My Final Computer-Based Recording Question (Hopefully)...

thehouseofshawn · #1 03-15-2004, 08:41 AM

After some deliberation, I came down to doing everything on a laptop like I planned...but just a Windows laptop. They have come a long way and I hear nothing but good things about Windows; always have. Then, I hear some bad things about DigiDesign which may or may not be true, so I ask of this:

What (out there) kind of laptop recording setups do they have? I still need something that won't take up too much room, but that will give me the abilities that I need; like plugins, MIDI instruments (So I can plug in my MIDI keyboard and use that), and the ability to record multiple tracks. I want at least 8 tracks simultaneous recording for any sort of small jazz combo that I may play in, including solo stuff, and some other interesting track availabilities to mess around on. I know such exists...but I don't know where to look. I don't like the non-computer digital recording stuff as much as the hands-on approach I feel with computer recording, so please stay in that area.

Thanks y'all.

thehouseofshawn · #2 03-15-2004, 10:00 PM

Is there no recording software/hardware out there that combines the use of real-time multi-tracking other than Pro Tools? Where do the boards go into? What kind of boards are they?

Polaris20 · #3 03-16-2004, 07:55 AM

What's wrong with Pro Tools? I think the Digi 002 is a nice solution for notebooks, especially the Digi 002R.

thehouseofshawn · #4 03-16-2004, 11:38 AM

You tell me...everyone here seems to diss them.

Zeppel · #5 03-16-2004, 11:52 AM

There's a new M-audio delta board (can't remember the serial or name) wich is firewire.. multiple ins.. get that, get CUBASE Sl and that's it... there's no need for more...

Polaris20 · #6 03-17-2004, 06:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by thehouseofshawn

You tell me...everyone here seems to diss them.

I have no idea, there's a couple people here that use it just fine. I personally use Reason and Cool Edit Pro 2 right now, and I love it. But I was considering going to PTLE a bit down the road, when I can afford the Digi002R.

track7 · #7 03-17-2004, 08:25 AM

I dotn really remember anyone dissing PT that much,

however my personal opinion is that you dont need it anymore. It used to be that it was the most powerful stable and reliable, and yea damned expensive. But windows stuff has moved on so so much in just the last 2 years.

The only real reason for going into pro-tools now should be A) because you just like it or B) because you want to get acustomed to what the industry uses, cause in the real world thats al that used in the pro studio's. And if you're recording bands that come in with pre-productin chances are it will be in pro-tools format.

ou certainly dont need Pro-Tools anymore if you're thinking that its super powerful and reliable than windows based setups. Cubase SX is a far far more powerful program than PT if you compare them straight out of the box and it costs far far far less. In fact in PT LE there are some things that you just simple cant do that you can in Cubase.

Of course if youve got the moolah, then pro tools can be THE recording experice but you seriuosly need to dump 20+G's into it just to get on the right track. Now for less than 3G's you can get an identical in feature windows/M-AUDIO/Cubase system that iwll be very powerful and give you results that most people / even musicians - producers cant distinguish from Pro-Tools

Soo I'm not dissing them at all, just pointing out the facts.

Either way you will get a great system, its all depends on preference and how deep your pockets are.

Good luck

David

thehouseofshawn · #8 03-17-2004, 05:33 PM

Well, another fact to play into that would be that the career field other than making music is that I want to be a recording engineer (I'm 16)...so it would be good to get accustomed to what they use everywhere else. But I don't have the money right now to do something like with everything else that I'll want/need for recording. Are there other software out there that provide multiple recording of tracks at once (So, what kind of hardware are we talking here?) and the ability to use a MIDI keyboard as another instrument? that I KNOW PT's works great for...Sorry if they are stupid questions.

Artist · #9 03-17-2004, 08:11 PM

Although you seem to be using PCs. I'd recommend Logic Audio on an Apple laptop.
With the all-in-one-ness of logic, and the new amazing package available, it is fast becoming used in many studios.
The audio recording is as of yet not as good as pro tools, but the midi/audio instrument section is far far superior. It is also designed very well to suit using pro tools and logic together.

thehouseofshawn · #10 03-17-2004, 09:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Artist

Although you seem to be using PCs. I'd recommend Logic Audio on an Apple laptop.
With the all-in-one-ness of logic, and the new amazing package available, it is fast becoming used in many studios.
The audio recording is as of yet not as good as pro tools, but the midi/audio instrument section is far far superior. It is also designed very well to suit using pro tools and logic together.

I was thinking about going the mac route anyways...but I'm still unsure...my parents are waiting on my decision...which I can't make! I'll have to look into it...I guess what's so appealing about Pro Tools is the packaging with it...like...it has the software and interfaces along with the hardware and that's just what I learned how you record on a computer with...I'm so uneducated.

track7 · #11 03-18-2004, 07:19 AM

Hey

If you're seriously going into it with a career in mind then i'd learn as many different platforms as you can. And sure thing if you have the money go for pro-tools on a mac But seriously have you checked the prices?

you're parents may be in a wonderful position to help ya and thats wicked if so but a basic pro-tools LE setup that can record multiple tracks on a mac laptop is going to set you back close to 3 thousand.

Pro-tools does look sweet and believe me every serious studio worth going into uses it because thats all the big boys use so if you're going to go into the industry with it then go for it.

However dont expect LE to be all that powerful straight out of the box. You'll be suprised how little you get for your 3000. Much more money is needed to be spent to get the effects/plug-ins up to anywhere near the kind of stuf thats built into Cubase (and Logic is kitted out well too).

David

thehouseofshawn · #12 03-23-2004, 05:34 PM

I started peeking around at http://www.midiman.net/index.php?do=...03ca63d4eb5c72 for information but I ran out of time. So, am I going to be able to use my MIDI keyboard with plugins to record stuff with? I didn't find a lot of setup pictures either...thanks...I'm interested.

Do preamps have the analog ins as outs on their modules for the delta? That way it would hook up nice...thanks if you know.

thehouseofshawn · #13 04-08-2004, 12:39 AM

As far as MIDI goes with Cubase...are there plugins as far as the different sound modulators go and everything? Can that be hooked up right through the Delta 1010 into it's own track? Anyone have references? Suggestions?

sry777 · #14 05-19-2004, 02:42 AM

they also do make cardbus based sound cards whichis faster than firewire check them out

davester1234 · #15 05-19-2004, 10:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by track7

However dont expect LE to be all that powerful straight out of the box. You'll be suprised how little you get for your 3000. Much more money is needed to be spent to get the effects/plug-ins up to anywhere near the kind of stuf thats built into Cubase (and Logic is kitted out well too).

David

Good point. the other day I called a music store in Toronto inquiring about protools prices, and the guy at the store told me you can easily spend $25,000 setting up a proffesional protools rig.