BlueHeaven

How much does higher fidelity really matter when listening to music with a $5 pair of ear buds?

Ghetto Rigged Studios

I find this happening not just with recording but also having musical knowledge in general. But there is something that always helps me enjoy music with out analysis. ALCOHOL;) lots of it.

What kind of rat hole bars you going to that serve beer in cans?

I (hobbyists) know I end up using timing software/nudging/splicing mostly because of latency issues with monitoring or just crappy monitoring situations (drums/tempo track gets bleed out). So there many be a small section/hit/queue that is early or late which is easily fixed without doing a complete take again. I really would't call it cheating though. Matter of getting the sound you want. Your record need not equal what you do live, in fact IMHO I think they should sound different, else why ever go see a live band? Anything beyond minor fixes in timing or pitch usually gets very messy anyway, and its easier just to redo it. I always like to take the recording phase as a composer, not a performer, but I guess that really only applies to those who write there own music (non-pop singers I guess).

But what's the difference in terms of licensing then? Could I run a retail version on multiple machines at the same time? Even with a retial version, you are not legally allowed to install it on more than one PC at a time. Retail is supposed to let you install it on a new PC (and I'm guessing your not supposes to use the old one anymore?) As for the differences and legalites, they seem to be up in the air. You can read thru some of these posts or research more for yourself, cause in the end you'll have to make the decision, but I would go OEM. http://forums.cnet.com/5208-6142_102-0.html?forumID=5&threadID=131703&start=0

Thanks ! Sorry, I'm still a bit confused about the differenct of an OEM version and a retail version? In the end, the only difference will be that the Retial Version comes in a nice fancy colored box (for about $100 more), and the OEM version comes in a bubble wrapped envelope with just the CD and the key.

Thanks ! This is good news for me then ! So, maybe I better hurry up ang get it even if I don't have my new PC yet, as long as XP is still sold. Does OEM mean I can only run it on one machine? Thats what its 'supposed' to be legally. OEM is what you get when you buy a PC from a vendor with the OS already on it. But I know many of people who have re-installed it and installed it on seperate machines. Sometimes it will just need to be authorized over the phone, in which you just tell them you installed a new motherboard or are just re-installing it. From what I've heard, they aren't ball breakers when it comes to this. Though I wouldn't go around installing it on all your buddies PC's. But you could always be safe and buy the retail version, but its way over priced. Might want to look around for a better price then what I found.

^^ XP is still sold, and you can buy an OEM version for about $90. If you ever have a problem with licesnsing it when installing it again or on another PC, you just call the number it tells you too and they authorize it (never heard from anyone who they didn't authorize it for). You just tell them your reinstalling XP. It's cheaper than the retail version which goes for about $190 still. http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16832116056