network drivers are randomly interfering with the processing of real time audio.

I found that restarting the computer will "reset the clock", but in all seriousness, when I have paying customers coming in, guess what OS I use? Ding! Windows XP SP3 motherfather!! That damn OS still supports most modern recording hardware, and although it's 32-Bit and only supports 3GB of RAM, I have 8GB installed using a 5GB RAMDisk, in which I point my temp directories and VST plug-ins.

It's not that Windows 7 is unstable or bad for recording, quite the opposite. The main issue is that paying studio customers will quickly label you an amateur if you show even the slightest technical mishap in front of them. An unexplained latency issue is sure to keep your client list emptyyy!

[KingAenarion]

Originally Posted by bubingaisgod

In all seriousness, if you have any tips on configuration of Windows 7 64-Bit, to gear it more towards audio recording, that might help a great deal of people here.

One issue I hear a lot about and randomly happens to me as well, is unexpected software monitoring latency. As in, I'm recording for several hours, and then out of nowhere, I will start getting 100-200ms latency through the SOFTWARE monitoring in my DAW.

Using DPC Latency Checker, it seems that call instructions for the USB bus, and the network drivers are randomly interfering with the processing of real time audio.

I found that restarting the computer will "reset the clock", but in all seriousness, when I have paying customers coming in, guess what OS I use? Ding! Windows XP SP3 motherfather!! That damn OS still supports most modern recording hardware, and although it's 32-Bit and only supports 3GB of RAM, I have 8GB installed using a 5GB RAMDisk, in which I point my temp directories and VST plug-ins.

It's not that Windows 7 is unstable or bad for recording, quite the opposite. The main issue is that paying studio customers will quickly label you an amateur if you show even the slightest technical mishap in front of them. An unexplained latency issue is sure to keep your client list emptyyy!

The only issues I have had with Windows 7 are user errors. Never had that latency issue with Pro Tools, Ableton or what is currently my main DAW, Studio One. The only times I have ever had problems was when software or drivers were not updated.

Also if you have a slight technical issue when you have a client, you don't charge them for the time. Simple... unless you're running a multi-room professional studio with On-site AVID sameday support and multiple redundancies (like you would in a TV post production studio) musicians will usually I have found be quite accommodating as they are used to technical issues.

[philoking]

Originally Posted by bubingaisgod

It's not that Windows 7 is unstable or bad for recording, quite the opposite. The main issue is that paying studio customers will quickly label you an amateur if you show even the slightest technical mishap in front of them. An unexplained latency issue is sure to keep your client list emptyyy!

Yea, I don't know that much about configuring it honestly, I use a Mac. We have an internal mailing alias full of happing Win7 recorders though.

[WhiteWalls]

I have XP on my home computer and 7 on my laptop, right now I don't really see any difference between the two, but there certainly was a (pretty long) period of time when recording with windows 7 was impossible because of asio/driver issues, bugs, etc.

Now that 7 has been out for a while it seems that many of the issues have been fixed

[Larcher]

dat necro bump