Hardware Demands for Software Instruments

[recklessexpress]

Ok, so I've been looking all over the internet and through these forums and I am trying to get answers. I produce a lot of electronic music using mostly software instruments and vst's. I want to use exclusively software / virtual instruments and am looking at Komplete 7.

I am going to be purchasing Presonus's Studio One because I love the workflow and the ability to just lay down a track quickly without features I don't know how to use or need.

I currently have a Dell XPS M1330 with a T7300 processor (core 2 duo, 2.0 Ghz), 2GB ram, 200 GB HD (Hitachi 7,200 RPM).

Now my questions are many:

1. Does a digital audio interface like Native Instruments Audio Kontrol 1 improve/ speed up preformance for software/ virtual instruments?

2. Will a solid state drive improve preformance/ speed within the program?

In the future I will be upgrading and buying/ building a complete desktop system. When I do what are the most important pieces of hardware relative to what I will be doing. For basic producing (not recording) within virtual and software instruments using midi tracks, what parts are most important?

Will I see any benefit to having more than 4 gigs of ram?

Will a faster HD or SSD improve preformance drastically?

Is the processor where the majority of the burden lies for using software instruments?

I know this a lot of information to put in one thread and some of these questions have probably been answered elsewhere, but I think there will be great value to the commnuity to condense it all here. I also believe that if you know the answer to one of these questions you probably will have answers to the rest. Thanks guys and I look forward to getting some good info.

 

[Emperus]

Clock speed takes precedence over core count when it comes to audio processing (unless you are into batch processing of course which would mean running multiple instances of a software or processing multiple files in a single instance).. For a detailed spec recommendation, post your query in the 'Systems' section.. You'll need a quality interface to your PC via your instruments most importantly.. I guess m-audio will have a solution ready for you from one of their Delta product range.. Check them out at www.m-audio.com