Multi-Tracker or Computer?
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Posted on Jan 18, 2003 12:10 am
slothrop
Member Since: Jan 18, 2003
I am beginning my foray into home recording. For the life of me I cannot decide whether to go with a recording unit or with my PC. My PC has a pentium 4, 20gig harddrive with 256mg of RAM. I have not been able to get a concise answer out of anyone. PLEASE HELP!!
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Jan 18, 2003 05:51 am You will find mostly PC users here, however, that said we, or anyone else, can make a decision for you. I find PC's to be much more user-friendly and much more upgradable (for much less money) to keep you current. Your PC has plenty of power for recording, the only thing you didn't mention is what type of sound card you have. You can get a decent sound card for recording for a decent price depending on how many tracks you will need to record at any one time. Not how many tracks you song will have, but how many are recorded at once.
Tell us a little about your planned record technique and we can probably help a little more.
fredzsMember
Since: Jan 07, 2003
Jan 18, 2003 08:22 am I REally Really REALLY .. Like to record to my computer straight, and just buy a good soundcard, but the prob is my computer is so far away to my music room, if it was just that close. . .
Jan 18, 2003 09:20 am Just get a nice recording soundcard and recording program for your computer. The computer is just so versatile. You can see all the wav files and tracks right in front of your face on the monitor, and the editing possiblities are endless and extremely precise. Plus, you can use plug-in effects, which is a major plus. I would say that computer is the way to go, hands down.
Jan 20, 2003 09:17 pm you can save alot of money by going the computer route. just to add onto what everyone else has said about needing a good soundcard and software, you'll also need a good bit of RAM. i wouldn't recommend less then 256MB. some good headphones or audio monitors (speakers) will also let you hear what's really going on.
glynbMember
Since: Dec 16, 2002
Jan 21, 2003 06:55 am I went through the same decision process recntly.
I decided on a Multitracker and I'm very happy with it. I got a Fostex 16 track machine and paid £999. Ok, I know I could have upgraded my computer, got a great sound card, and used Cubase etc. I was aware of that.
I chose the multitracker various reasons - because I can take it to gigs and record my band live - the unit is small and portable. I suppose you could take your PC to a gig but you'd soon get fed up of that!
I don't have to sit at my computer cliccking the mouse when trying to make music. I sit at a PC all day at work and the last thing I want to do is combine sitting at a PC in my own time with my joy of music making! The 16 tracker interface is reasonably straight forward and simple, Cubase can be tricky I find, though there's a learning curve for either way.
Another point is that if you share the PC with other family members you are not fighting for PC time if you buy a multitracker.
The advantage of the PC on the other hand is that it can be upgraded and can offer infinite numbers of tracks for overdub, and plugins - I am limited to 16 with a capability to bounce on 24 tracks.
If you're not bothered about portability and live recordings, if you enjoy tinkering with computers and don't find them frustrating, and you don't mind jumping from playing your guitar to clicking the mouse, etc. Then you may as well go down the PC route. As I say, I'm happy I didn't.
Jan 21, 2003 02:39 pm Personally, I find the mouse to be the best part about recording on a computer. It's so easy to move things visually from one track to another with just the move of your hand. Plus, you can add fades and crossfades in a snap, and drag the edge of your track to cut the sound short. And if you're unhappy, just drag it back. Plus, the number of buttons and tracks you can have on the screen is not physically limited like it is on a multitracker. Personally, I don't know how you could record without a mouse and computer monitor, but I guess I'm just spoiled now. I guess If you really hate the mouse, you can buy a control surface or just use your keyboard :-) Of course, if you do want to record live, then the computer really is not practical.
LokiCone PokerMember
Since: Apr 07, 2002
Jan 21, 2003 03:48 pm I can't stand mousing my mix. I'd much rather turn knobs and sliders and stuff. With a mouse I can only affect one knob or slider at a time, though with my fingers and hardware I can do a couple. That's just me though. This is why I'm looking into a good digital mixer
Jan 21, 2003 06:06 pm You have a very good point there. When it comes to plug-ins and mixer views with those little buttons and knobs and such, hardware is much easier to use. I hate manipulating knobs on the computer as well, but the ability to actually work with the recorded material, as if you were actually moving it around with your hand is just awesome. I hope that clarifies my viewpoint a little.
LokiCone PokerMember
Since: Apr 07, 2002
Jan 21, 2003 09:48 pm Oh yeah, i completly understand your viewpoint. I mean there are lots of cases where I like the point and click method, but for the most part I'd rather be using harware interfaces... then again I'm just a knob junkie. I've been known to buy stuff that I have no idea what it does, just because it has lotsa pretty knobs
Jan 22, 2003 07:14 am I'm in the minority, like Glynb -- I bought a multitracker (Korg D1200). I have no regrets about my decision, and I absolutely love the sound quality.
The nice thing about my multitracker is that if I ever get a PC that's worth anything, I can export all my tracks as WAV files up to the PC, via a USB connection. Then I'll be able to walk both sides of the street.
But as it stands right now, my current PC has no business pretending to be a decent recording machine, and the multitracker has 12 tracks. So I'm content with keeping to my standalone machine.
(PS -- a thousand pardons if this post was a little incoherent...I haven't slept in 36 hours, and everything is taking on a spacey, 7-second delay kinda feel...that old train of thought easily derails during such occasions)
glynbMember
Since: Dec 16, 2002
Jan 22, 2003 07:19 am Porpoise...
I accept you can do a lot more technicaly with a PC, I have a PC and have used SoundForge and Cubase (though my PC wasn't really up to it at the time).
The point I made about the Mouse was just a practical one. If I'm stood up singing with my guitar and want to try a second take for example, I don't want to have to bend down fiddling with a muse, maybe bashing the monitor with the guitar kneck, catching my lead on the PC chair, etc etc. With the multitracker it's set up on a table at a good height, I record a take stood right next to it and with the press of two buttons I'm ready to begin the take again. I don't have a prejudice against the Mouse.
Of course once you've recorded everything then editing the recording on the PC is superb and the fun begins, but during the actual recording stage I personaly would find having to jump to the PC from my recording positon (physicaly in the room) a bit annoying. You can overcome this if your are working with a friend of course who can click for you while you concentrate on the music (which is the most important thing)
Jan 22, 2003 04:20 pm Yeah, I see your point. It is awkward when you've got an instrument in hand to go back and fourth. I usually have someone else working with me If I'm the one playing an instrument rather than recording someone else; but if not, I have Sonar set up so all I need to do is push the R button on my keyboard to record and push the spacebar to stop. This pretty much eliminates the problem. Of course, If you have a wad of cash to spend you can buy a digital mixer or control surface. Those things are expensive though...
Jan 22, 2003 04:49 pm Or you can set up keyboard shortcuts so you only need to press "r" and it starts recording and "s" to stop, backspace to rewind, etc. Most decent apps allow you to do that...
Noize2uCzar of MidiAdministrator
Since: Apr 04, 2002
Jan 22, 2003 09:19 pm Yup, I live in both world's. I have several outboard mixer's for all the midi gear and such. But I do all the final stuff in the PC. You can automate just about everything you do in Sonar. And believe me, after working on big console's for year's with tape and such. What used to take a month to do, now take's a day or two. The hardware DAW's will never be able to compete with what I can do in the PC. Yes, I still miss the old analog stuff, NOT but like I said. There is virtually nothing you can't automate with the software available today for the PC.
