Hi Harm,

Yes, you're right about the budget. I think when I visit the computer person and get an offer on all components, I'll start cutting things off...

Memory: Agreed. I'll get a 6GB and see how it goes.

GPU: Perhaps I should consider the ATI ones...I'll think about it. Do you mean something like the 4650/4850/5670 or anything else? Does ATI give better prices for what you get?

Disk setup: The Areca is too expensive for me at the moment. I want to try and setup the system using my mother boards raid0 ability. I understand that an areca 6 disk array would be much better (400 MB/s is amazing!!!). Perhaps I could add that in the future if needed.

Because of the risks in Raid0, I though of including only files that can be backed up like captured media which I would still have the media on tapes or in case of digital media, I can make a back up right after copying them to the raid. Those are files that don't change during the project. On the other Raid, having the preview, cache which are not a problem loosing cause the system can recreate them.

Does that make any sense? Please correct me if I'm wrong? Is it better to get two - 1TB drives instead of those raid arrays?

Yea, I'll check it out but the keyboard is probably too expensive. It seems like a nice treat for an editor. Right now I'm using a regular one and rely on my memory . It seems like it could be convenient, but then again, you lack the flexibility of changing shortcuts. (you can change but then, you would have to remember that the key isn't what is written on it...and the whole point is to let the memory rest a bit.)

Thank you for your answers, you're very helpful.

One more question regarding audio output: In order to hear the audio that I'm editing well, what would you recommend?

Is an internal sound card useless?

Regarding the keyboard, the keyboard Premiere covers seem convenient but I've only seen ones that fit apple.

Harm,

Could I ask you another question about Raid: Do you think there's a lot of significance to making those 2 Raid arrays or could I have the media with the scratch on the same raid0 array?

I don't have the disks yet. I have to buy them. I could also buy less or more. For risk management I only want to have the media and scratch on the Raid. So I think I only need 1 or 2 Raid0 arrays.

I was wondering if there's any point of having the media and scratch on two different raid0 arrays of 2 disks, and if it is faster or slower, does it have any benefit over having both on one Raid0 Array of 2 disks.

Or your suggestion of a 4 disk drive - that's probably even faster. (?)

I've considered your Guide as well.

This is the first time I'm planning a raid or even any computer component.

Thanks again :-)

Hello LaciG,

I can only speak out of my experience about the solution that I found.

I had trouble recording with the on board sound card (on my old system). I think it's also Realtek. The voice volume was so low I had to process it in the sound program and increase it. That increased the noise so I had to take care of the noise with filters and of course they distorted the voice. Even if you're gentle with the effects, they will distort a little. Just like in video, it's better to get a good sound input while recording. Any fixes you have to do later are going to cost you.

So I bought an external sound card: M-audio Fast Track. And now the voice I record needs no fixing. The volume is right with no noise and so I don't even have to add unnecessary effects. It has a line output so you can connect speakers to it or a stereo system. It's quite simple to use.

It's connected to the computer via USB although some say that it's better to use a FireWire based sound card.

I don't know if this helps you. Hope you find your solution.