I am going to buy a computer soon. I want to get a DAW to use on it. I went out and bought some inexpensive DVD's by Alfred Pro Audio so I could get a feel for some fairly common DAWS. In the videos I have watched Cubase, Pro Tools, Sonar. I have one for Logic as well, but have not watched it yet. So, far I like Sonar. Some of the stuff I ran across using Logic, on the net, I also liked.
One thing I noticed in what I have seen so far that is common and important is changing the BUFFER to reduce digital latency.
I want to use Amplitube 3, I have a pod XT that I will want to use, and I want to get MOTU BPM 1.5 for a drum machine software program (for drums etc).
I will have to learn this (DAW) on my own and after seeing a guy whiz through the programs on the DVDs doing different stuff, I just get the feeling I will be totally lost and lose interest before gaining any ground to keep me rolling. I have a Boss Br900CD that I was able to learn and know it fairly well, but it is a simple recording device and there isn't a half dozen things you have to be aware of to set it up let alone set-up a track as you do in DAW programs.
I also have been looking at computers and I think I would rather get a totally decked out PC laptop as opposed to a Macbook Pro because the Mac is double the cost for the same specs. Another thing that bothers me about Mac is that you can't remove the battery and just run off wall power. I use a lot of battery operated drills etc and the fastest way to destroy a battery is to charge batteries that are already good. I would probably get a Toshiba or Asus with 6 or 8 GB of ram, 7200 rpm hardrive, also a 7200 external Hardrive for audio files, and an i7 processor model for something like $1,600 bux from newegg or best buy.
Now, I ran across Mixcraft. Is this a program that is legitimate or is it for village idiots? I will need it to work with my Pod XT, Amplitube 3, and MOTU BPM 1.5. I also want it to have the control to change the buffer as mentioned above to control digital latency and I don't know if a simpler program like Mixcraft would allow you to do so. Since I am not going to audio school for this, I feel I could learn this on my own and it would do what I want, but I don't know.
Basically in the end, I just want to record a few guitar tracks over a drum machine track from the BPM 1.5 program. Then mix, maybe master with presets in Izotope Ozone down the road and burn a pretty decent CD.
Thanks
Comments
What kind of answer are you looking for exactly? Is Mixcraft leg
What kind of answer are you looking for exactly? Is Mixcraft legit? It's as legit as you are a musician. It will do what you want. It supports VST plugins so, BPM should work fine. It's a multitrack DAW so, you can do as much layering as your computer and interface will allow.
Other than that, the music is up to you.
hueseph, post: 366732 wrote: What kind of answer are you looking
hueseph, post: 366732 wrote: What kind of answer are you looking for exactly? Is Mixcraft legit? It's as legit as you are a musician. It will do what you want. It supports VST plugins so, BPM should work fine. It's a multitrack DAW so, you can do as much layering as your computer and interface will allow.
Other than that, the music is up to you.
Can you bounce to one stereo track?
Is there a buffer control that you can change the settings on to reduce latency?
Will it work with MOTU BPM 1.5 and IK media Amplitube 3?
Will I be able to use my Pod XT with it? Either straight in the computer USB or TRS L & R into an interface?
Yes to all of those questions. Of course a little bit of reading
Yes to all of those questions. Of course a little bit of reading on their official web page would confirm this. Also Mixcraft is available as a free trial with some disabling of functionality. The USB port of the POD XT is for parameter adjustment only. AFAIK you can't record from that. So long as all of your software is legitimate, you should have no problems.
hueseph, post: 366793 wrote: Yes to all of those questions. Of c
hueseph, post: 366793 wrote: Yes to all of those questions. Of course a little bit of reading on their official web page would confirm this. Also Mixcraft is available as a free trial with some disabling of functionality. The USB port of the POD XT is for parameter adjustment only. AFAIK you can't record from that. So long as all of your software is legitimate, you should have no problems.
Thanks. There is a lot of research and I have to start shortly. I don't want to walk into things blind, but I also want to make a move to avoid never doing anything.
On laptops Mac keeps coming up. I would buy one, but the decked out model I want is about 3000 dollars.
I have always used pc's and this will be my first computer. Need it to be mobile--> laptop. The best info I find from there is just get a good one which I will probably go i7 processor, 7200 rpm hardrive, and 6 or 8 GB of RAM. As far as brands, from research, I will most likely get an Asus or Toshiba. I like Best Buy, but they don't have what I am looking for so will probably go newegg. Best Buy would be nice, so I could take it to an actual store if I needed service.
For an interface I want something with an input meter and not just a clip light. These are a couple I am kind of serious about (all are usb);
[="http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/PodStuUX2/"]Line 6 POD Studio UX2 | Sweetwater.com[/]="http://www.sweetwat…"]Line 6 POD Studio UX2 | Sweetwater.com[/] (Line 6 Pod Studio UX2)
[[url=http://="http://www.sweetwat…"]MOTU Audio Express | Sweetwater.com[/]="http://www.sweetwat…"]MOTU Audio Express | Sweetwater.com[/] (MOTU Audio Express)
[[url=http://[/URL]="http://www.sweetwat…"]Sound Devices USBPre 2 | Sweetwater.com[/]="http://www.sweetwat…"]Sound Devices USBPre 2 | Sweetwater.com[/] (Sound Devices USBPre2)
Question: What's your budget? Do you actually have the cash for
Question: What's your budget? Do you actually have the cash for this or is it all hypothetical?
Of the interfaces you looked at, the Motu is the only one I would even consider. The Sound Devices seems way over priced for a USB interface. If you're going to spend that kind of money, you may as well buy a MOTU 8pre or Ultralight.
As far as input meters. There will be input meters in your DAW. The only thing that really matters is that you don't clip the signal. The rest is eye candy.
hueseph, post: 367031 wrote: Question: What's your budget? Do yo
hueseph, post: 367031 wrote: Question: What's your budget? Do you actually have the cash for this or is it all hypothetical?
Of the interfaces you looked at, the Motu is the only one I would even consider. The Sound Devices seems way over priced for a USB interface. If you're going to spend that kind of money, you may as well buy a MOTU 8pre or Ultralight.
As far as input meters. There will be input meters in your DAW. The only thing that really matters is that you don't clip the signal. The rest is eye candy.
I have 2 ibanez guitars, one lawrences other 81's
I have a powered M-audio sub into 2 powered Event tr-6's (total for the monitor set-up was like 800 dollars. Probably happy with those and anything above that would come later and would be like compact, Blue sky maybe (?)). I also have a pair of SONY MD5706's that I like (maybe a pair of SONY MDR7509 hd's in the future.
I have a Pod XT that I am happy with, but figured get Amplitube 3 for more options and from what I've heard youtube, recommendations--> it is pretty good. It also has a SS Randall model that I like
I have a Boss BR900cd which I can get decent, but not recordings THAT I FEEL GOOD ABOUT.
I can do some computer stuff, but I will not claim to be an expert by any means. So, I want a good program to replace my recorder, but not so hard to learn that it's an awful experience and I lose interest and throw the whole thing in a fire and call it a day.
I sold a bunch of stuff. I also came to terms with the fact that I don't want to be a live artist, so that opens up some funds that are diverted to the studio. I originally wanted to spend like 1600 dollars on a laptop. I am a bit frustrated with picking a laptop because there is research, looking for a model, other peoples advice that may be right or wrong etc etc etc..... But a budget of 3 thousand is where I was shooting. In software I want, mentioned above, is alone about 1000+ dollars. But I have monitors and guitars. I know that I want to have a drum beat, lay some guitar tracks, cop some bass tracks with guitars using bass patches, bounce, master a bit with whatever my DAW has for presets or get Ozone and use presets, and then burn a CD.
I have some money set aside, but I am not rich, to answer your question.
Download the trial for REAPER. For that matter, download the tri
Download the trial for REAPER. For that matter, download the trial for Mixcraft and try them out. There are some demo mixes that you can play with. I don't know what else you are looking for. You seem to have your shopping list made out for you already. I can't "tell you" what to buy. That decision is up to you. Amplitube is nice but if you already have a POD, it's kind of over kill. You should be able to edit your patches via USB cable and the downloadable editor. Line 6 also has "Monkey" which will show you all your available free downloads and the paid ones as well. You should be able to run Pod Farm for free. Otherwise, you can get it for a discounted price. It's decent software with very good sounds.
I know nothing about BPM. I've used BFD, EZdrummer and Session Drummer. All of them are viable options. Really, you just have to pick one and learn it. Manuals. They are your friend.
You want an easy pick for a laptop go with a MacBook. Doesn't have to be pro. Either that or spec out a good ASUS or Dell that has either NVIDIA or Intel graphics. The graphics don't have to be that good. The CPU is more important. Make sure you get an external hard drive and buy an express port firewire card with a Texas Instruments chipset. Spend a little more money and get the MOTU 8 Pre. It's a decent interface for the price. ALL INTERFACES WILL HAVE POTENTIAL SETUP ISSUES. Or not. Maybe you will happen upon the right components in a laptop and everything works great out of the box. It happened more than once for me.
At this point you have to bite the bullet and hit the obstacles as they come. You can talk and talk about it but none of this will matter until you go out and take the leap.
hueseph, post: 367240 wrote: Download the trial for REAPER. For
hueseph, post: 367240 wrote: Download the trial for REAPER. For that matter, download the trial for Mixcraft and try them out. There are some demo mixes that you can play with. I don't know what else you are looking for. You seem to have your shopping list made out for you already. I can't "tell you" what to buy. That decision is up to you. Amplitube is nice but if you already have a POD, it's kind of over kill. You should be able to edit your patches via USB cable and the downloadable editor. Line 6 also has "Monkey" which will show you all your available free downloads and the paid ones as well. You should be able to run Pod Farm for free. Otherwise, you can get it for a discounted price. It's decent software with very good sounds.
I know nothing about BPM. I've used BFD, EZdrummer and Session Drummer. All of them are viable options. Really, you just have to pick one and learn it. Manuals. They are your friend.
You want an easy pick for a laptop go with a MacBook. Doesn't have to be pro. Either that or spec out a good ASUS or Dell that has either NVIDIA or Intel graphics. The graphics don't have to be that good. The CPU is more important. Make sure you get an external hard drive and buy an express port firewire card with a Texas Instruments chipset. Spend a little more money and get the MOTU 8 Pre. It's a decent interface for the price. ALL INTERFACES WILL HAVE POTENTIAL SETUP ISSUES. Or not. Maybe you will happen upon the right components in a laptop and everything works great out of the box. It happened more than once for me.
At this point you have to bite the bullet and hit the obstacles as they come. You can talk and talk about it but none of this will matter until you go out and take the leap.
My shopping list is more of a question than a statement, like this is what I was thinking, but unsure and checking if it makes sense.
As far as the firewire goes, do you want the external hard drive AND audio interface to run into the laptop via firewire?
As far as speed goes, isn't usb 2.0 slightly faster than firewire400 and firewire 800 is basically the fastest? The thing I am getting at is if the audio interface should also run firewire it isn't making sense to me because almost all the audio interfaces have FW400 connections.
Also, if I understand the express card slot; buy a laptop with a TI chipset in the firewire port. This item basically is a conversion of the express card slot into some firewire jacks?? Here is an example if I am understanding this correctly........
[[url=http://[/URL]="http://www.newegg.c…"]Newegg.com - SYBA SD-PCM30008 2 x 1394B+1 x 1394A Ports PCMCIA Cardbus[/]="http://www.newegg.c…"]Newegg.com - SYBA SD-PCM30008 2 x 1394B+1 x 1394A Ports PCMCIA Cardbus[/]
rimisrandma, post: 367028 wrote: On laptops Mac keeps coming up.
rimisrandma, post: 367028 wrote: On laptops Mac keeps coming up. I would buy one, but the decked out model I want is about 3000 dollars.
I have always used pc's and this will be my first computer. Need it to be mobile--> laptop. (all are usb);
I was in the same boat as you with the mac or PC thing. i have always been a PC guy and it also is ALOT cheaper than a Macbook, so what i did was buy a small, cheap 11.6 inch netbook because i needed it for school, and a desktop with i7 and 12gb of ram (custom built gaming computer that i bought used for around $1400) for my home studio. This setup kept me under $2000 so your still saving money compared to the Macbook. If you plan on moving your recording setup around, then this is less convenient.
Some good PC laptops that were high performance (i7, 8gb of ram, etc) were the MSi GT660R-004US and ASUS G73SW (http://ca.asus.com/product.aspx?P_ID=KeYVsP7c4mgNmh2B).
Hope I was of any help!
There's nothing wrong with Mixcraft. Especially if you are just
There's nothing wrong with Mixcraft. Especially if you are just starting out. Even then, it is a full featured software and the learning curve is not as steep in comparison to the major DAWs.