multitrack programs
Home > Home Recording Forum > Recording Techniques > multitrack programs
Posted on Mar 10, 2004 06:04 pm
wontdieinPA
Member Since: Apr 27, 2002
just wonderig what everyones opinion was on the different multitrack programs...if i had money and i needed to buy 1 multi-track program what should i buy? what do the "pros" use?
[ Back to Top ]
Mar 10, 2004 07:00 pm "Pros" use Pro Tools, and Nuendo (sometimes).
Some think it is the greatest thing ever, others think it less then stellar. The main problem I have with it is the fact that you must use digidesign hardware with digidesign software and upgrades are expensive.
Others like Cubase, some like Sonar, Digital Performer, etc... The best thing would be to download the demos off the company's website and try them out. Understand that there will be a learning curve for all of them and some only run on pc (sonar) or Mac (DP) so that comes into the decision making.
FWIW, I use Cakewalk's Home Studio 2004. Cheep and effective. I think there are even some free ones in the link section.
Noize2uCzar of MidiAdministrator
Since: Apr 04, 2002
Mar 10, 2004 10:36 pm I use Sonar 3 Producer with Project 5 and Sonar 2.2 with Found Forge and WaveLab.
Mar 10, 2004 10:56 pm i hate computer based recording - get a component system
ILLbizzelILLbino - one of WA's finestMember
Since: Feb 10, 2004
Mar 10, 2004 11:19 pm I use Adobe Audition (latest version of Cool Edit) which suits all my current needs.
Mar 11, 2004 04:36 am Yeah, the "pros" typically use ProTools, and many are adding Nuendo rooms as well, but don't be fooled these are not systems like ours, they have full blown hardware and software systems from the manufacturers that cost MANY thousands of dollars. Most of us around here don't have that kind of money...or need.
Personally, I use Sonar 3, Project5, WaveLab and Har-Bal...along with a small arsenal of third-party plugins.
Mar 11, 2004 11:45 am awesome...i used to apprentice at a local studio and im currently building up my arsenal as a comptetent project studio and am recording bands and want to get a certificate in sound engineering from a local community college...ive been reading everything i can and trying to work it all in...and i want to approach the bank to get a small business loan and have been scouting alot of commercial buildings and spaces...its just that...i dont have a lot of experience with upper-end monitors and hardware components and what not...so im trying to expand my knowledge base...thanks a ton though (p.s. i've been looking at a full blown Pro Tools Sysem, and its damn expensive...but i understand thats what most pros use...)
Mar 11, 2004 11:49 am Pro facilities often use pro tools, you go into artists studio that they have in their homes, you might be surprised how many use Cubase, Sonar and apps like that. They are perfectly capable of making great recordings.
Mar 11, 2004 01:28 pm the only problem is..which i think i was leaning more towards Protools was because i understand how everything syncs up with Digidesigns stuff, like how their control surfaces interface with their I/O units and etc...for instance...if i want to use Sonar, i wouldnt even know what type of multitrack soundcard to purchase, i have so many questions i could write a book
flame...bringing sexy backMember
Since: Jul 01, 2002
Mar 11, 2004 01:37 pm thats what we're here for...
Mar 11, 2004 02:20 pm Thats one of the beauties of non-protools stuff, you can use ANY interface...
Noize2uCzar of MidiAdministrator
Since: Apr 04, 2002
Mar 11, 2004 05:52 pm I totally agree. With Pro Tools, you gotta use their proprietary stuff. With any other application, you can use just about anything your little heart desires.
Walt for instance uses and Alesis HD24 as his recorder, through a Behringer MX9000, then dumps into Cubase in his PC for editing and tweaking. Seamless simple and very effective. He can use any third party pluggins he wishes, and there are tons of them out ther to be had, even for free.
I as well as dB and several others use Sonar 3 Producer edition, that comes fully loaded with all kinds of goodie's. More then you can use at one time. I am interface with an M-Audio Delta 44 as that is really all I need, through a Behringer MX2422a and MX1602a. I use tons of outboard rack gear as well. I hook up to Project 5 through ReWire and have all the tools I will ever need at my disposal. That includes soft synths, and a couple hundred various pluggins. I dump the final into Wavelab or Sound forge for mastering and off I go. No muss, no fuss.
With Pro Tools you are limited to their proprietary pluggins, and hardware. And it cost an arm and a leg to upgrade when and if you want to. And to tell the truth, the array of pluggins I have found for PT is pretty limited and what is available is three times the price of what I use that is all the bit as equal.
Mar 11, 2004 09:46 pm is it per say possible and otherwise common or recommended to record into a MOTU 24 I/O from...from no particular 24 track mixer...and use Sonar and do all of my mixing in there...im assuming by using this method i can mix as many tracks of audio as my computer allows me too, also i see these hardware interfaces that allow you to record like...adat audio....this isnt neccessary if i wouldnt be transfering from adat would it? by the way...so far you've all been extremely helpful...
Noize2uCzar of MidiAdministrator
Since: Apr 04, 2002
Mar 11, 2004 11:03 pm No need for the high end auiod interface unless as you stated you plan to transfer from ADat and the like. And yes, I run all my stuff through my mixers and into Sonar, then do all my mixing, automation, and FX right ther in Sonar. Export the final two track mix as wave and then polish in Wavelab or Sound Forge. My work never leaves the PC untill it is burned to a CD. The only time I might transfer out is to go to another facility, and then I just run it onto a rmovable hard drive and bring the entire session with me.
LokiCone PokerMember
Since: Apr 07, 2002
Mar 12, 2004 12:29 am Yeah external mixers really just seem to be for routing now, as most of the real mixing is done inside the computer. The Mixer in sonar is so much more flexable than my real console... but the real one looks pretty.
Honestly though, I'd stay away from ProTools. Yes, any real studio will have it, but they should also be able to handle cakewalk files and the like as well, or at the very least .wav files. I personally use Fruityloops 3.4 for creating beats and playing with synths, Sonar 2.0 to track to and mix on, and WaveLab 4.0 to master in, and everything goes into my computer through a phonics mixer to a m-audio delta 44. I've got great results. The key is it's not just the gear, but it's the amount of time and passion you put into the song. Joe schmoe with a multi-million dollar studio can record and produce an okey song, but bob dylan with a guitar, mic, and 4 track can record a masterpeice... All the high-end Gear in the world won't give you a good recording, a good song treated with good producing will though.
Mar 12, 2004 07:06 am im looking at being able to record whole bands at one time...thats why i was looking at the MOTU24 I/O so i could possibly have more room to track with...also...once i have all the tracks in the computer...are their external hardware surfaces that sort of mimic the mixer on the screen so that i can use that instead my mouse and keyboard to do automation and whatnot?
Mar 12, 2004 07:10 am ya, they are typically referred to as "control surfaces" and there are many of them...
Mar 12, 2004 11:09 am its all starting to make sense now for the most part...now...these control surfaces...ive been looking at some of them..and theres like..8 faders on each of them..they arent big...how does that equate to a recordin using somewhere around 20 tracks...would i need like..3 of these surfaces? or are there shortcuts through this...im sure there is...but id like to hear it through more experienced ears...
flame...bringing sexy backMember
Since: Jul 01, 2002
Mar 12, 2004 01:08 pm never used on to be honest, but generally in the case where theres more channels than faders youll be able to swap what each fader relates to in the software itself.
you must have a ton of money to spend on this gear dude...alright for some!
Mar 12, 2004 01:51 pm well im looking at this in more of a commercial aspect rather than a project studio, i understand the dynamics of sound and consider myself pretty competent as a sound engineer of sounds, plop me in a studio and i can make a good recording, but now that its all coming down to me creating my own studio..from scratch...its nuts, i especially was mostly confused on a few small details in the technological portion of this lucrative profession
Noize2uCzar of MidiAdministrator
Since: Apr 04, 2002
Mar 12, 2004 03:42 pm Ill touch quickly on the control surfaces and finish the reply later.
The control surfaces for the most part have differant scenes. and each fader can do multiple things by switching back and forth. it is not much better then dragging a mouse around when you have to keep switching which fader is controling what. But it does doa good job and makes it a bit faster then the mouse.
so long story short, you simply mix tracks 1 through 8 first then switch to tracks 9 through 16 to mess with faders, then 17 through 20 final, and you can always go back and forth reassinging faders as needed.
WaltChief Cook and Bottle WasherMember
Since: May 10, 2002
Mar 12, 2004 07:19 pm Thanks for the mention Noise! And ya; there are a lot of ways to go. Remember too that because time is money and reverse as the saying goes, a lot of "pro" studios are music factories. Get em in and out and move on. Pro Tools is a great advantage with control surfaces and all in production music. Not to minimize the value of eficiency, the quality of the sound that can be produced on the systems mentioned in this thread are second to none. One of the most improtant tools in my studio is Microsoft Excel. I built a lot of systems on spreadsheets before I spent a nichel.
EdvoMember
Since: Feb 18, 2004
Mar 15, 2004 03:57 am its a pity that there is no demo of Nuendo, I like to try these expensive things very much
