How to Build a Music PC

While Apple and many PC companies produce high-quality desktop workstations,
sometimes the best way to get a computer workstation for producing music is to build one for yourself. You can build your own Music PC from scratch; this lets you define your own hardware specifications and system performance. Or you can buy an existing store-bought Apple or PC computer and customize it for music.

Things You'll Need

• ATX Motherboard w/SATA support
• CPU (central processor unit)
• CPU Heatsink w/fan
• ATX Case
• Case fans
• Power supply (500W minimum)
• RAM (2GB minimum)
• SATA Hard drive(s) (recommend 1 terabyte, 10,000RPM minimum)
• CD-R/DVD-R Combo burner(s)
• DVI Video adapter card
• Firewire PCI(e) card
• DVI Flatpanel LCD monitor
• USB keyboard and mouse
• Firewire Audio Interface device (MOTU, Presonus, TC Electronics, etc).
• Operating system
• DAW software (Logic, Pro Tools, Live, etc).

Instructions

Building from scratch

1. Select your motherboard and processor. The performance of your music PC will largely depend on this first selection. Intel Quad Core and similar multi-threading 64-bit processors are the most powerful for the number crunching required to have a low-latency, high-performance music production workstation.

2. Fit your ATX case with the case fans and power supply. Install the motherboard, the CPU, and set the CPU heatsink and fan. The proper heatsink and fan for your processor will be recommended by the CPU manufacturer.

3. Install the RAM, video graphics adapter and Firewire interface. Try to install the maximum amount of memory you can afford to ensure system stability and fast software processing.

4. Install the SATA hard drive(s) and CD-R/DVD-R burner(s). Connect to SATA and power supply connections.

5. Once you have all your hardware configured, connect your monitor, keyboard, and mouse and boot up the machine.

6. Divide your hard drive into at least two partitions. One for the operating system and software; the second for storage and audio data processing.

7. Install the bare minimum operating system onto the first partition. To maintain system performance integrity it is best to use this computer only for music work and not clutter its hard drive with excessive drivers, background processes, or expose it to the risk of viral infection by connecting to the Internet. You can always add drivers and programs as needed.

8. Use "burn-in" software (such as PassMark's BurnInTest) to test each of the components in your system. This will check hardware compatibility, system integrity and performance.

9. Once your system is running search the Internet for optimization techniques to free up more CPU processing and RAM for music workstation applications.

Customizing a store-bought system

1. Backup all your data and information from your manufacturer built system onto external hard drives or DVD-Rs.

2. Wipe the hard drive clean and repartition into two separate partitions.

3. Install the bare minimum operating system onto the first partition. To maintain system performance integrity it is best to use this computer only for music work and not clutter its hard drive with excessive drivers, background processes, or expose it to the risk of viral infection by connecting to the Internet.

4. Install a Firewire interface if your computer does not already have one.

5. Once your system is running search the Internet for optimization techniques to free up more CPU processing and RAM for music workstation applications.

Installing the Audio interface

1. Make sure to install all firewire audio interface drivers before connecting the interface.

2. Connect the audio interface with a firewire cable.

3. Install your DAW software and any necessary support software.

4. Re-boot and start making music.

Tips & Warnings

• The process of building a computer is quite difficult. It may cause a lot of frustration and require extensive troubleshooting. It is recommended that you have some foundational experience with computer hardware to undertake the task of building a music workstation from scratch.

References

• 10 Ways to Optimize Your PC for Music Production
• New Egg (computer components distrobution)
• Tweaking Your Music Computer