Recording Advise

I've been using a cracked version of Sonic Foundry (Vegas Video) to do my recording and editing, and although it got me started it's really a pain using an cracked version and it's time to go out and do the right thing.

I wanted to post this here rather than the recording thread because I want the advise of musicians rather than gear people.

What do you guys use for your personal recording and what can I get that's inexpensive out there. I don't relish the thought of learning a new program but I can't deal with all the breakdowns and unsuported media screens anymore. I'm also hoping to find something that will play the vst programs I have.

Any advise?

Try REAPER daw. It's a non-limited demo, $50 to buy.

http://cockos.com/reaper/download.php

not sure if it does any video though.

If I was software, it's what I would use. I went full on hardware DAW cuz I like real faders and knobs

[heh I'm from the recording forum]

If running Windows, then I would strongly strongly suggest that you make your audio workstation ONLY an audio workstation. Don't surf the net on it, don't run Office on it. Make it a turnkey solution. You'll have many less virus/adware/spyware issues that way. Use a different machine for all that stuff. Lots of people think you just slap a Symantec anti-virus demo on a PC and you're all set. It's not that simple. You need two or three programs to keep your machine safe and you need to know how to use them. Easier to just keep the audio machine separate.

+1

The studio I recorded my last CD in used a PC; the recording console/board/hard drive had it's own OS and the entire computer was dedicated just to that.

get a good crack version.

just kidding.

i use ableton live to record at home. but i would probably just get pro tools.

good luck!

-PJ

The nice thing about Pro Tools is that it is pretty much "the standard," even though I know a lot of folks who use something different. I use Logic Pro.

I''l buy that. I just recently got a vicious virus that brought down my whole system. I lost every picture we owned among many other things, but I hear what you say....

Wow, thanks, that's a pretty cool little program. It's not much different than Vegas. I just have to get it to see my audio card. It wants to lock up when I ask for the ASIO configuration. I might wander over to the recording forum and ask. (I might have something else going on that I'm missing.) Thanks...

Cubase all the way. I think they are up to Cubase 5 now. They usually have a full out studio version for maybe $400, or the Cubase Essential version which limits you in certain ways and has less plugins but still is way more than enough to record songs unless you need 120 tracks, dozens of virtual instruments, and all the rest. The 'Essentials' version is usually very reasonable like $150. Works great for both Windows and Mac and you can upgrade at a later time if ever you want the studio version and all the extras that comes with it.

I was looking at Cubase but I don't think my system will run it. I only have

1 gb. of ram and 100 gb of disc space. This may be what's giving me problems. But I'm very careful about how I run my tracks. As far as effects go, I usually just use a little reverb and compression. I really have a lot to learn but I gotten some good recordings out of it. And I mixed my last CD with it. I'm just so tired of going to sit down and record and have the thing screw up on me, and then I usually have to bug my friend who does this for a living (but never charges me) to help me. I need something more dependable....I'd have my second CD done by now if I had a different system...

You're talking about a pretty good chunk of money for the average musician who isn't collecting royalties off their recordings. It's not a bad idea but it's not completely realistic for most people.

If you've got 1 GB of RAM and a decent processor I think you'll be able to record with any software if you're only doing one or two tracks at a time. You'll only get in trouble if you're using a lot of effects and virtual instruments. You can always add RAM fairly easily.

logic pro is the best bang for the buck.

As long as you can keep your Windows machine free of viruses, spyware, and adware. And most people can't. And then they think they need a new machine when they really don't.

PC hardware is cheap. Unless you absolutely do not have room for another computer, make your audio PC dedicated to recording. As mentioned, no surfing, no chat, no nothing.

I use Linux, and http://ardour.org/ I still only use that box for recording, the surfin' and docs happens on other (still Linux) boxes.

If you are familiar with DAW software, Ardour won't be hard to learn. If you are a confirmed Windows user, Linux might be hard to learn. You will always get better performance from Linux than Windows, given identical hardware.

As above. Ebay or CL a used desktop, modest specs, do a complete reinstall, and it'll run a boatload of tracks and effects. A 2G dual processor, 2-4G RAM, a couple of roomy HD, and a decent soundcard. Hardware capability has outstripped audio requirements as of at least five years ago. More is always better, but nobody needs more than 20 tracks simultaneous for making demos. In the olden days, we did it with four, and we loved it. [/angryoldman]

i just use audacity and a 100 dollar mobile preamp. it's a free download, and if i get a virus, i can always just reload windows and re-download audacity. it's alright. nothing special. good for getting stuff down and demos, but probably not good enough for a polished album.

I do too, but If you're a Windows user, then I would do a bit of research before diving into it. I would try and get acquainted with the system before I started using it for real work, too. Linux is not Windows, and though it's not difficult to use (if you're using Mandriva, Ubuntu, or the like), it is different.

I've been through this with the guy who usually helps me with this and he's thinking that it's the drivers for my audio card or the audio card itself. I'm going to try and download some new drivers today (I've done this twice but it didn't help) and if things keep screwing up I'm going to buy the best audio card I can afford, which isn't much.

But I'm beginning to think that may be it as I've always had trouble getting the drivers to load on this card......

OK, I try to stay neutral for the most part, but at this point in time, I sorta feel the need to point this out.

Macs are expensive. You pay a lot more for a Mac than a PC, and there are less programs to choose from to run. But there are two big advantages from a music standpoint:

1. You don't have to worry about viruses/spyware/adware, so you can run everything you do on one box without fear, and

2. You never have to screw around with finding the best settings for audio, because even when you add a device (ie USB interface such as eMagic,) everything is preset to just work. No rocket science, no messing with settings. This is the advantage when the folks who make the hardware and the software are the same people.

You can certainly set up a Windows system with Pro Tools that will rival a Mac system. But it will take more computer savvy, and that's a fact. You can either go PC and learn the ins and outs, or go Mac and learn less but pay more money. Those are the choices. There is no free lunch.

You know.... I've heard all the arguments about PC vs. Mac and right now I'm going to be PC, it's what I have and I didn't learn on Macs and I'm not that comfortable with them . They may be better....so be it.

I think I may have the problem figured out, I just need to spend some time on it.....

:arg: