Windows 7 or 8 for recording?

[Diocide]

So I cannot seem to rectify my issues with Mac OSX on my hackintosh. I keep getting static and there is a buffer problem probably related to the USB drivers or possibly the MIDI control. I've been trying for the last two months to fix it and I cannot get anywhere.

So my next step is to bite the bullet and go back to Windows after not using it for the better part of the last decade. I didn't want to have to do this, but I'm not going to let my 500$ recording interface (Audiobox 1818VSL) sit idly by.

So now I need to make the decision whether to grab W7 or W8...

Thoughts?

I will be using the Presonus Studio One software for recording.

I've got an 3.9 ghz Intel i5, 16g of ram and a SSD for my main drive if that helps. I just built this system two months ago in hopes of making it a solid recording rig, and I haven't been able to do shit with it. Time to move on.

[Krunchmeister]

I'm not very happy with win8 based on my experiences with it. Win 7 is more flexible and intuitive and also seems more compatible with programs. I was able to run several older programs on 7 that 8 wouldn't accept.

[Markdude]

I would go with 7 just to be safe. Better chance of driver and software stability and I don't think 8 would give you a huge performance advantage.

[Noizemaker]

[video]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t9v95hzURkQ[/video]

[Diocide]

Thanks folks!

[Toe-Knee]

I'd personally say 8.1

I've found it to be a lot more stable than 7, boots faster and has far more efficient memory management.

Also everything I use is compatable with 8.1 even some stuff that wasn't compatable with 7 8 was a different story though.

[Diocide]

Any of you guys try the professional preview Windows 10?

I was talking to our IT guy at work and he said I could give it a try. All the drivers are backwards compatible and it's free for the next year or so.

[Toe-Knee]

Any of you guys try the professional preview Windows 10?

I was talking to our IT guy at work and he said I could give it a try. All the drivers are backwards compatible and it's free for the next year or so.

I'm currently dual booting it. It runs well and is very stable. It seems that there is a lack of audio support though or it's some driver incompatability. I can't get any of my audio interfaces running all which work with xp,7,8 or even the onboard soundcard. They install fine but audio just plays back as pops and clicks on all of them.

It looks a bit funky too. The icons are very ugly, well some of them as some haven't changed and there are no borders around windows so they have a kind of detached floating feel to them.

If they keep to their word that it will be a free upgrade from 8 then i'll probably upgrade providing they fix the audio.

[colejustesen]

I have had both Windows 7 and 8.1, and I truly feel that the CPU management is a lot better in Windows 8.1. My DAW doesn't seem to be so overloaded with processes running in the background of my PC.

Cole

[GuitarBilly]

I didn't like Windows 8 when I first got it. But I am used to it now and I have to say it's been incredibly stable to me. I also got the Start 8 thing so it put the start button back in there. But really, I have zero complaints, it's been really fast and stable for me.

[Diocide]

Well....

I installed Windows 7 Pro over this past weekend. It was the first one I could get my hands on, so I went with it.

I gotta say, its' not as bad I thought it would be... I'm coming from Windows XP mind you...

[bdubbs]

Well....

I installed Windows 7 Pro over this past weekend. It was the first one I could get my hands on, so I went with it.

I gotta say, its' not as bad I thought it would be... I'm coming from Windows XP mind you...

hahaha, coming from windows XP windows 7 is awesome. I used it for a long time and its great. I use windows 7 and 8.1 . Both work great.
Looking forward to a better start menu situation with 10. Looks like a good one.

[newholland]

god i hate xp. i had to deal with it for years, and 7 is lightyears better.

no issues with 7 or 8, honestly.. i use a similar system for my recording rig, and nothing bad at all to say about the OS.. just works!

[Diocide]

That's what I'm hoping. I've got all my stuff setup and installed, and hope to give the Audiobox 181vsl a run through this weekend.

I'm still bummed that the Hackintosh thing didn't work out, but it's all good.

So what other programs are must haves for Windows? I use OSX for the last 8 years, so I'm a little out of touch. I've got Chrome for interwebz, Avast for antivirus, the Mozilla email client and hats about it. Anything else worth putting on here?

[ibenhad]

7 was much more stable for me also. 8 and 8.1 just had issues over my firewire. As soon as I went back to 7 everything worked perfect. Trust me I tried everything to get 8/8.1 to work. I would remove Avast and just go with Microsoft Security Essentials. No need to use other stuff. Also try Reaper as your DAW rock solid and has tons of support.

[tmcatfan]

7 or 8 are fine. 8 is a faster os imo. I have had great luck with just about every interface on 8. From Modeling units w USB interfaces, to FR LS56, Saffire.

Your sys seems good but for recording you might want to add another HDD for storing audio files. Get one that is mechanical (no ssd) and 7200rpm. Make sure your DAW is set to 64bit. If you install a 32bit version you can't use all the ram you have available. I have seen a couple guys I know make that mistake.

[Diocide]

Thanks for the tips!

I do have a second hd for recording, so I'm set there.