In article , Mike Scott
wrote:
Jim Lesurf wrote: ...
I'd also be interested in that. However at present I've deal with such
matters by having mutliple (non computer) recorders and sources. I
still tend to have the old-fashioned view that it is simpler and
better to have the recorders and sources divorced from a computer whos
hardware and software is subject to continual 'updates and changes'
that mean you'd have to keep re-calibrating and checking if the audio
i/o was still working correctly.
You don't have to put in the updates and changes. For a critical
machine, I'd really recommend that once a working configuration is
found, you stick to it. No updates, no patches, no "security fixes". And
I'd also suggest no general net access to/from it either. Then I see no
particular problem in using a computer as opposed to a reel-to-reel
recorder, for example.
The 'problem' can be when you use the same machine for many purposes. So
decide to upgrade or carry out alterations because you need/want them for
some reasons other than being able to record/replay sound.
FWIW I do tend to keep two machines for 'work' and another for a dedicated
task like 'playing audio'.[1] But you still may eventually find you want to
make changes even for such tasks, or decide after a few years that you want
to change the OS, etc.
Some of the recorders I have and use are a decade old. None of the
computers I use have an OS that old, and a lot of the software is much more
recent. The recorders all make recordings which are then trivially easy
access with all the computers I use, regardless of OS or hardware. So I can
use 3 different Linux distros and RISC OS as suit me without having to
bother about them all having suitable sound hardware.
So the problem here is with the meaning of "don't have to". That will
depend entirely on the circumstance and wishes of the user. Some people may
only have one box. And perhaps not have enough HD space to have multiple
OSs installed, etc. I agree that no-one (usually) holds a gun to your head,
though. ahem Although I sometimes have the impression that MicroSoft
would like to be able to do that to deter you from daring to use
alternatives... :-)
I also agree with your point about avoiding what isn't needed like 'net
access' although in my case that *is* needed for the sound-decidcated box
since one of its main duties is to provide the BBC iPlayer and net radio
streams.
And of course this comes down to what suits the individual. If you prefer
to do it all on a single computer hardware/OS/software combination that is
fine with me. Just that I wonder if you will stick with that specific
combination for a decade or more. :-)
Slainte,
[1] And one for "if this goes wrong it will trash everything" experiments.
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