Good non-DAW software for your Audio Computer

Telepip · Post by **Telepip** » Sat Aug 02, 2008 7:56 am

I'm about to build my computer today and I was wondering what software I should look into that's not music recording related.

For example, I will have an internet connection so anti-spyware, anti-malware. Maybe some optimizing registry software or something. Just wondering what you might have learned from your experience as home-studio owners.

Thanks a bunch!

RedCrownStudios · Post by **RedCrownStudios** » Sat Aug 02, 2008 9:10 am

Never buy anything that optimizes your registry or anything like the sort. Nor anything that "boosts" your internet speed or anything else like that.

They are all snake oil for the uneducated.

I have used Mcafee, Norton and ZoneLabs for spyware/antivirus/firewall and find Zonelabs the best by far.

rwc · Post by **rwc** » Sat Aug 02, 2008 1:13 pm

the best firewall and antivirus are common sense. I wouldn't spend a dime on either.

virus free for over six years, on XP.

I'd get ccleaner for a windows PC starting out, and only acquire other tools as necessary.

the whole "PCs are full of spyware/malware" thing is a myth. it is the user. I have used macs that have been fucked to shit and back, and PCs that worked fine, and vice versa.. just don't install a bunch of junk, and you will be fine.

ctmsound · Post by **ctmsound** » Sat Aug 02, 2008 1:46 pm

use firefox and you'll be ok.

comfortstarr · Post by **comfortstarr** » Sat Aug 02, 2008 3:05 pm

If you're going to be using Outlook a lot (I mean A LOT), there's an enhancement program called Xobni (yes, that's Inbox backwards) that I find indispensable.

I'm also kind of grooving on Evernote.

palinilap · Post by **palinilap** » Mon Aug 04, 2008 8:42 am

Avast is a freeware anti-virus software that I've found to "play nice" with audio applications.

RefD · Post by **RefD** » Mon Aug 04, 2008 10:17 am

AVG antivirus.

Zone Alarm (tho XP's firewall is good enough, i only use ZA on my 2K boxes)

Spybot Search & Destroy + Spyware Blaster

NEVER connect your recording machine to the Internet.

leigh · Post by **leigh** » Mon Aug 04, 2008 10:47 am

RefD wrote:NEVER connect your recording machine to the Internet.

If you run a studio with paying clients, that's good advice. If you're working at home, on a budget (and who isn't), it's pretty much not practical.

RefD · Post by **RefD** » Mon Aug 04, 2008 11:23 am

leigh wrote:
RefD wrote:NEVER connect your recording machine to the Internet.
If you run a studio with paying clients, that's good advice. If you're working at home, on a budget (and who isn't), it's pretty much not practical.

unless you're a former IT goon who can build a server farm out of tin cans, duct tape and fish paste.

seriously, tho, i must have 5 fairly modern spec machines and i haven't paid for anything except memory and hard disks in about a decade...and the occasional license for Microcrap OSes since a decent linux DAW is still mostly a pipe dream.

kuene · Post by **kuene** » Mon Aug 04, 2008 11:37 am

you don't need or want antivirus, anti-'spyware' - or anything remotely promising to protect your computer. they just cause conflicts, consume resources, and don't really work anyway. on top of that, many of them are basically impossible to uninstall - because of their very nature (that they have to be protected from viruses).

don't open attachments from weird emails, and don't surf porn or pirate software sites, and you aren't going to get viruses.

Dave Stanley · Post by **Dave Stanley** » Mon Aug 04, 2008 12:37 pm

kuene wrote: don't open attachments from weird emails, and don't surf porn or pirate software sites, and you aren't going to get viruses.

Exactly what I do on all of my machines. I get my porn elsewhere....

RefD · Post by **RefD** » Mon Aug 04, 2008 1:40 pm

stonewall40 wrote:
kuene wrote: don't open attachments from weird emails, and don't surf porn or pirate software sites, and you aren't going to get viruses.
Exactly what I do on all of my machines. I get my porn elsewhere....

*FDISKs laptop while nobody is watching*

The Get Down · Post by **The Get Down** » Thu Aug 14, 2008 8:51 pm

+ 1 for AVG antivirus (less resource hungry than avast! in my experience)

-Eusing Free Registry Cleaner
-VLC media player
-quicktime alternative
-The Open Office Suite (free version of MS office)
-Opera internet browser
-WinRAR

Mr. Dipity · Post by **Mr. Dipity** » Fri Aug 15, 2008 10:22 am

The Get Down wrote:+ 1 for AVG antivirus (less resource hungry than avast! in my experience)

-1 for AVG. it's a piece of shit, IMO. Not that there's anything better. In fact, nothing is better than AVG. Which is why I've uninstalled all my Anitvirus software: >nothing< turned out to be a better option.

percussion boy · Post by **percussion boy** » Fri Aug 15, 2008 9:41 pm

One vote for minimalism here, if you can possibly afford it.

That is -- don't surf with your music computer. Then you won't need all that protective antivirus crap.

No one expected to look at nekkid pictures or send e-mail with a 4 track . . .

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Good non-DAW software for your Audio Computer

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