Help me build a spec for BIG BUDGET Music Production PC

[Nobull]

Ok so a friend of mine is wanting to spend big bucks on a music production PC with all the bells and whistles. For now he'll just be using it in his bedroom, but he is in the process of setting up a proper recording studio so it needs to be able to be up to the task of being the hub of that as well when it's up and running. Now I've been told that essentially there is no budget but obviously I don't want to go crazy.

I've built about a dozen machines in my time for various specs and uses but only built 1 for music production, I'm aware that music isn't everyone's speciality on here but thought someone out in the highly knowledgeable Hexus community might be able to offer some advice.

All I've thought so far is I'll probably build it around an i7 980X as its pretty much the best CPU sensible money can buy, stick a ****load of top RAM in it, probably go with an SSD for the primary drive plus s hedload of extra storage, good cooling, and then do some specialist research for the Music Hardware (here possibly not the best place to look for that).

Anyway if anyone can help, even if its just advice on the core components i.e. CPU/Mobo/RAM/HDDs etc. then please do, any help would be really appreciated

[mycarsavw]

Have you looked at the 3XS Audio Creation section @ Scan

[Domestic_Ginger]

I would not be comfortable spending that much of someone elses moneys putting a sytem together; As above I would get a premade one.

[jetfire]

i use my server for music production, just click on my system for spec.

[MSIC]

Have you looked at the 3XS Audio Creation section @ Scan

+1.

If it's for actual business use, i'd strongly recommend getting Scan to build it, with a full warranty etc.
Bear in mind that anything can go wrong with any component at nearly any time, irrespective of how good a quality they may be or the experience of the builder, and so for business purposes your friend will need things sorting out ASAP (and not by giving you a headache).

Especially since you assert that budget is not the main issue.

I you did however want to press on with the idea of a self-build, i'd have a long read around SilentPCReview website (which is very good anyway, lots of objective assessments and statistical info).

I suppose that you havent specified if the PC will need to be in an environment where it's recording (or playing back quiet music?), so therefore may not need to be silent itself, but if so check out this recent TR review.

Finally, from my good old hobbying keyboard days, i always found SoundOnSound magazine to be an industry standard that would surely have lots of recommendations of 'TurnKey' (pre-built) PCs.

[jimborae]

First thing to find out is if it needs to be in a rackmount case or not as it's going into a recording studio. This will then influence other decisions such as cooling, motherboard storage etc.

[Nobull]

Thanks for the advice guys, I think your right about the prebuilt thing, was thinking the very same thing myself about things going wrong. Looking at the Scan system they have sound proofing and allsorts. I'll see what my friend thinks is best. Might get back to you all if he decides he deffo wants to go self build route.

[jetfire]

this is where i got my system from. i just changed the spec to what i wanted.

http://www.directresolutions.co.uk/