TubeNet

This topic is probably down in the archives somewhere, but I'll start it over again.
My home computer is 10 years old, and while it works ok for Finale and browsing, I kind of want to start doing multi-track recording and figure I'll need a new one. I keep bouncing back and forth between PC and Mac computers; can't figure out which will work best. Mac's Garageband seems oriented towards, uh, garage bands, and a whole lot of the available software out there seems to be leaning towards having a lot of "effects" that are also mostly useful, for, um, a garageband. Not a horn quartet or an acoustic instruments/vocal group. Or tubas.

I want software that allows me to edit the waveforms, i.e., change the pitch of an entire track or just one note; to cut and paste a section seamlessly; have 12 tracks play simultaneously, and listen/record one on top of the other. I HATE messing with computers and software to get them to work...I do that 40 hours a week and do not enjoy also doing it on weekends. So I was leaning towards Mac because it seems to already come with most of what I need, and I won't have the installation problems I will with a PC. But, but, but. I've almost bought one a couple times in the last couple months but have backed off from the final decision. I of course have a PC at work, with all the attendant Windows problems that I'd just as soon not have to deal with at home any more. Maybe Mac has just as many problems, I dunno!!

So....if you are multi-track recording acoustic instruments, what setup really works for you? mac or PC? what software? Should I just buy one of those hard disk recorders that will spit out a CD and not even do it with my home computer?
MA

My son is currently in college majoring in music recording, and everything they do is on Mac. He uses a version of Pro-Tools, but he has mentioned another, less expensive package that has nearly as many features. If you want a real pro setup pro-tools on a Mac is the way to go.

I just bought one of these http://www.zzounds.com/item--KORD1200MKII and REALLY like it. It does most everything you mentioned for about $850. This thing is WAY better than my old DAT. There are also PC/Mac recording products, but you would still need software and hardware. If you have a Guitar Center near you then go there and check out the options. I had not shopped for this stuff in several years and was way surprised at how many more options there are now days.

There are rumors (remember, rumors) floating around now that Apple will bring out their own starter-size (2 XLR inputs, among others, in the mockup I saw) recording input device. There are plenty of others available, but this one would be Apple's doing. We'll see if it comes to market, and if it does, what it'll offer.

There are already ways to record directly onto a Mac for free, and the pro-level software is awfully good. Apple may be pushing GarageBand into something quite a bit bigger than it already is, too.

FWIW, incoming Berklee students get a PowerBook, extra hardware, and a boatload of music software at a stupidly low discount (something like 1/4 of the total retail cost) as part of their tuition.

If you can afford it, get a new powermac and Logic 7. One can do anything you can imagine with the two. I use them every day for scoring movies, cartoons, and commercials, and also for recording tuba. Go to the apple website and check out Logic.

MellowSmokeMan wrote:If you can afford it, get a new powermac and Logic 7. One can do anything you can imagine with the two. I use them every day for scoring movies, cartoons, and commercials, and also for recording tuba. Go to the apple website and check out Logic.

I don't think I'll be doing anything as big as a movie or commercial score....do you think that the smaller version of Logic (which doesn't cost anywhere near as much) would work?

MA

Dear Mary Ann,
A friend who mastered my first C.D.,installed the Cakewalk program on my Dell computer.It has the capability to do what you have stated with no other equipment other than adapters to enable you to jack a mike or instrument directly into your computer tower.
Tubatooter1940

Mary Ann,

I mastered my quartet's (Euphouria) two CDs on my Powerbook with Ultrarecorder (shareware $20.00) and SonicWORX (shareware $25.00). Audacity seems to do similar things, as well. These allow you to run mic signals to your Mac, then cut and paste, edit, manipulate, filter. etc. whatever you get in. I only needed two tracks, but there are similar applications that will allow up to sixteen. While the playing might not be professional quality, the sound on the CD probably is.

I'm with Carroll check out Audacity, but I use linux mostly anyway.

With a PC you can get a larger choice of inputs. Like this dossey for $500