I'd been working on my Granddaughters' (twins) Christmas present. I'd told 'em if they bought the hardware & software, I'd build the PC, install & configure everything. Their father even remodeled their guest room over the garage, that'd been used for storage, into a studio soundproofed with Sonex acoustic wall & ceiling insulation and thick throw-rugs for the floor to dampen low-fequency standing waves. It turned out really nice, for about the cost of a bathroom re-model.
They'd been saving money for software & hardware for the past year and a half, so I just finished building them a dual-motherboard Windows 7 PC mega-tower (12 PCI/E interfaces) with TWO 1500W processor temperature-sensing power supplies, dual Intel i7 Dual-Quad Processors with 30GB of RAM, (each board) FOUR 2TB (1GB buffer) SATA hard drives, TWO (independent) circulating liquid/vapor alcohol CPU cooling units (with external condensing towers) & TEN high-flow ducted cooling fans to keep the motherboards & peripheral cards cool & stable.
Picking & choosing combinations of modelers with a digital patchbay is like being locked in a candy store over the weekend ! ! !
They'd been using an 8-channel (Line 6, if my memory serves me) inboard A/D bus with their present computer, so I needed to put something together that's also compatible with the new software, as well as be upgradeable & expandable when the time comes to add other modelers & emulators.
I'd even chipped in and got 'em a 40" LCD TV/Monitor from buy.com that was on special for $199.00, (including shipping) as there's just too many device GUis to easily view on a 24" screen. (well, at least with my old fart eyesight) I just finished & shipped everything (except the monitor, it was drop-shipped) a few days ago, so now I have room to move around again . . .
For starters, this is the majority of the software/hardware they'd bought with their part-time job (McD's & occasional local party gig) money. It can get a bit overwhelming and kinda pricey, but if seventeen (soon to be 18) year old girly-girls dig it, seasoned professionals like yourselves would really have a blast with this stuff ! ! !
It's alotta fun to play with, and you're constantly learning something new evertime you use it ! ! !
http://www.uaudio.com/uad-plug-ins.html