Need recommendations for upgrade...
Home > Home Recording Forum > Recording Techniques > Need recommendations for upgrade...
Posted on Jun 04, 2004 05:06 pm
Bruce
Member Since: Jun 04, 2004
I've been using my old Cakewalk ProAudio 9 and default sound card for too long and technology has left me in the lurch. I need some recommendations on what to upgrade too.
I pretty much record analog (guitar via Line6 POD). I suppose I'd like to do a little MIDI and sequence looping for backgrounds, as well.
I do have a firewire card and a USB 2.0 card and three vacant PCI slots (I'm running Intel 2.5 P4, with 1gig ram).
Do I go PCI, USB, Firewire.
Do I go Sonar or....
Too much to choose from and I'd like to keep it under $500. Any recommendations on what to buy and what not to buy?
Thanks in advance!!
Bruce
[ Back to Top ]
EdelweissOk, who moved it..??Member
Since: Apr 23, 2004
Jun 04, 2004 07:35 pm Well, there are 2 things I would definitely recommend checking out...
M-audio and Tracktion...
www.midiman.net/index.php
www.mackie.com/products/tracktion/index.html
I'm running Tracktion with a M-audio Audiophile 2496 (internal PCI ) and it works great for me.
the good news is that both of them together cost me less than $250...
aside from what I have, M-audio ("Midiman")has other options in each of the connection methods you mentioned. May not be exactly what you are looking for, but it's worth checking out...
Good luck...
If you have any other questions, hit me up....
Jun 04, 2004 08:16 pm I'll agree with Tracktion as a place to look, it's a butt-kicking little app, MultitrackStudio www.multitrackstudio.com/ as well is a great low-priced program. However, given that you have ProAudio 9, I would recommend upgrading to Sonar's latest version. SOnar is the next generation of Cakewalks high-end app for multitracking. The latest, Sonar 3, has had a major usability and appearance update, and it's awesome, I use it and love it, I started with Cakewalk Products when Sonar 1 came out and have never looked back.
If you are getting by on the ins and outs that you stock sound device gives you, the Audiophile 2496 would give you the same number of analog ins and outs (single stereo pair in and out) and in addition MIDI in and out and digital S/PDIF in and out...plus, MUCH better performance with ASIO drivers which most stock sound devices with name-brand PC's don't have. ASIO is a very low-latecy and very high-performance driver type, far superior to WDM.
If you want more ins and outs there are other products from M-Audio, such as the Delta 44 and Delta 66. There are also cards from Terratec, EchoAudio and many others. However, around HRC it seems many peeps dig the M-Audio. I personally use SOnar 3 with an Audiophile 2496 and am very happy with the performance.
guitwizzNothing doesnt give me gasMember
Since: May 25, 2004
Jun 06, 2004 10:04 am If you are using a registered version of cakewalk, the Sonar 3.0 program is only 199.00. Thats about a third of the list price. Pretty good deal for that much power!!!
Noize2uCzar of MidiAdministrator
Since: Apr 04, 2002
Jun 06, 2004 10:57 pm Bruce, if you are allready familier with Sonar, then yes it is worth a look as it is really loaded to the gills with what it sounds like you will use. I also use a POD XT and Sonar and love the control of the POD and whatever else right from in Sonar.
Jun 06, 2004 11:22 pm I enthusiastically second third and fourth the sonar recomendation.I love it and use it almost exclusively(sp?)
Get it,use it and be a good recording guy.
So it is written, so it shall be done.
And as far as ASIO goes I get better performance()yes no kidding with WDM..I dont know why..just another perspective for ya)
Regards,
Mark
geckMember
Since: Jun 14, 2004
Jun 14, 2004 11:04 am Just bought a M-Audio 410 (firewire). Very cool little box. I wanted something portable (live recording on a laptop). Has MIDI and pro connections (XLR, 1/4").
