Old hardware/software = known quantity, most bugs fixed or documented (= easier to circumvent). Fast enough for audio, office work, web browsing for a very long time (€200 machine will last 5-8 years).

New hardware/softwarw = new, unknown bugs, unpaid beta tester, little documentation. First generation always has issues, get unlucky = no fix until product refresh (= pay again). Pay premium for having the latest of something. Newer stuff = often more locked down and less customisable.

 

if it ain't broke, don't fix it.

 

Wow! I thought I was just getting a regular Foster update, but who knew Foster’s next evolution would be some female/trans avatarian edition that embodies the idea of 'serene enchantments'? That’s one way of trying to keep us on our toes!

Welcome back and let's arrange an Incontro with FtrOllSTER⁉️⁉️⁉️⁉️

 

Last edited: Feb 8, 2025

It's all pretty much about creating content - music/video and you need a reliable computer. Once you manage to assemble one and use it for years, it's not so trivial to get a new one and install everything you use overnight. It's actually impossible and it takes a lot of time... and for what?

I'm actually using a very modern OS - Debian 12. It was released last year.
However, I have Windows 10 on my old laptop and several Windows 7 backups for both computers, with all the software, ready to be installed within minutes, because you never know.

Buying older and second hand hardware will not only save you money, but it will save you from many headaches with ultra new computers which haven't been tested as much. It's always a good idea to buy somewhat older components that have the latest or last ever BIOS and drivers. Never buy anything v1.0! That goes for software, too.

 

I want to know why people that change plugin parameters ten years after probably aren't making music professionally?

sorry about my english, I am trying

 

you can produce good stuff with just an ol MPC and few vinyls, a mic or a piano, a bass & guitar and a cheap synth. nothing more.

 

Last edited: Feb 8, 2025

in order to understand the world, you must observe the world. Upgrades and New operating systems do not exist for the benefit of the buyer (aka often the USER). they exist to generate revenue and perhaps income to the seller.

if a thing works, doing a task well, we have a reasonable expectation it will continue to do so, barring physical damage etc.

Why would any sane person spend money, time and frustration, replacing a working machine and software with an unknown entity?
1. social pressure (clicks and likes in their own mind)
2. Advertising and marketing - the basis of which is always, "you are inadequate and can only be made whole by buying whatever we are selling."

an older machine has.

1. cheap replacement parts
2. is usually easy to upgrade
3. has a vast body of troubleshooting knowledge easily available on the internet
4. ongoing and maintenance cost is a fraction of a fraction what buying a new machine would cost.
5. its a known entity, that is understood by the user and requires no learning curve or wasted time to use.

in the history of mankind, a machine was only replaced when it wore out or was obsolete because of an amazing advance in invention or manufacture. a dot or point upgrade to a piece of software is not an amazing advancement.

most "advancements" in operating systems in the windows world have been to add telemetery to spy on the user or purchaser of the software ,and to feed advertising into operating system, as well as driving them to using online subscriptions for previously stand alone (user owned) software.

Android has always been an internet payment system grafted to a web browser, its not really an operating system, just a way to keep selling you the same old shit over and over, why would anyone upgrade it? to buy more shit, thats the only thing the upgrades do.

Apple is a closed system that farms their users just like microsoft, but is cozier and comes with a guaranteed sense of superiority and luxury, which are mostly intangibles that cost a lot of extra money.

LInux runs on anything (apple os is a unix/linux variant, the difference being in the kernel and the licensing) - but linux is a threat to the other 3 paths and will never be embraced by them except to plant seed of instability and attempt to drive users back to the welcoming arms of big tech as long they open their wallets..

in summary why try to fix what aint broken?

 

Some people like to find a stable system with driver that supports all their hardware, keep it offline, and keep it running like that for as long as possible. Maximum productivity.

 

no one buys an operating system to own an operating system.

you buy an operating system to use the hardware to run application programs.
like a DAW or a word processors.

if your DAW or word processor etc works, why would you buy another operating system?

 

I couldn't have stated it any better, Mr. Crinklebumps!

 

and then all that long posts from his alter egos talkin with himself...
and ppl always ......
///

UTiLiTY probably too but no busted status yet

 

forget it just ignore this troll shit

 

I'll give you a real word example of why an old laptop is a benefit to a new one.

One day a few years ears ago my softball team, The Flat Shoe Lancers had a league championship game against our rivals, The Rightous Rawdoggies. When the umpire showed up (his name was Nick Jackelson..really) and started setting up the field he only then realized that one of the bases was missing. Nobody knew what to do until the nerdy 14 year old youngest kid of our shortstop said, "Hey Pops, don't you have that shitty old Fujitsu LifeBook P laptop with like no gigs of RAM in the trunk that you were gonna bring to the recycling center after the game?". Well, that kid saved our asses and we used it as the third base replacement!

There you go! And for those wanting to know the outcome of the game, we ended up losing 12-1. There was no joy in Mudville that night but the game was able to go on because of that crummy old thing.

 

Last edited: Feb 8, 2025

Many people would think an ARP Odyssey to be outdated but the clones still seem to be selling quite well. Is a Pultec outdated or an 1176? There seems to be more Pultecs around in VST format than I have days in a year to compare them, plus if I want a hardware version I've also got multiple options to choose from.

Now, you may think that it's a different case scenario with computers but really it isn't. As much as I love to play around on an ARP Odyssey or other analog synths, I don't love the patching, maintenance, tuning and non-recallability involved so I personally prefer VA/digital hardware - I get more done. That's not the same for everyone of course, we all have our own way of working. Using a PC is no different, if it does the job required of you then it's fine.

Many people that frequent audio forums, particularly younger people, are exclusively electronic ITB oriented and it somehow passes right over their head that there are a HUGE amount of musicians out there that write music for and actually play guitars, keyboards, drums, saxophones, didgeridoos and kazoos, that require a more traditional approach to recording and doesn't require VST instruments (which accounts for the majority of the CPU and RAM usage in pure electronic music).

I personally maintain an old x58 (15 years) Windows 7 PC in the studio for a number of reasons:

It still works fine (and better than it originally did due to maxing out it's hardware potential) so why would I not use it? It's not the main PC these days, it's networked, supplying additional recording channels if needed, offloading some VSTs if needed and also, critically, it runs hardware and software that will not run on Windows 10+.

Be that it may now be a secondary machine, it wasn't previously and was the centre of the studio. I know I can record, mix and master pro projects on it, because that's exactly what I used to do. It's still capable of running a project with 100 audio channels plus processing if need be. For most instrument based music that's not often warranted (it's mostly not warranted with electronic music either to be honest).

I grant you, if you're doing electronic music and using multiples of the latest power-hungry VSTi, the power of a modern PC is pretty much necessary but if not, then a 15 year old system is exactly as useful as it was 15 years ago and capable of producing great music. After all, great music is actually created by great writers, not great hardware.

"Any constraint is part of the skeleton that you build the composition on - including your own incompetence."
Brian Eno

 

Last edited: Feb 8, 2025

I must remember this the next time I'm speaking with Peter Gabriel..

 

Personally, I have found that older, (escpecially off-lease corporate machines), have far better build quality and MUCH eaisier to repair and upgrade than recent machines. Many current machines are built like crap both save money for the manufacturers but also to ensure the have ever shorter life cycles thus forcing users onto the "hamster wheel" upgrade path. They major corps also spend kajillions on advertising to make sure you feel like a total loser if you don't run right out and buy the "latest shiny new precious".

That being said, I'm not a total luddite. I do upgrade, (when forced to), BUT I upgreade to a newer USED machine. Chasing the "bleeding edge"of tech is a total sucker's game. Don't be a sucker.

 

The invention of the PC with its DAWs and the piano rolls and drum machines and virtual amplification guitars that they contain, has led to younger people in particular using them because it is easier to achieve what they want and many others do the same.

Theoretically, one person can operate an entire virtual orchestra. Some people can achieve great things, but many cannot. It would be better to call it spending your free time with music software, rather than comparing it to trained musicians.

 

and the moral of the story, "You can't go Home, without A Fujitsu Lifebook" - I think you have a japanese commercial there, especially when they open it up and play Joe Namath Major League Baseball on the thing at the bar where they are celebrating after the big win.

I actually have one of those in the basement and it still works (xp or win7) I've got the one with swivel screen that becomes a tablet, it will run 2 external monitors


I rarely play baseball on it, but it really comes in handy when I want to practice my "7th inning stretch" if you know what I mean.....

 

wasn't he the drummer in Genesis?

 

my entire virtual orchestra went on strike protesting human musicians, its more damned politics than music making anymore... I only got into it because my dad was a Conductor, and I could ride the train for free..

what about the Philly Harmonic, they're going all the way this year, they are so going to shut down the New York Metropolitians.. Keep an eye on the string section, they have some amazing arms this season.
mostly small caliber..