Messages in this thread

New Computer - Alan, 15 Jan 01:59PM
     Re: New Computer - Peter Roos, 15 Jan 07:32PM
         Re: New Computer - Alan, 16 Jan 09:05AM
             Re: New Computer - Laurence Payne, 16 Jan 11:49AM
                 Re: New Computer - Alan, 17 Jan 05:43PM
                     Re: New Computer - Peter Roos, 17 Jan 06:53PM
                     Re: New Computer - Laurence Payne, 17 Jan 08:52PM
                         Re: New Computer - Peter Roos, 17 Jan 09:47PM
                             Re: New Computer - Alan, 18 Jan 08:37AM
                                 Re: New Computer - Robin Walker, 18 Jan 02:22PM
                                     Re: New Computer - Alan, 18 Jan 02:54PM
                                         Re: New Computer - Laurence Payne, 18 Jan 05:09PM
                                             Re: New Computer - Peter Roos, 18 Jan 08:08PM
                                                 Re: New Computer - Laurence Payne, 18 Jan 10:29PM
                                                     Re: New Computer - Alan, 19 Jan 11:03AM
                                                         Re: New Computer - Laurence Payne, 19 Jan 01:30PM
                                                             Re: New Computer - Peter Roos, 19 Jan 07:10PM

New Computer
Posted by Alan - 15 Jan 01:59PM
I am looking to upgrade to Sibelius Ultimate and also get a new computer. I need playback of full and long orchestral scores. Can anyone Please give me the specs. that I would need, particularly the type and size of processor. I am not very technically informed. Thanks

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Re: New Computer
Posted by Peter Roos - 15 Jan 07:32PM
What's your budget?

I'd get a desktop PC with as much memory and SSD drive space and as fast a processor as you can afford. And a nice big screen so you can see what you are doing.

If you want something portable, get a PC laptop with a 17" screen and a separate keypad for note input, and as much memory and biggest SSD drives and fastest processor you can afford. Personally I am a fan of HP laptops, great bang for the buck.

--
Peter Roos
2024
www.summeroflovemusic.com
IMDb: www.imdb.com/name/nm2039241

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Re: New Computer
Posted by Alan - 16 Jan 09:05AM
Thanks for your reply. That's exactly what I planned to do, and I've budgeted for it. I was thinking in terms of 64 Gb RAM, 2Tb Storage, but I'm stuck on which processor would be best. I've been using a machine with Intel(R) Core(TM) i7-2820QM CPU @ 2.30GHz. 2.30 GHz (4 cores 8 Threads) for many years now. Clearly no longer powerful enough. Is there a processor upgrade that you would recommend? It would be appreciated. Thanks again.

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Re: New Computer
Posted by Laurence Payne - 16 Jan 11:49AM
What’s restricting you with your present system? You don’t mention a vital component for playback of large scores, the audio interface. That may be your bottleneck.

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Re: New Computer
Posted by Alan - 17 Jan 05:43PM
Thanks for your reply. In a word Space is my problem. Computer is OLD. I need a new one with lots of storage space. Then RAM - is 32 Gb enough? Probably I think. What about processor size? How many cores? To answer your question about the audio interface, my old M-Audio died a while back and I'm now using Focusrite, but I'm looking to replace that as well - it's too small and a frien wants it. I'm open to suggestions on all these matters. I'm renewing - Thanks again. PS My budget is about £1800 for computer, monitor/keyboard, audio interface.

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Re: New Computer
Posted by Peter Roos - 17 Jan 06:53PM
32 GB is plenty to run Sibelius. Below are the minimum specs.

It also depends whether you want to run other programs like Pro Tools or other DAWs and how many VSTs you run. Large orchestral libraries need a lot of computing power to run properly.

https://avidtech.my.salesforce-sites.com/pkb/articles/en_US/Knowledge/en418691?retURL=%2Fpkb%2Farticles%2Fen_US%2FKnowledge%2Fen418691&popup=true

--
Peter Roos
2024
www.summeroflovemusic.com
IMDb: www.imdb.com/name/nm2039241

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Re: New Computer
Posted by Laurence Payne - 17 Jan 08:52PM
> my old M-Audio died a while back and I'm now using Focusrite, but I'm looking to replace that as well - it's too small

In what respect is your Focusrite interface 'too small'?

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Re: New Computer
Posted by Peter Roos - 17 Jan 09:47PM
Here's an article in case you are considering building your own PC.

PC Audiolabs custom built my laptop, very happy with their services.

If you are just running Sibelius though a decently spec'ed off the shelf PC will do fine though.

https://pcaudiolabs.com/how-to-build-a-pro-audio-pc/?utm_source=bayengage&utm_medium=campaign-email&utm_campaign=how-to-build-a-pro-audio-pc-blog

--
Peter Roos
2024
www.summeroflovemusic.com
IMDb: www.imdb.com/name/nm2039241

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Re: New Computer
Posted by Alan - 18 Jan 08:37AM
Thanks to all for this info. I would appreciate an answer to just one question which may sound silly to some. Can a processor have too many cores for smooth Sibelius playback of large scores. I shall be buying, not building? Thanks again

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Re: New Computer
Posted by Robin Walker - 18 Jan 02:22PM
> Can a processor have too many cores for smooth Sibelius playback of large scores.

Such a suggestion seems preposterously absurd, unless you can supply some pointers to rational explanations of why that should be. Otherwise, it sounds like malicious misinformation.

A user can configure Sibelius playback configurations which activate multiple playback devices in parallel. During playback, Sibelius can allocate a separate processor core (if such is available) to each playback device, so that they can compute in parallel.

So, for instance, if a Playback Configuration has four playback devices activated, then four processor cores can be used in parallel to drive the playback. So, in principle, a 4-core processor will play back that configuration more efficiently than a processor with fewer cores.

Sibelius will not use more cores for playback than the number of playback devices activated, so there is no advantage in having more processor cores than that number. For instance, in the playback configuration "Sibelius 7 Sounds", only one player device (Sibelius Player) is activated, and so only one processor core will be used for playback.

If the number of processor cores available exceeds the number of activated playback devices, then the excess cores are not used by Sibelius.

--
Sibelius 2024.10/7.5.1/7.1.3/6.2/5.2.5, PhotoScore Ult 2020.1, Windows 10 64-bit 16GB. Desktop, and Microsoft Surface Book.

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Re: New Computer
Posted by Alan - 18 Jan 02:54PM
Thank you Robin. I'm a tech ignoramus with knowledge only from reading articles and not understanding their significance, so no confidence in that knowledge at all, and as you rightly put it, the question was almost certainly a result of malicious information gleaned from a post on these pages believe it or not. I can go ahead now. Thanks again.

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Re: New Computer
Posted by Laurence Payne - 18 Jan 05:09PM
You may be confusing this with the 'faster processor speed or more cores?' issue.

If a process is designed for multi-threading, more cores will improve performance. If not, not. And I believe Sibelius playback devices generally aren't.

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Re: New Computer
Posted by Peter Roos - 18 Jan 08:08PM
Hi Alan:

No, there is no harm in having a super powerful processor. No such thing as too much power, but Sibelius may not need it and you're just wasting money.

Just get a good decent HP desktop or something similar with a 1920x1080 screen (no need for 4K), SSD drive, maybe a second screen, and a decent sound card. If you have two screens you can flip one of them to a vertical position which is nice for orchestral scores.

--
Peter Roos
2024
www.summeroflovemusic.com
IMDb: www.imdb.com/name/nm2039241

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Re: New Computer
Posted by Laurence Payne - 18 Jan 10:29PM
> Just get a good decent HP desktop or something similar with a 1920x1080 screen (no need for 4K), SSD drive, maybe a second screen, and a decent sound card.

Beware of the 'decent sound card'. To a general-purpose computer score this means something that will run a home cinema setup, or perhaps something with audiophile pretensions. That isn't quite what WE need.

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Re: New Computer
Posted by Alan - 19 Jan 11:03AM
Thanks again all. Peter and Laurence, I'm looking at the MOTU M2 audio interface because of its midi in/out. As well as Sibelius, I also use cakewalk SONAR (used the old SONAR, now using the freebie - still good). This is for small group arrangements/compositions on Sibelius then midi file to SONAR for more interesting vst instrumentation. The extra power won't be wasted there. Just a passing thought - does anybody know anyone using an "all in one" computer/monitor keyboard setup?
Thanks again for your help.

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Re: New Computer
Posted by Laurence Payne - 19 Jan 01:30PM
>- does anybody know anyone using an "all in one" computer/monitor keyboard setup?

Sure. The little ones are called 'laptops'. Then there's the iMac.

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Re: New Computer
Posted by Peter Roos - 19 Jan 07:10PM
Hi Alan:

If you shop around you can find HP Envy or other desktops that come with the computer, a monitor, and a keyboard for one price. The only thing you'll need in addition is a soundcard for pro audio and some decent actively powered monitors (speakers). I have the RME flagship (approx $3,000) which is super nice with 8 physical speaker outputs for surround but just for stereo a $100 Focusrite works fine.

If you don't need portability I'd go for a desktop, you'll get more power and bigger screen for less money.

There are people who love macs but they are much more expensive.

--
Peter Roos
2024
www.summeroflovemusic.com
IMDb: www.imdb.com/name/nm2039241

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Messages in this thread

New Computer - Alan, 15 Jan 01:59PM
     Re: New Computer - Peter Roos, 15 Jan 07:32PM
         Re: New Computer - Alan, 16 Jan 09:05AM
             Re: New Computer - Laurence Payne, 16 Jan 11:49AM
                 Re: New Computer - Alan, 17 Jan 05:43PM
                     Re: New Computer - Peter Roos, 17 Jan 06:53PM
                     Re: New Computer - Laurence Payne, 17 Jan 08:52PM
                         Re: New Computer - Peter Roos, 17 Jan 09:47PM
                             Re: New Computer - Alan, 18 Jan 08:37AM
                                 Re: New Computer - Robin Walker, 18 Jan 02:22PM
                                     Re: New Computer - Alan, 18 Jan 02:54PM
                                         Re: New Computer - Laurence Payne, 18 Jan 05:09PM
                                             Re: New Computer - Peter Roos, 18 Jan 08:08PM
                                                 Re: New Computer - Laurence Payne, 18 Jan 10:29PM
                                                     Re: New Computer - Alan, 19 Jan 11:03AM
                                                         Re: New Computer - Laurence Payne, 19 Jan 01:30PM
                                                             Re: New Computer - Peter Roos, 19 Jan 07:10PM