A gaming PC is a powerful and versatile machine. It can be used for a variety of purposes, not just playing games. In this article, I will show you how to tweak a gaming PC so that it can be used for music production.
The following guide will walk you through all the steps to building your own high-quality, customized, and powerful computer geared towards music production.
A gaming PC can be used for music production because they have cutting-edge technology and components which you can use easily to run audio production software and processes making a DAW. However, when using a gaming PC for audio production, you may need to make some adjustments since gaming is heavily reliant on graphics thus focusing first on the GPU.
If you’re ready to start producing your own music, then it’s time to learn about how computer-based digital audio workstations (DAWs) are superior for music production. In this article, we’ll cover the basics of what a DAW is, what the benefits of using one are, and how to build your own PC for music production.
Why Music Production?
This guide is going to be different than most guides because it will teach you how to build a gaming PC that can also be used for music production. Most guides only show how to build a PC that is focused on games, but this guide will show you how to build a computer that can handle both games and music production.
There are many reasons why people would want to use a gaming PC for music production. One of the main reasons is because they have cutting-edge hardware which means they can easily run audio production software and processes.
Games typically do not require as much power in terms of hardware as CPU-powered software like Pro Tools, so the same GPU that plays high-quality graphics will also be able to run audio production software.
What is Music Production?
Music production software for DAWs is essential for creating quality music. They have a lot of functionality and there are different options for different types of musicians. Music production is the process of creating an original piece of music from scratch.
It can be done with acoustic or electronic instruments, as well as digital tools like a DAW to mix, edit and master the final product. There are many other components that go into making music including recording, sequencing, and editing.
To understand what you’ll need for your computer in order to produce your own music, it’s important to know how DAWs work. A DAW essentially combines two things: a sequencer and a digital audio workstation (DAW).
What is DAW?
DAW stands for the digital audio workstation, and it is a software-based piece of recording software. In other words, the DAW allows you to record and edit the sound on your computer. It lets you edit and mix sound files like vocals, guitar tracks, synth lines, beats, and more.
Avoid gaming laptops: Laptop or desktop for music production?
If you’re in the market for a new laptop and are looking to get one specifically for music production, you should avoid getting one that is primarily made for gaming. While they have many powerful components that can be used in music production, they are primarily focused on graphics which is not what we need.
You should either go with a desktop if you want to record your own songs because most of the time gaming laptops will just not provide enough power. Laptops might be able to run DAWs, but it will take up too much of the resources that are available to do so.
Basically, as long as you keep graphics cards as an optional feature and don’t base your purchase around them, a gaming PC can be used for music production.
Performance Requirements for Gaming PCs
To run audio production software, your gaming PC will need to have a powerful CPU. Intel’s Core i5 or AMD’s FX-series processor is recommended for music production.
A good gaming PC will also have a powerful GPU (graphics processing unit), which can be used for playing games and running graphics-intensive audio production software like Pro Tools. Since most gamers prioritize performance in the GPU, you may need to make some adjustments to the gaming PC to get it up to par for music production.
If you want to use the PC for both gaming and music production, you should invest in a motherboard that has a lot of SATA slots because this will allow you to use hard drives and optical drives simultaneously with your computer and play games while recording audio.
A motherboard with enough power supplies is also necessary so that when you are playing games your computer doesn’t fry out due to lack of power.
One last thing you may want on your computer are USB ports because these are often difficult to come by on gaming computers, which will cause problems if you’re using an external USB sound card or MIDI controller keyboard.
What hardware is the most important for music production in a gaming PC?
The hardware a musician will need for music production is entirely dependent on what type of music they are producing. If the musician is going to produce pop, then they’re going to be using mostly MIDI sounds and synths instead of drums and guitars. This requires only a basic CPU and RAM configuration, but it’s still important to make sure those are high quality.
If the musician is going to produce hip-hop or EDM, then they would need more power in their setup. This includes more CPU cores (8+) and a higher RAM quantity (16GB+). They would also need a powerful graphics card with loads of memory, because these genres rely heavily on sound effects like drums, guitar strums, and vocal samples.
Building a gaming PC for music production is all about balancing your needs with what you want your computer to do while diminishing the importance of graphics processing power. You’ll want to go with an Intel Core i5 CPU or AMD Ryzen 5 1600x at the very least so that you can take full advantage of multi-threading capabilities when running audio production software.
The GPU will not be used as much as the CPU when it comes to music production, so go with something in Nvidia’s GTX 1050 Ti series or AMD’s Radeon RX 580 series if you want good performance for both games and music production. Then just load up on enough RAM so you have plenty of room for large projects without having any lag issues – 16GB should be enough for most people.
Is a graphics card needed for music production?
As mentioned previously, the graphics card is one of the main components that are different in a gaming PC. For music production, you will not need to invest in expensive and high-end graphics cards like those that are used in gaming PCs. You’re better off purchasing a less expensive but more powerful CPU instead.
You can still use your gaming PC for music production, but you will have to find ways to turn down the graphics processing power so it doesn’t interfere with audio processing, which is what you’re really trying to maximize with a DAW.
How much RAM do I need for audio production?
The more RAM, the better! You will want to make sure you have at least 8GB of RAM. The latest and best computers can come with as much as 64GB. This is important because it allows you to do more things at once without slowing down the system.
In most cases, gaming PCs require a 16GB memory and thus will be excellent for music production.
What You Need to Build a Gaming PC for Music Production
If you’re looking to build a gaming PC for audio production, there are a few things that you need to consider. The first thing is the motherboard. A motherboard is basically the skeleton of your computer and it contains all of the necessary ports and slots for all of your computer components.
The motherboard you choose will depend on which CPU you decide on, as well as what other components you plan on adding to your system. A motherboard can range from $150-400 depending on how high-end it is.
The second thing that you need to consider is if you want an SSD or HDD. An SSD will be much faster than an HDD, but also more expensive. For a music production PC, I would recommend either 128GB or 256GB as this would provide enough space for your OS and applications without breaking the bank.
Lastly, I recommend getting 16 GB (2×8) of RAM. This will ensure that your PC has plenty of space in memory while running demanding audio software like Ableton Live and Logic Pro X which require a lot of RAM to run smoothly.
How to Build Your Own Custom Gaming PC
**Step 1: Choosing the Components**
First, choose the components for your computer. If you’re building a gaming PC, you should get a powerful CPU and graphics card. But if you’re looking for a more affordable option, you can also purchase an Intel Core i3 and Nvidia GTX 1060 which will work perfectly with music production software like Pro Tools or Ableton Live.
The most important component is the graphics card. The graphics card is what drives your monitor and graphics in video games so it is important to invest in one that will allow you to play games with higher quality settings.
Some of the best options are the Nvidia GTX 1080 TI, Nvidia GTX 1080, or AMD Vega 64. These cards vary in price and performance but all three are excellent choices that will run most modern games at high settings. Try to buy one that has at least 8GB of VRAM if possible, as this will allow for future compatibility with 4K monitors (a must for music production).
The only other component that needs careful consideration when building a gaming PC for music production is storage space; however, there are many different types of storage available so understanding your own personal needs may be necessary before making a decision.
Do you need a powerful PC for music production?
No, you don’t. Gaming PC’s are great for music production because they can handle the complex programs needed for DAWS. You can use gaming laptops and desktops for music production, but you might need to make some adjustments with your graphics card to suit the software in use in order to work efficiently.
Are gaming PC good for music production?
Gaming PCs can be used for music production because they usually have cutting-edge systems which can easily run audio production software and processes. However, you may need to make some minor adjustments to your gaming PC because they are primarily GPU-focused since they run games that rely heavily on graphics.
Gaming laptops are essentially built around keeping the graphics utilization front and center which is something you definitely don’t need for music production. Pretty much everything that consists of a gaming PC is great and can be useful in music production, except the graphics card- you really don’t need something too high-end because music production will call on your CPU power.
Conclusion
Whether you are a professional musician or an amateur enthusiast, building your own custom gaming PC for music production is a great way to get the best performance for your dollar. By following our simple guide and tips, you should be able to create a powerful PC that will last you for years.
What is a DAW?
A digital audio workstation, or DAW, is the software that you will use to produce and record your music. For example, Apple’s Logic Pro and Adobe’s Premiere Pro are two popular DAWs.
What are the benefits of using a DAW?
The biggest perk of using a DAW is being able to mix in several different tracks at once while still having full control over each individual track and its settings. These days, most music production software offers an array of features for vocal processing and drum programming that would take hours to do manually on a single track, let alone many tracks at once
How do I build my PC for music production?
The first step is knowing what components you’ll need in order to run your DAW smoothly with enough CPU power and RAM for it to be usable:
1) A motherboard with enough slots for adding more RAM sticks later down the line; 2) An Intel Core i7-6700K CPU; 3) 16GB DDR4-3200MHz RAM (or more if needed); 4) A GTX 1080 graphics card; 5) 1TB SSD hard drive; 6) Windows 10 64-bit OS installed on it (or any other OS you prefer).