The amount of RAM ("random-access memory") you need for your machine depends on what type of record producer you are. If you mostly make music using virtual synthesizers then you don't necessarily need to spend your budget on more primary memory without primarily addressing the need for speed i.e., the central processing unit in your computer must be modern enough to handle your favorite virtual instruments and other audio files without requiring frequent rendering, bouncing or the freezing of audio tracks.
On the other hand, if you are more likely to use tons of Native-Instruments Kontakt Libraries you have no choice but to have more random-access memory than you need. So don't be shy to purchase more RAM sticks, and stick them on your motherboard if you have available empty slots, that is.
Pro Tip: Always remember more RAM or buying a faster SSD (solid-state drive device) is useless if you have a slow CPU. Therefore, in order to improve the overall performance of your machine, you basically have to spend more money on a faster CPU. And in case you didn't know, random-access memory is also available at different processing speeds and bandwidth including latency which affects the overall performance as well.
The main reason you need more RAM as a mixing engineer is that many DAWs temporarily store your audio tracks in your RAM because it's much faster than playing them back from the secondary storage unit (i.e., your hard drive). And also dealing with the issue of sample rate because the higher the sample rate (e.g., 96 kHz sample rate and above) of your project the more RAM you need otherwise you will be frustrated with all that lagging performance.
However, for audio post-production or mastering music, you don't need to have a huge size of primary memory on your workstation. Because it's not like you will be dealing with many audio files all at once. In fact, you can literary master any genre of music on a computer that is a decade old if you know what you are doing. My advice is that you should let someone else with experience do it for you.
On the other hand, if you are more likely to use tons of Native-Instruments Kontakt Libraries you have no choice but to have more random-access memory than you need. So don't be shy to purchase more RAM sticks, and stick them on your motherboard if you have available empty slots, that is.
Pro Tip: Always remember more RAM or buying a faster SSD (solid-state drive device) is useless if you have a slow CPU. Therefore, in order to improve the overall performance of your machine, you basically have to spend more money on a faster CPU. And in case you didn't know, random-access memory is also available at different processing speeds and bandwidth including latency which affects the overall performance as well.
Q: What about sound mixing or audio mastering?
If you plan on doing your own mixes in the box you also need to have more RAM than an average consumer-grade personal computer since some sound engineering sessions will have numerous audio tracks including a series of audio software plug-ins acting as insert effects on your DAW's virtual console.The main reason you need more RAM as a mixing engineer is that many DAWs temporarily store your audio tracks in your RAM because it's much faster than playing them back from the secondary storage unit (i.e., your hard drive). And also dealing with the issue of sample rate because the higher the sample rate (e.g., 96 kHz sample rate and above) of your project the more RAM you need otherwise you will be frustrated with all that lagging performance.
However, for audio post-production or mastering music, you don't need to have a huge size of primary memory on your workstation. Because it's not like you will be dealing with many audio files all at once. In fact, you can literary master any genre of music on a computer that is a decade old if you know what you are doing. My advice is that you should let someone else with experience do it for you.
