recording software

Scott 74 · #1 01-03-2002, 01:18 AM

I'm thinking using my computer to record when I practice and was wondering what kind of software is out there for beginners? I checked out the Logic Audio Silver for Windows but I'm thinking thats just a little over my head for beginning. Appreciate any input?

JESTER700 · #2 01-03-2002, 08:54 AM

Download Syntrillium's Cool Edit 2000 demo. *Nice package, available in a few versions from $30 to $100.

armdias · #3 01-03-2002, 11:51 AM

You can check also Digidesign Pro Tools FREE. It gives you the ability to play back 8 tracks at once and, of course, record the tracks. And, as the name says, it's free. I should have a nice computer to run it, since it is a little processor and memory hungry (at least a PIII and 128MB RAM).

I don't know if you want multitrack software (like Pro Tools) but if you just want to record ane track and then playback that track, another option besides Cool Edit 2000, would be Sonic Foundry Sound Forge 5 or Steinberg WaveLab 3. These records the input of your soundcard/audio interface and lets you edit the waveform (cut it, reverse it, apply EQ, distortion, etc.).

Hope that helps.

JESTER700 · #4 01-03-2002, 02:13 PM

Sound Forge & Wavelab are much more than CE2k - in the $400 range. *At that point, there's the multitrack Cool Edit Pro. *But as a beginner, as long as you only need 4 tracks or less, CE2k is a good choice.

rlintz · #5 01-03-2002, 02:33 PM

Steinberg have a scaled down version of Cubase out - check their site at www.steinberg.net. *Cakewalk has a scaled down version of Sonar (my personal favorite software) out - check out www.cakewalk.com. *You've already mentioned Logic. *I'd stick to one of these three packages for PC as you can always move up to their more advanced stuff in the future if you decide. *Cakewalk is the only American company here which means native-English and not translated from German documentation.

Randy

JESTER700 · #6 01-03-2002, 04:37 PM

Syntrillium is located in Arizona; last I checked, that was American. *Nothing is easier to use than Cool Edit. *It only lacks in MIDI/sequencing, which wasn't mentioned, and that is supposed to be implemented in Cool Edit Pro 2.0, due this month.

Software preference is personal; the best bet is download all the demos & get a feel for what seems to work logically for you.

rlintz · #7 01-03-2002, 06:18 PM

Jester,

Sorry about the mixup. *I meant "here (in America)" with regards to Steinberg, Logic, and Cakewalk. *No offense intended towards Syntrillium or Cool Edit.

Randy

rgr · #8 01-03-2002, 06:44 PM

Try n-tracks, you can download it free from www.fasoft.com. *It is a full featured recording package, although the effects may be limited. *Play with it some and if you like it, it's only $24 or $64 to register it. *Other than that, I use Logic Audio Platinum so I might be able to help you out with the Silver version some if you decide that is what you want. *I would highly suggest checking out n-tracks though. *Another thought, if *you don't need MIDI capability, is Vegas Audio, I've seen it at Best Buy for either $149 or $199, it's a nice easy to use package. *

Roger

Scott 74 · #9 01-04-2002, 03:10 AM

Thx alot everybody appreciate it. I'm a beginner at recording so nothing fancy for now. Want to get the basics and thats it. Also will I need to install any new hardware ex: new sound card to support the software. For now I'm going to to try downloading different demos for free on the net. Thx again!

chilln2music · #10 01-04-2002, 11:01 PM

this is gonna sound like a stupid question but where are the inputs on the computer when you use pro tools or another multi track program with say 16+ channels. Are there mixing boards specifically made for computer based multi track recording that plug into the computer and still have the tracks seperate? I would like to get into recording on the computer as well. Thanks.

JESTER700 · #11 01-05-2002, 12:00 AM

Yes, there are multitrack audio interfaces from a number of brands. *Anywhere from a few hundred bucks to "if you have to ask, it ain't for you..."

thepumpkinkid · #12 01-05-2002, 10:20 AM

there are many good programs like cakewalk, steinberg and pro tools and they can all be downloaded for free with just about any file sharing program ...

i downloaded cakewalk trhe other day and it's great. if you don't want to download one of those though you could try trackADAT studio which is really simple and pretty good ...

you can find loads more information at www.hitsquad.com

TLfuRy · #13 01-07-2002, 11:57 AM

I'm using Cakewalk Pro Audio 9 right now, and I'm quite happy with it. *I had bought a MAudio Audiophile 2496 sound card, but I could never get it to play back what I'd already recordED AND what I was currently recordING...which drove me crazy. *I've since swapped that out for my trusty Soundblaster Live card, and it works just fine. *BTW, that Audiophile card is for sale! *

Cakewalk is fairly easy to setup for basic multi-tracking...though I haven't gotten into any of the more advanced features of it yet.

GuyCool · #14 01-13-2002, 07:44 AM

I am going to upgrade from a soundblaster %.1 Player to a 24/96 card soon. The Audiophile was at the top of my list-I was sure you could use it in full duplex mode ie recording/playback simultaneously. Are you sure you had it set up correctly, or is this a design flaw, because without duplex it would be useless.
BTW I'm in the uk so I'm not really a candidate for your card.
Incidentally, were the inputs nice and sturdy, and was the latency nice and low for real time monitoring, because these are the main drawbacks to the Creative Labs stuff IMO.

Thanks

Guy

TLfuRy · #15 01-13-2002, 09:59 AM

I searched and searched, and tweaked, and pulled my hair out, trying to figure out why it wasn't working correctly. *the only way i could see to get it to work right was to install TWO of those 2496's. *Anyway...I decided that for what I'm doing, the SBLive more than does the trick...and works the way I want without any fooling around. *If I need some serious quality recording, I have free access to a studio...so for now this works for me.

inputs were very sturdy on the MAudio card, RCA's and a midi dongle.

I haven't noticed any latency issues with realtime monitoring on the SB...and since I couldn't monitor realtime with the MAudio, I don't have any comparison. *