Computer For Music Production

[goodison1234]

MUSIC PRODUCTION QUESTION...

Hello, I have a friend who is a DJ and has asked me to find him a suitable PC.  He needs it purely for music production/editing...He doesn't need fancy graphics or for gaming in anyway. 

Would I be right in thinking that the main priorities would be; storage space, good processor, lots of RAM, and good sound card? 

The sound card needs to be the best there is - something which can have various devices plugged into it.  

Would it be better buying a MAC ?  I know they are used in video editing more so than PC's.  Would a MAC run programs needed for what he will be doing? 

Please let me know if anyone has any ideas or suggestions?  Ideally I need the best possible for under �1000.  Possibly if its fantastic maybe up to �1600. 

Please let me know whats best. Thanks.

[bobjim1705]

If it's sound cards you're after, this could be what you're after;
http://gear.ign.com/articles/644/644186p1.html

200GB+ of storage space should be plenty, and 1GB of RAM will be plenty for heavy production and editing work.

[Gandy]

I still see some professional studios that still use an Atari ST and Notator and swear by it. Even a �400 pc will have no problems running most of the popular professional music apps, i.e Cubase, Reason or Cakewalk Pro Audio. A good souncard is nice but not essential. A pair of good quality studio monitor speakers would probably be a more considered purchase initially. A DJ may find it convenient to have two soundcards. The one mentioned by bobjim would be a good entry level sound card to start out with. If your friend is serious about producing music (it isn't for everyone) then he may wnat to upgarde in the future to something like an ESI Juli although your entire PC budget will not stretch to find "the best soundcard there is". Generally speaking, you use a mixing desk to input your channells so most sound cards will come with the normal in and out feeds.

[goodison1234]

Thanks for the help and suggestions, I appreciate it.