Multitrack recording for PC - How is it??

[truenobzr]

I am thinking of buying a Cool Edit Pro for multitrack recording software for my home PC. My PC is Athlon XP 1600+, 512MB RAM, SB Live Value and a 60G ATA100 HD. Is my PC powerful enough?? Is Cool Edit Pro powerful enough compare with those hardware standalone multitrack recorder?? How is the quality?? Besides CEP, what other PC based multitrack software?? I heard Sonar, but seems it is mostly for MIDI.

[MorbidDream]

Greetings truenobzr !

Your PC is powerfull enough to handle most multitrack recording programs. I've worked with Cooledit pro and it's asolutely great program for mastering stuff, but not so good at multitrack recording. There's also lack of Midi compatibility (and there is no metronome). I suggest you to get a copy of newest Steinberg/Cubase. Besides that it's good for multitrack recording, it has Midi compatibility. It has all from mixers to effects in "panel look" enviroment. *But if you just want to test multitrack recording, I suggest you not to spend all of your money to Cooledit pro....
Only my opinion.


Janne

[Zeek]

I'd take a good look at Cakewalk Guitar tracks Pro. It's made to be quick and easy for guitar players to plug in and go. For $139 it's a great way to get your feet wet and is very powerful. Sonar is the full-blown audio workstation software, and also does MIDI very well. It's waaay more denero, though, naturally, but does everything. I've been using it for some time.

[Doink]

These are all good programs. If you can screw around with each of them at the sample computer at a guitar store, you could pick which one you like the most.
I personnally use Cool Edit for multitracking and effects, and SoundForge for compression, gating, and mastering.

[ShredStud]

CuBase is king.

[ns9]

Hi! Just my 2 cents... try to find copies of the "free" versions of the biggies. They come on CD-roms with some magazines, as extras with some soundcards, synths, etc. Or as freeware on the net. (NOT cracked programs; they never really run right, and could put a bad taste in your mouth for that app for no reason) Cubasis will give you a good idea about Cubase, as will the other stripped down, free (or close to free) versions of Logic and Cakewalk/Sonar/guitarTracks.
* If you have any experience with gear like mixers, rack effects, eq's *etc- then Cubase will be pretty easy to pick up on, since they modelled the interface after these things for that very reason =) Logic is a pretty deep program; this is one of the main reasons so many "power-users" use it. Hugely customizable, personalize it for yourself. Steep learning curve though! Cakewalk have several versions of their main app (Now called Sonar). Guitar Tracks is geared toward -duh- guitar players.
* Big thing to consider also is if you want to record and then apply FX after. If so, I would highly recommend Cubase/Cubasis, simply because of it's ease of use, AND support of VST fx and instruments. There are tons of free VST fx and instruments on the web.
* If you plan on only doing audio, then I would also try ProTools Free (free, from the Digidesign website). Very stable, pretty simple- only two main screens- edit and mix. All the other apps have MANY windows you will need to nav through. If you like PTFree, move up to PTLE with either the M-Box or a DIGI001 interface. I always push the Digi stuff for three reasons: 1) it works 2)easy to learn and 3) industry standard. Learn it, and you will be able to at least understand what a tech in a studio is doing. Unless you get a nice analog studio with Studer and a sweet console Mmmmmm.
* Good luck! * *Nikki :angel:

[rgr]

I've mentioned this program here many times, don't know if anyone has tried it yet though, it's called n-tracks and you can download it free from www.fasoft.com. *You can use the free version but to get full functionality you'll need to register it for $64. *Don't knock it until you've tried it, I downloaded an older version a year or so ago an it rocks. *Unfortunately I was already using Logic Audio Platinum. *I would recommend it over Cool Edit Pro, like MorbidDream said, CEP is good for mastering but it's not the best on-the-fly recording program. *

N-tracks has MIDI functions too, if you don't need MIDI you might also try Sonic Foundry's Vegas but I would still recommend checking out n-tracks first, it only costs a download. *

$0.02,
Roger

[welshpete]

Just to give my $0.02

I would agree with most of what is here...I can heartily recommend Cubase - it got used for the vast majority of my compositions for my Uni course. However I now use Cool Edit more regularly. Agreed there is no metronome, but a click track is easily produced and problem solved. No Midi - but patches on a half decent workstation are likely to be far better than on board midi sounds, even on top range sound cards - so unless you are using lots of samples etc then this is also not a problem.

Other than that it is a fantastic tool, virtually limitless tracks, the ability to do the editing within the same program (no importing problems) and excellent quality.

That said if money is not a problem (or you know some of those naughty people who crack software) try Logic or Steinberg's Nuendo(which they use here in the studios), both of which kick Cubase's @$$.

Better still, get a 24track hard drive recorder and presto! Studio in a box!

Pete