computer question: go offline?

[hieroglyph]

Anyone go offline with their DAW machine?

I started keeping my PC running XP offline back in 2008 with my first recording setup. It's been great... no viruses or malware, no AV popups, no windows updates or popups. Nada.

Now I recently bought a new PC running Windows 11, 64 bit. Just spent some time uninstalling all the HP (Hewlett Packard) bloatware due to at least a couple of popups per hour. I am currently preparing to plug in a new interface that I also just acquired. I'm getting very close to hitting the record button. Is it still possible to stop Windows updates and run a new machine offline as well?

Thanks!

 

[TDF1981]

It‘s getting harder and harder as third party VSTs do check their licenses online these days and Studio One also needs to check the licenses online once in a while.
A good Firewall and never visiting any strange sites does wonders and you can try turning off internet once you start mixing.
Having a physical iLok for those plugins that support it is also possible.

 

[hieroglyph]

It‘s getting harder and harder as third party VSTs do check their licenses online these days and Studio One also needs to check the licenses online once in a while.
A good Firewall and never visiting any strange sites does wonders and you can try turning off internet once you start mixing.
Having a physical iLok for those plugins that support it is also possible.

Thank you for your reply. So just for clarification, even though Studio One offers offline activation for the initial software download, they still require online authentication occasionally?

I agree that not visiting strange sites is very helpful. However, I thought the AV and Windows update popups would cause glitches during tracking, not mixing. Glitches in recording make sense to me because it is happening in real time and any sudden changes in the system could potentially cause a click or pop on the recorded track. Are you telling me that the same clicks or pops can be written to a track if a popup occurs during mixing?

I'm not being combative, I am truly curious. I just invested several thousand dollars in a new computer and new software and equipment, so I would like to figure these things out early on rather than later. Thanks again!

 

[TDF1981]

1. I didn’t use offline authorisation ever but I can imagine that after a time and if the computer goes ever online it will be checked for legitimacy
2. they don’t cause permanent glitches while mixing because the files are already written. But they can potentially scan files that are being needed while mixing if you don’t exclude those from scanning or other hiccups, for example when an automatic backup runs while you are mixing and those files are being tested automatically. As long as you know what you are doing you can, of course, also install anti virus software.
3. curiosity killed the mixing engineer

 

[hieroglyph]

Thank you for the helpful info!

3. curiosity killed the mixing engineer's bank account

FIFY

 

[Jemusic]

There are techniques for working off line. I am also referring to computers here that are for used for music only. That is much safer too. Have a separate computer for internet and your admin. Call it your auxiliary computer. That one does not need to be very powerful either. Put some software synths on it and you can also sequence it from your main computer.

I worked with a Windows computer for years that actually booted up offline. (I had to insert a WiFi antenna to put it on line so by simply leaving it out it never went on line.) Its amazing how little time you need to go on line to keep things up to date. I think you can do it in most cases. I have a lot of plugins for example and they all work fine being offline. They have never stopped working for me. They might get a little behind in versions but when you are on line you can check all that and update as necessary. I used to do a regular on line check maybe once a month for an hour. You can be off line 99% of the time.

You can run less or no programs that are protecting your computer. I am convinced it helps audio production. Before going on line I simply fired the protection apps up. You do it manually. The next time you boot your computer those protection apps will simply not load again. The setting for the Wifi Receiver will also allow this. I found Zone Alarm really good. It says it's stopping intrusions so I guess it is working. You can also disconnect and reconnect easily with Zone Alarm making going on and off easy.

I am on Mac now but you can just disconnect the WiFi after you have booted up. I did experience some weird behaviour once on the Mac while being on line accidentally. After disconnecting the WiFi the problem immediately went away. It may have been in the middle of updating something and given the audio a lower priority just at that time. Apple OS updates can be set so they wait behind the scenes (and not pre-download) The settings icon in the task bar will just alert you there. They never pop and interrupt what you are doing either.

 

[hieroglyph]

There are techniques for working off line. I am also referring to computers here that are for used for music only. That is much safer too. Have a separate computer for internet and your admin. Call it your auxiliary computer. That one does not need to be very powerful either. Put some software synths on it and you can also sequence it from your main computer.

I worked with a Windows computer for years that actually booted up offline. (I had to insert a WiFi antenna to put it on line so by simply leaving it out it never went on line.) Its amazing how little time you need to go on line to keep things up to date. I think you can do it in most cases. I have a lot of plugins for example and they all work fine being offline. They have never stopped working for me. They might get a little behind in versions but when you are on line you can check all that and update as necessary. I used to do a regular on line check maybe once a month for an hour. You can be off line 99% of the time.

You can run less or no programs that are protecting your computer. I am convinced it helps audio production. Before going on line I simply fired the protection apps up. You do it manually. The next time you boot your computer those protection apps will simply not load again. The setting for the Wifi Receiver will also allow this. I found Zone Alarm really good. It says it's stopping intrusions so I guess it is working. You can also disconnect and reconnect easily with Zone Alarm making going on and off easy.

I am on Mac now but you can just disconnect the WiFi after you have booted up. I did experience some weird behaviour once on the Mac while being on line accidentally. After disconnecting the WiFi the problem immediately went away. It may have been in the middle of updating something and given the audio a lower priority just at that time. Apple OS updates can be set so they wait behind the scenes (and not pre-download) The settings icon in the task bar will just alert you there. They never pop and interrupt what you are doing either.

Yes, that is exactly what I do. I record and mix on my DAW machine and then use a separate computer for the online bill paying and foruming and everything else.

You raise another good point, which is that I don't necessarily have to keep my DAW computer full time online or offline. I can keep it offline for recording and mixing but if I need to authenticate my Studio One account or service a plugin, I can easily hop online for that and then disconnect again.

Thank you!