I understand that you are specifically referring to plugins here. It is my experience thus far. However, that could very well change in the near future. Steinberg are desperate to do away with VST2 which could leave a lot of very useable legacy plugins that haven't been maintained consigned to history. Of course, so long as the legacy DAWs that can load these still function, then they are still potentially useable, but that could obviously change if certain system functions cease to be supported. For me these days, there are very few, if any, legacy plugins that enter into my workflow so it's not such a big deal moving forward. What is a big deal to me, and one massive reason why I hope my Windows 7 PC continues to work until I'm gone, is hardware editors/librarians that refuse to work on later editions of Windows - of which I have something related to discuss but will likely create a separate thread for...

Absolutely 100%. Maintaining a fully current system was a massive stress when I was working. I most certainly couldn't have afforded to do it without the help of Warez. I was so overtaken by it that it made me ill! And why? For the vast majority of the time I'd use a fixed set of my goto plugins and only quite rarely would I have someone ask for anything else, mainly because they'd brought in a rough project that had particular plugins in it. I had every plugin possible yet only ever used 5% of them, all predicated on the assumption that they may be necessary at some point. If I was to go back into that world now (which isn't going to happen) I'd have a completely different mindset, which would be more of a take it or leave it attitude.

On the last point, unfortunately impressing my own ears I find more difficult than others ears. Too many years spent putting other people's music under a microscope has led me to be overly self-critical of my own music. Still, at least I'm not fighting the plugin update war any more, I can use what I feel like and not worry about whether it has relevance or not, which is a much more agreeable state of mind.

 

I'll take that as an ironic statement, particularly from someone who's handle is TDK..

 

Hello @Haze, I only switched from Windows 7 to Windows 10 to play a plugin from Fxpansion. Then I switched back to Windows 7 and many new plugins that came out that I really wanted to play were not compatible with Windows 7, what now?

I put together a new Windows 11 computer and kept the Windows 7 computer as a second or replacement PC and from time to time I use Windows 7 for my homepage software that is no longer available for Windows. I also have 5 full hard drives in it.

Now Windows 11 is coming out with a major update that will change my PC again, some programs I love will no longer work and that's why I've put a stop to it and bought software that permanently blocks Microsoft updates. Defender is also gone. I have a full backup of the hard drive in case I do get infected.

I play 32-bit synthesizers in an old version of Studio One. Then I still have an old Cakewalk - Sonar! I use Studio One 7 for recording and working. If the manufacturers don't take into account how Steinberg makes life difficult, you should really consider stopping updates.

I think the technology we currently use is more than sufficient for making music and is of a very high standard, so it's up to each individual to say stop Steinberg DAW & Windows updates.

 

Last edited: Feb 10, 2025

My studio PCs are completely offline, they're stripped down to the bare bones OS. I've disabled or removed absolutely everything internet and security related as I don't need any of it, defender included - it's all just unnecessary resource usage.

I'm in no hurry to update these days. I'm currently running Cubase 9.5, even though I have a license for v13 (I actually had an unregistered v10 update that I registered last year which gave me an automatic update to 13 - I did this to gain the large discount available for the Absolute collection as it was only available to registered v12+ users). I've not found anything in later versions that would have a substantial effect on my workflow so why update if what I'm using is stable and does the job? Cubase 14 is the first edition that has made me want to update as it has features that I'm definitely interested in. As I'm planning on putting together a new PC later this year I'll update to that in the usual mid-summer sale.

As you say, chasing updates is a mugs game (I have been that mug). I don't feel restricted using what I already have and updating every few years is sufficient.

 

The industry tells you that unless you constantly autonomously "update or else" your machine will be taken over by a herd of unruly cockroaches and used to fertilize the Sinai or some such similar scenario. This is complete bullshit. This myth is perpetuated by one factor - the capitalist industrial process for planned/forced obsolescence. If the computer industry did not completely support this back-assward tactic they would not be able to sell as much new shit as they do.

Older machines (intel processor based) have weaker implementations of IME that can be turned off or at least disabled. Of course that still doesn't mean you should leave your network with open IME operational ports. With an older machine on the internet one can run older mickeysoft OS's that are less filled with spyware & telemetry junk that need to be disabled. Generally older machines can be had for mere cents on the dollar and are great for a variety of things like dedicated firewalls, vpn's, internet surfing/warez gathering, media center PC's, and the list goes on. Older OS's being "less secure" is a fable. ANY machine/OS, old or new, is only as secure as the end user makes it, or doesn't make it. I am proof that these industry fables are b.s. since I had been running win7ult on the internet surfing machine for 15+ years. The most pertinent patches for published security holes were applied manually and piecemeal as well as were all the service packs. The autonomous update thing was turned OFF, defender was uninstalled, both the firewall and the a/v. I used my own a/v, firewall and browser protection which is non-invasive but actually works better than the mickeysoft junk. NEVER ONE INCIDENT of a "virus", "malware", "ransom-ware", etc, etc, etc.

New machines with end user optimized builds of the later model OS's installed are great for running the newest production ware and getting work done in a timely fashion. Keeping those production machines completely OFF the internet is a must. Which is why we have the sisite to provide us with "fixed" production bits that makes the cutting of the production box internet cord totally possible.

The plethora of garbage and telemetry that exchanges hands with every autonomous mickeysoft "update" session is disturbing and serves no purpose other than to further the bottom line of ms corporate. The insidious pushing of ad's and the malevolent tying of ones purse-strings to a corporate "store" are just the tip of the iceberg with regard to the unwitting end user's plight of being a microsoft guinea-pig. The microsoft corporate big-brother eye is upon every end user who doesn't apply the proper amount of reverse engineering to completely disable the garbage-ware, and return the OS to the users control instead of the other way around.

 

Last edited: Feb 11, 2025

It is a coin toss.

For people who want to use older 32bit plugins, they can use jbridge in modern 64bit systems that won't support 32bit.
If you're happy with what you've got stay with it.
My opinion and needs are valid only for me. Why anyone would would want to limit themselves to a 32bit system with 4gb RAM is beyond me, but each to their own. Yes, I know there is a 64bit version of Win 7 but if you want to upgrade other internal hardware components to a faster more recent USB, GPU and other parts that accommodate better latency, less wear and tear and more....they in are in deep doggy poo.

 

I moved on to a new machine for production use running a super-lite win10pro build. Needless to say that machine is NOT on the internet (never has been or ever will be) and has all the trash-ware either disabled or turned off. It works very well with the newer daw's, samplers, synths and plugins that are resource, ram, and processor hungry. I think most of us here are not talking about running old machine hardware for production use unless it's to run some older software like 32bit cubase v2.0 or something.

 

Industry sponsored B.S....

 

Having three PCs means you're rich...
How do you use them differently? Is the PC you are using on an internet connection old?

 

You can also be happy with just a PC or laptop, surf the Internet, make music with your DAW, watch videos, read news and join in discussions on AudioSexPro.

You can do it however you want, at home you are the boss and only you decide which programs you want to use and how you want to use them. What you delete, deactivate or not is your business and every user will also bear the consequences of their actions.

Inner wealth is preferable to material wealth, money and income are distributed very differently around the world. If you write here, it means that you have access to the Internet and own a device that allows you to do this.

 

@carmenrinda These are all used computers bought on a well-known auction website, If I were rich I would buy myself a MAC
luckily I know computers well so I upgraded them myself, also buying used parts. I use Linux Mint for the internet, it works fast like a rocket, Windows 11 to play games, and Windows 7 for experiments, what don't you understand ?

 

Just like @Recoil ✪, you have 3 PCs.
It seems you are using them correctly, so I don't think there's a problem.
I don't need 3 PCs.
(This is just my case)

 

Thats why I said immediately afterwards

 

Hello, it's been a while. lol

 

One advantage of some older computers are PCI slots. If you need them and I do, an older computer with pci slots is easier and more reliable then a newer with an external PCI chassis or add in adapter card.
I need them for UAD-1 cards and RME hdsp cards. So in the end it is a money issue, cause I could not afford/justify, UAD-2 and rme HDSPe cards.

 

We live in a time where new things come along but no longer fit with the old! The EU in Europe now requires USB-C and manufacturers are reacting to this and replacing the Firewire connection socket with a USB-C socket, as on my Asus motherboard.

Quote from EU:
From the end of 2024, all small electronic devices sold in the EU or Germany must have a USB-C port for charging cables and power supplies. The sale of models with Apple's Lightning or microUSB standard will then be prohibited.

For my second replacement PC, which still has the Firewire IEEE 1394 connection, I ordered the same motherboard second-hand from eBay so that if the old motherboard breaks down, I have a replacement.

The USB sockets on the new motherboard were also not enough to supply all the additional external devices with power, so I bought a card with 2 additional sockets and connected USB 3 to the motherboard in the PC.

 

Last edited: Feb 11, 2025

If you use one PC/Laptop for everything music/production/internet/work/emails etc. which is fine! but i'm talking from experience.I had ransomware virus on my laptop from a newspaper forum! Which to say politely fooked all my files up & no software could remove, so you lose your projects/client projects/samples/documents/photos etc.. Then you have to wipe it & fresh install of windows! because it renames all your files to hold you to ransom.So i prefer the easylife [offline] for music production & a good tip is to back up all your files if you prefer one Pc/laptop online.

 

I think so too, but it seems the members here disagree...
If your only purpose is to produce music, my doubts may be unfounded, but in that case, you'll need at least two machines: one for connecting to the Internet and one completely offline PC for music production.
Does this mean that musicians all own multiple PCs?
Or are they simply not interested in IT security?

 

IT security is a ball ache! When using cracked/keygen plugins etc... & simply slows down your machine.so no internet no security [simples]

 

Your claim is incorrect - that's complete nonsense!