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Best tools for Windows audio workstation
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golem
IsraTrance Full Member
Started Topics :
109
Posts :
70
Posted : Feb 10, 2010 03:50:27
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OK, so there is a lot of topics of Best VST-plugin, etc.. so maybe this one could be also useful.
In this topic if we exclude the plugins and the main sequencer that you use, what are the best and most critical tools that you need/use on your computer and maintain the continuity of your audio workstation and laptop? Tell also if the tool that you use does not exist for WinXP (e.g. only Vista, or Win7). If you are unsure that the tool is good for the purpose, tell it. And please use a clean format (this is a long list)
If you see somebody replying to this thread with a tool that you think is unefficient for the purpose, please quote that item and suggest a better one. E.g.
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- Windows Backup
- blaablaablaa
- hey try Norton Ghost, it is better in XXX way
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I know that internet is full of forums about these things, but this is about musicians view, that will probably appreciate tools with usable interface and not something where you have to use programming interface, scripts, etc..
This topic is about Windows, if you want to discuss about another platform (e.g. Mac OS X, Linux), please create another (similar?) thread for that.
Here are mine, although I think I am using very inefficient tools for these things and that is why I created this topic:
Platform:
- Windows XP SP3
Security:
- AVG Antivirus
- a lot of engineer friends claimed that this is far much better alternative than Symantec, F-Secure or similar.
- Sygate Firewall Pro
- nice firewall
Managing Files:
- Windows Explorer
- any better alternatives..? Something that can automatically get content from RAR inside RAR inside RAR inside RAR, and collection of 50 RARs that contain 50 RARs that contain 50 RARs, etc..
- WinRAR
- SCN2
- with tool shows in pie-chart form the sizes of folders in disk. It is easy to fast identify the folders that take large amount of space.
- Daemon Tools
- For being able to use CD/DVD images
- WHAT IS BEST FILE MANAGER..?
Installing the computer:
- nLite
- with this you can create a custom winXP installation and get around the SATA driver problem.
Monitoring the Computer, and detecting/identifying problems:
- Process Explorer
- task manager replacement, but better one, still I am not happy with it
- better alternatives? ag. Anvir Task Manager Pro...? Security Manager...?
- Harddisk manufacturer analysis tool (for me Seagate Seatools)
- best to use harddisk manufacturer tools for analysis instead of CHKDSK or Scandisk
- HD Tune
- for hard disk temperatures, benchmarking error scan
- Intel Matrix Storage Manager
- for monitoring and managing RAID arrays
- Diskeeper
- better defragmenting than with winXP, do people use the set it and forget it (defragmenter defragments automatically on background)
- Hijackthis, program for taking a snapshot of the system state
- better alternatives...?
- GOOD TOOLS FOR BOTH IDENTIFYING UNDESIRED CPU, HARD DISK AND NETWORK ACTIVITY, PLEASE ...? 
- PROGRAM FOR TESTING AND DETECTING IF RAM IS BROKEN...?
- OTHER USEFUL PROGRAMS..?
Cleaning the Computer:
- CCCleaner
- for cleaning automatically some temp folder shits and cleaning windows registry
- Windows Explorer
Backup Tools:
- Norton Ghost
- Windows Explorer
- Nero Burning ROM
- CD Burning Software
Transferring stuff in Internet:
- MSN Live Messenger
- Skype
- uTorrent
- bittorrent client
- DC++
- file sharing program
- BEST FTP Client / Server...?
Communicating in Internet with other musicians or music people:
- Google Chrome (and internet forums and Facebook)
- MSN Live Messenger
- Skype
Finding Information from the internet:
- Google Chrome
- Adobe Reader
Audio Related Tools:
- Sound Forge 8
- audio editor
- CDEX
- for ripping tunes from CD:s into MP3 to hard disk
- Winamp
- Jaikoz
- this is for managing ID3 tags of MP3 files
 
http://www.soundcloud.com/dreaml4nd
http://www.mixcloud.com/aegonox-peter-pan |
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Uedi
IsraTrance Junior Member
Started Topics :
10
Posts :
288
Posted : Feb 13, 2010 21:12
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Norton Ghost 2003 is must have! 
Saves huge amounts of time. Just replace an image!
If you have sata disks, choose Acronis True Image!
Since the new Ghost is not so good.
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Spindrift
Spindrift
Started Topics :
33
Posts :
1560
Posted : Feb 14, 2010 12:25
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Platform:
XP can easily be tweaked to use extremely little resources, and there is not any major difference in performance or stability between XP and Win 7.
Having said that, Win 7 does work fine with most software and hardware and I'm planning to upgrade my DAW, but that is largely due to the fact that I don't use it only as a DAW.
Security:
Having an active AV program on a DAW is not that great idea. With some common sense you don't need one at all, especially not on a DAW.
I do have ClamWin to be able to scan suspect files or memory when I want to.
FW I only use the one in my router.
Managing Files:
I use DirectoryOpus. It might be an unnecessary investment for a pure DAW though (and most cracks tend to be dodgy), but if you need to do a lot of file-management it's a great program.
An alternative to WinRAR is 7zip. It's free and can handle most compression formats.
Installing the computer:
Not any options here really...nLite is the obvious installation customizer to use.
Monitoring the Computer, and detecting/identifying problems:
ProcessExplorer does the job very nicely IMO, hence I haven't really looked at alternatives.
Regarding systems analysis and monitoring, it will depend a lot on what hardware you have.
Generally I would not install too many extra utilities like that on a DAW unless I have a problem that I need to address.
All I run in the way of system utilities when running my machine as a DAW is SpeedFan to keep the fans silent unless the temp gets high. On my MOBO I get a more silent machine that using the built in speed controllers.
For HD management I use Paragon Hard Disk Manager, and for defragging Defraggler.
For testing memory MemTest.
Cleaning the Computer:
- CCCleaner
- for cleaning automatically some temp folder shits and cleaning windows registry
- Windows Explorer
Backup Tools:
I have gone from Ghost to Acronis, but since I found Paragon Hard Diks Manager to be more reliable than Acronis Disk Director I will probably see if I will use Paragon for backup as well.
Nero has turned too bloated for me and I currently use InfraRecorder for burning.
I don't burn a lot of backups though.
DVD is more expensive and less reliable than HD space, and for very important stuff I store it off-site using an online service.
Transferring stuff in Internet:
Pidgin, Skype, uTorrent, NewsLeecher, FileZilla(or DirectoryOpus built in FTP)
Finding Information from the internet:
FF (need my addons), Foxit.
Audio Related Tools:
Foobar2000 (listening, tagging, renaming, ABX comparing).
Audition for editing.
Also, I'm not to found of the shell in XP. I use bbLite instead, which makes it much easier to access applications. And especially if you use a lot of apps at the same time it oyu can make configurations that is a lot nicer to work with than the XP shell.
(``·.¸(``·.¸(``·.¸¸.·`´)¸.·`´)¸.·`´)
« .....www.ResonantEarth.com..... »
(¸.·`´(¸.·`´(¸.·`´``·.¸)``·.¸)``·.¸)
http://www.myspace.com/spindriftsounds
http://www.myspace.com/resonantearth |
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Uedi
IsraTrance Junior Member
Started Topics :
10
Posts :
288
Posted : Feb 15, 2010 20:45
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Platform:
- XP sp2! (it's very light and fast. No boring updates always poppin out!! No glossy themes!  )
Security:
- Avira antivir
- Comodo firewall
Audio e video:
- Soundforge 8
- audacity
- foobar2000
- VLC!
- Quicktime Alternative
Net:
- Firefox with Echofon (twitter client)
- aMSN
- Filezilla.
Tools:
- Openoffice
- Macromedia Fireworks and Dreamweaver 8.
- Nero Express 7
- 7Zip
- Norton Ghost 2003
- PrimoPDF (virtual printer)
- CCleaner! (is awesome. Also improves the startup time!)
Common maintaince tasks:
Defrag, regular backups, av scans!
I'm not up to date on some applications, because the ones I have work really good, for what I need.
I use lots of freeware. And I like to keep everything legal. |
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