4.0

9
System requirements and installation
About this chapter
This chapter describes the requirements and installation
procedures for the Windows version and the Mac version
of Cubase AI.
Minimum requirements
To use Cubase AI, your computer must meet the following
minimum requirements:
Windows
• Windows XP (Home or Professional)
• Intel Pentium or AMD Athlon 1.4 GHz processor
•512 MB RAM
• Windows DirectX compatible audio hardware;
ASIO compatible audio hardware recommended for low
latency performance.
• Display resolution of 1024x768 pixels
• DVD ROM drive required for installation
• Internet connection required for license activation
Macintosh
• Mac OS X 10.4
• Power Mac G4 1 GHz or Core Solo 1.5 GHz
•512 MB RAM
• Display resolution of 1024x768 pixels
• CoreAudio compatible audio hardware
• DVD ROM drive required for installation
• Internet connection required for license activation
General notes on how to set up your system
• RAM – There is a direct relation between the amount of
available RAM and the number of audio channels that you
can have running.
The amount of RAM specified above is the minimum requirement, but as
a general rule “the more the better” applies.
• Hard disk size – The size of the hard disk determines
how many minutes of audio you will be able to record.
Recording one minute of stereo CD quality audio requires 10 MB of hard
disk space. That is, eight stereo tracks in Cubase AI use up at least 80
MB of disk space per recording minute.
• Hard disk speed – The speed of the hard drive also de-
termines the number of audio tracks you can run.
That is the quantity of information that the disk can read, usually expressed
as “sustained transfer rate”. Again, “the more the better” applies.
• Wheel mouse – Although a regular mouse will work fine
with Cubase AI, we recommend that you use a wheel
mouse.
This will speed up value editing and scrolling considerably.
MIDI requirements
If you intend to use the MIDI features of Cubase AI, you
need the following:
• A MIDI interface to connect external MIDI equipment to your
computer.
•A MIDI instrument.
• Any audio equipment required to listen to the sound from your
MIDI devices.
Audio hardware
Cubase AI will run with audio hardware that meets the fol-
lowing specifications:
•Stereo.
•16 bit.
• Support of at least the 44.1kHz sampling rate.
• Windows – The audio hardware must be supplied with a spe-
cial ASIO driver, or a DirectX compatible driver, see below.
• Mac – The audio hardware must be supplied with Mac OSX-
compatible drivers (CoreAudio or ASIO).
Using the built-in audio hardware of the Macintosh (Mac
only)
Although Cubase AI is designed with multi-channel input
and output in mind, it’s of course possible to use the pro-
gram with “basic” stereo inputs and outputs. As of this
writing, all current Macintosh models provide at least built-
in 16 bit stereo audio hardware. For detailed information,
refer to the documentation describing your computer.
!
On the Steinberg web site, under “Support–DAW
Components”, you can find detailed information on
what to consider when setting up a computer system
dedicated to audio work.