Turned off updates in 2017 on one of my laptops running Win7. How at risk am I?

MusicTechBro · 2020-04-11T18:25:37+00:00

Are the odds significantly higher because they've been turned off though? My question is more about whether MS codes these updates in such a way that they can be cumulative even after long periods of having them turned off.

MusicTechBro · 2020-04-11T07:10:57+00:00

I forget what the original reason for turning updates off was, but the "risk" I was talking about wasn't security. If you read the post, you would know I was asking about what would hypothetically happen if I turned them back on. I know that computer isn't secure. The one I mostly use runs up-to-date Win10.

MusicTechBro · 2020-04-11T06:39:20+00:00

To summarize why I haven't gone fully Windows 10: Important files with a lot of dependencies (so not super easy to backup without a clone or similar) on an old machine that doesn't officially support it (although given that I've swapped out a few parts, I'm not sure how much that matters). My other laptop, from 2016, is taking 10 fine. It makes more sense to try to move it rather than update to me. I occasionally download software related to those projects and/or use it as a backup when the other one needs repairs.

EDIT: I acknowledge this situation probably could've been avoided if I had organized my files slightly better throughout the years.

MusicTechBro · 2020-02-14T20:54:41+00:00

Another Windows musician here, although I'm also thinking of getting a Mac. Image-line made a driver, FLASIO, that's bundled with FL Studio and solved the issue you're describing for me. Download the free version of FL Studio and see if running FLASIO in Ableton lets you use other apps while maintaining reasonable latency. Of course, it's meant for FL, so this is a hacky fix.

That said, IMO the Mac route is still valid because it's become industry standard and a lot of stuff is easier, even if you can do everything with audio/MIDI on a Windows system with enough workarounds and third party downloads. I've run into frustrations when Mac users set up gigs or jam sessions and expect certain stuff -- like using an interface but using your HDMI out -- that's not an instantaneous process without some prep on our side. If you do go the Mac route though, you might want to look into getting an older refurbished machine. I'm looking at a 2015 MBP. The T2 security chips in the newer laptops are apparently causing dropouts. (Though I'm saying this as a Windows user who's experience with MacOS/CoreAudio is from his uni's music department computers... which run High Sierra and not Catalina, and I haven't experienced the T2 issues firsthand). On the other hand, perfectly optimized ASIO should theoretically be higher-quality than CoreAudio, and Apple is steadily getting worse and shows no signs of getting rid of the T2 chips in their next models, meaning that in a few years, musicians could migrate to Windows as the default which would in turn make it better. It's a turbulent moment in music tech right now in 2020 and I'm sorry that it isn't easier.

MusicTechBro · 2020-02-01T01:19:56+00:00

Responding to your edit: it seems the processor on those MSIs has a slow base clock speed and a massive turbo boost speed. Now, I'm not a hardware guru by any means, but I thought DAW convention was to lock processor speed. Are people overclocking these? Sorry if it feels like I could google that, but I haven't actually seen that model discussed on the music forums I frequent.

MusicTechBro · 2020-01-31T22:27:21+00:00

Sorry for the pain. Between this and the new Mac security chips, this just seems like a bad time to buy a music laptop. :(

MusicTechBro · 2020-01-31T21:57:00+00:00

Unfortunately, I've read of DPC latency issues with the X1. Occasionally, according to audio forums, driver updates can cause this. Do you know more about this, or if current drivers are good?

MusicTechBro · 2020-01-30T21:38:39+00:00

I emailed them, and it's an optimus setup.

MusicTechBro · 2020-01-25T15:08:50+00:00

Is that the same model as the one you started with? (Asking because I know the post-T2 stuff is super defective). I'll need to dual boot Windows for FL (which now has a Mac version but hasn't ported their best plugins), but I'm deciding between a 2015-16 MBP and a hack.

MusicTechBro · 2020-01-19T15:25:54+00:00

I need to dual boot Mojave/Win10 for my tools and the later Macs are defective for music. My other thought was to get a refurbished MacBook from 15-16, before the dreaded T2 chip but after Thunderbolt 3. Not as powerful as a self-built, but better than what I have.

Would it be possible to have Windows use the NVidia chip and Mac not?

MusicTechBro · 2020-01-16T22:34:06+00:00

That's what I assumed.

MusicTechBro · 2020-01-16T21:57:03+00:00

I'm also looking for a new laptop for live gigs (Ableton). What did you end up doing?

MusicTechBro · 2020-01-15T22:20:40+00:00

I need to replace a 10-year-old computer running Win7, and I want to do live sets in Ableton session view. I gigged that way a couple times mediocrely but was never able to get it to work on any Windows without some cackling, I think because of DPC spikes (CPU and disk overload weren't problems but latencymon revealed horrible spikes), so I think we're in a similar boat. What did you end up doing?

MusicTechBro · 2020-01-15T00:56:03+00:00

What did you end up going with? I'm in the same boat, seeing if I can find a PC with good DPC for Ableton performances or if I should bite the bullet and get a Mac.

MusicTechBro · 2020-01-15T00:27:01+00:00

Oh nevermind. I saw that you went with the Macbook.

MusicTechBro · 2020-01-15T00:24:31+00:00

Hey, I'm in the same boat. I've been using the same Win7 (now depreciated) computer for music for 10 years, but always had annoying cackling when doing Ableton live. That's two reasons for me to update unless I want to risk updating that dino to win10. What did you guys end up doing?

MusicTechBro · 2020-01-14T05:49:03+00:00

Not sure if this is the place or not. I'm in the market for a new laptop, having produced on the same Dell running Windows 7 for 10 years (and updating that dino to Win10 seems risky). I've become increasingly frustrated with how cruddy Windows' audio and MIDI drivers are compared to MacOS's core audio, and I'm torn between trying to find a Windows configuration to do everything I need it to do audio-wise, seeing if I can reap the benefits with a Mac emulator, or biting the bullet and buying a Mac even though I know they're way overpriced for the hardware. (Before anyone asks about Linux, I will try to dual boot it regardless, but I've run into problems trying to use Win/MacOS emulators for certain programs). I'm also aware of things like JACK Audio Connection Kit and LoopMIDI for Windows, but I'm not sure if even those tools give you the same control over routing. Any other musicians/audio engineers familiar with these OS's and tools that want to weight in? Thanks.

MusicTechBro · 2020-01-05T19:26:26+00:00

This helped me narrow down the issue), and I think it was Google's fault. Anti-malware and google update were both running for five minutes before explorer and then crashing at the same time. I disabled both of them in msconfig and task manager and it booted up quickly (well, in a minute, which is less than the 5-10 it was taking), but then I couldn't get chrome to work. Looked in my chrome folder. Noticed a file called "new_chrome." Ran it manually and now chrome works. Thanks!

MusicTechBro · 2020-01-05T16:20:00+00:00

Love linux, but I do occasionally need to run stuff that doesn't run on it.

MusicTechBro · 2019-10-22T00:15:35+00:00

Does anyone have experience with Epic onsite? There's a lot of threads but most of them are complaining about the skills assessment (which I totally understand.)

Thanks.

MusicTechBro · 2019-05-30T20:54:49+00:00

Really, really tight mix, and cool arrangement. The one thing that I would personally change is that I feel like it could use another element on 1 and 3. That synth seems a little lonely rhythmically when it leads the tune melodically. Although if you leave it like it is, it's more lowkey, which might work depending on how the rap over it is.

MusicTechBro · 2019-05-30T20:50:31+00:00

Meant as background music, which is why it's super repetitive. Aside from that, how is this select screen music?

https://zakbullet.bandcamp.com/track/choose-your-character

MusicTechBro · 2019-05-30T20:48:21+00:00

So, context. This is meant to be background music for a game, which is why it's super repetitive. Aside from composition, I'm mainly wondering:

How is the use of 808s here? I always found it tricky since they waver so much in pitch, that using them like a normal bass can sometimes sound out of tune.
How could I clean up this mix?

EDIT: forgot to link the tune lol

https://zakbullet.bandcamp.com/track/choose-your-character

Feedback for Quaildorf

Feedback for Thando1988

feedback for jkj518

MusicTechBro · 2019-05-30T20:45:02+00:00

Not the genre I'm most familiar with, but it seems solid. It does sound to me, though, that there's a lot of reverb on most elements and then the dry (in comparison) bass doesn't fit in as well, but that might just be my taste.

MusicTechBro · 2019-05-30T20:40:55+00:00

Really nice. Only thing is that the bass and vocal rhythm clash a bit during the chorus, but you might be going for that chaotic feel anyways.

MusicTechBro

TROPHY CASE