32-Bit Compared to 64-Bit Operating Systems

The differences may apply to a lot of applications, but newer, bigger, better is not always the best way to go.

As far as I'm concerned, and in this I mean for station automation; Take an old-ass computer, wipe it clean, and then install a stripped down version of XP on it using a program like Nlite to remove everything and anything from the operating system except specifically what you need, dedicate that pc for only the automation and then do any processing externally (either hardware or another computer), and your station will operate smoothly and consistently for years without so much as hiccup.

Case in point:
The computers I usually use for my automation are ancient, most of the time it's been an extremely old Pentium 1 Dell desktop with about 500mgs of memory (I forget the model and don' have it with me here at the moment, but it's really old, I had actually removed a floppy drive from it about 7 or 8 years ago to install a CDrom in place of it. It has a low profile metal case and lays flat). It's not wireless it connects to the internet with a cable. The only alternation I made was to upgrade the sound card with a Echo Mia MIDI, and put the largest old harddrive that I had laying around into it.

Like I said it's a stripped down version of XP (the XP install cd was less than 400megs) I use ZaraRadio with a connection to the internet so to access streams for newscast and weather announcements or whatever, and usually have the mp3 library on the hard drive but occasionally use an external one. The audio output goes into my mixer and processing gear, and then to the transmitter.

I usually would reboot every month or so, but I know there have been times it literally ran for a full year without reboot, and I can not recall ever having it freeze or lockup or get sluggish nor anything like that. I am convinced it runs more trouble free using an old dedicate computer, than does on a newer one! - Of course that's assuming your using Zara which does not require much processing power or memory.

Newer computers and operating systems are going to frequently glitch on you no matter what your running on them, there's simply too much going on under the hood. For reliable station automation go old and simple! Some of you may think that's complete nonsense but my experience says otherwise. I'm convinced it's the best way to go.

As long as you dedicate the machine as a player and/or other local applications and don't connect to the internet you'll be fine.

Microsoft updates we're mainly about security patches. If your apps run OK that's what matters.

For a one PC operation that makes it a problem if you rely on the internet for content or steaming sources. You'd need a 2nd machine which is still supported for those things.

My main problem is that Dropbox dropped (no pun intended) XP support. As such the automatic file sharring no longer works. That is a big part of my automation and forced me to upgrade from XP.

When I'm 64

Here's something that not many average computer users know about: Windows XP 64-bit, yes, it exists!

It has the familiarity and simplicity of XP with 64-bit abilities, which means more than 3 gigs of RAM access.

For just automation with Zara, audio cables like VAC or JACK, a limiter or processor software and a wave recorder, XP 32-bit can run them all on a faster Pentium, or even a newer Atom mini board, which I use in my always-on system, Atom, for 'green' operation.

I have XP-64 on a main PC, and with the extra RAM memory access, I'm more comfortable in multitrack audio and video, recording long files, doing video, anything that's more memory intensive, as well as 64-bit programs, most will run on XP-64.

I've also tried Windows Server 2003, as discussed by audio forums, possibly on the Hydrogen board. That's a stripped down operating system made to run website servers, so it should be robust and fast. It's server, so you have to add the audio components pack. I tried it at the time, had it working, using it for a little while as a test environment, so no long term operation, but it did work.

I've found that Windows 2000 is great for audio playback, automation, radio, and it's really small and sits mellow on your machine. Get a good old PC and add an Audigy sound card, still a sweet system, even today!

My system on air at the AM station is set up as single computer. It's automated most of the time, but can go live, by stopping the automation and going to the board live through the line-in input. That means you get the same sound system and limiter as the automation uses, and can't hear the change from auto_dj to live. You can kill the line-in mixer input on XP and set up your mic and playback levels on the board before going live.

That's all done on XPooch!

PS: People making mean remarks about others they never actually met for tea, that's why I stay away from some of the boards. That's the real nonsense..

Boomer

This article and discussion seems to reinforce what I always thought...that the 64 bit is like a little more horsepower but I never cared much, a couple of seconds faster here and there doesn't matter much to me.
I have now 64 bit windows 10 but not by choice, just the way the computer came with it installed. But like a car if you have more reserve power than you actually need or use it will work better in any kind of use without as much effort.

XP Drops Dropbox

Yes, I can go online with a browser, log into my Dropbox and upload/download files using an XP machine. But no longer will the Dropbox app install or run on XP.

The result being that placing a file in my Dropbox from a different machine is no longer automatically downloaded on the XP machine or vice versa.

I rely on this heavily as I produce files at the studio. The files go into the local Dropbox folder and nearly instantly arrive at the transmitter site Dropbox folder to go to air.