Need help getting started
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Posted on Aug 26, 2006 02:40 pm
JimK
Member Since: Aug 23, 2006
I'm looking for advice for a home based recording setup to create high quality original music soundtracks for instructional videos . Right now I use a Mac G4 and Final Cut Pro for the video work and an Ensoniq TS-10 that I use primarily as a performance instrument.
Although I'm a quick learner I am getting buried quickly in all tech talk and really don't know what setup is the righ way to go. I'm not even sure if I will need a sound card or if there are other options. I'm looking at two options, one being to use the TS-10 and record it through either a Fostex 4 input 8 track or a Korg 8 input 8-track digital recorder, lay down the tracks there to put into the Mac via a USB hub. Or....I have been looking at go with a more complete computer based multitrack recording system such as Motu's Digital Performer. But I'm not sure what else I would need (sound card etc) if I went the DP route. I have many questions such as how to get the output from the TS-10 into Digital Performer (can I use the TS-10 as a MIDI controller for sounds in Digital Performer and if so, what type of interface or jack do I need to get from the TS-10 MIDI output into the computer), whether I even need a computer workstation with the TS-10's synth capabilities, do I need a sound card, which one, and many more questions. I've been searching HRC for articles and info but am somewhat confused at this point regarding the interfacing of all potential components and software available. Any help and advice would be appreciated.
jimk
nubinnubin @att.net
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TadpuiI am not a crook's headMember
Since: Mar 14, 2003
Aug 26, 2006 02:51 pm I guess that your first decision will be whether you want to work mainly on your computer or mainly on a hard disk recorder like the Fostex that you mentioned. Both have their advantages and disadvantages.
If you choose to do your recording and editing on a hard disk recorder, then you gain portability as the main thing. This is a great asset if you record on location or move around a lot.
If you choose to do your recording and editing on your computer, then you gain flexibility as the main thing. There is so much free software available that your possibilities are endless as far as the tools at hand. The main drawback, in my opinion, is that...well...the possibilities are endless! I tend to get bogged down in the techie details, but I'm a techie nerd so I actually kind of enjoy it.
Or you can work in a mixture of the two environments like you suggested above. Track onto a hard disk recorder and port it to the computer for further editing, mixing, mastering, etc. This has 1 big drawback, that being the added chores of exporting files from your hard disk recorder. This can be a big drag if the recorder doesn't have a way to export several tracks at a time. There's also the added expense of buying both a quality hard disk recorder and a quality sound card.
So I'd make this decision first before making any purchases. Both platforms are capable of very high quality audio. Your microphones, preamps, engineering skills, room acoustics, monitoring setup, etc. will all make much more of a difference in sound quality than which platform you choose. But I'd still choose 1 up front and stick with it just to keep the expense down a bit.
JimKMember
Since: Aug 23, 2006
Aug 26, 2006 03:21 pm Thanks Tad. Some good info and advice but still some confusion such as when you said "This can be a big drag if the recorder doesn't have a way to export several tracks at a time. There's also the added expense of buying both a quality hard disk recorder and a quality sound card."
Reading the info on the Korg 888 I am under the impression you can export individual tracks as wav files. The purpose of the cards I understand to be to convert analog sound to digital signals but if I can export digital files from a digital recorder via USB, do I still need a sound card? Thanks.
Jim
Noize2uCzar of MidiAdministrator
Since: Apr 04, 2002
Aug 26, 2006 07:07 pm Well it does appear as though the internal HD of the Korg can be viewed as a FAT32 drive which I assume your Mac can deal with. Otherwise the files would need to be transfered one track at a time in real time. But I am pretty sure your Mac should be able to see the drive and transfer the tracks over.
