From the Roots

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Typo Szar
Member Since: Jul 04, 2002

Dont know if this goes in this section... but i frequent this the most. so yeah, im gonna start a small not really studio more of a work station in my room. and i need an indepth gear definition, mainly digital u know? im gonna switch from cakewalk to either logic or pro tools, i have a keyboard (no midi) a guitar and amp, a shure sm58 mic, headphones, all i realy need is a good computer. so i need specs, i need to know both wat i need and wat i can live wihtout of, so i can save as much cash as possible. i want teh com be fast adn process my audio smoothly with effects, and that is all, so i dont need all those videocards and stuff, wat is the bear minimum my com will need in it? wat is the cheapest 2-4 track ok quality soundcard i should get? all info is appreciate, HRC rocks!!!!!!

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Administrator
Since: Apr 03, 2002


Aug 25, 2003 09:22 am

Let me ask you this...Why Logic or ProTools? Do you plan on buying a Mac?

Sound card: Look in "The Gear Bag" section for the M-Audio Delta44. A few people here use one and love it.

PC Specs...Mac? I dunno, Mac is not my forte'. For PC, get Windows XP, at least a couple Ghz processer, get as much RAM as you can afford (shoot for 512MB) and almost any hard drvie these days is ATA133 or so and 7200RPM, so if you buy a NEW hard drive, it will be fast enough. And get a big one, 60 GB or better.

Bottom line is get the biggest, fastest one you can afford.

Do you plan to buy parts and build your computer, or buy a Dell, Gateway or something like that? Do you plan to mix surround sound?

Administrator
Since: Apr 03, 2002


Aug 25, 2003 09:23 am

FYI, moved to the computer forum.

sloppy dice, drinks twice
Member
Since: Aug 05, 2003


Aug 25, 2003 10:41 am

I actually make pretty decent recordings on a much less powerful system due to financial constraints. I certainly wouldn't mind upgrading to the rig db described above, though! :)
I have a small workstation/project studio in my den, running off an knocked-together 800 mhz comp with 3.2 GB HD, 256 MB of RAM, with an Audiophile 2496 soundcard. I keep the OS mostly stripped down (but since I share it w/ my wife, we do run a couple of her programs on it), record through Cool Edit, and have been able to use up to 40 tracks in a session (though not all at once - probably about 10-12 max at any one time). I'm pretty happy with it. If you plan on running real-time effects through your computer, this rig probably won't do it for you. If you're going with outboard effects, you'll be alright.

Member
Since: Jul 02, 2003


Aug 25, 2003 01:10 pm

With a 1GHZ P3 w/512MB ram I can pretty easily record as many tracks as I like, but as soon as you start adding real time effects or trying to monitor 8 tracks while adding another, it gets overloaded pretty quick. I use Cool Edit Pro2 as well.

You definitley want the biggest, badest system you can afford so I would put the money into the system and go with Sonar, CEP, or Cubase SL if push comes to shove rather than Pro Tools. They will all do a great job of recording and mixing if the system is powerful enough.


SM7b the Chuck Noris of Mic's
Contributor
Since: Jun 20, 2002


Aug 25, 2003 01:57 pm

i just started up a small studio here in the bay area , and I've been able to check out most of the big names for multi tracking . I have Pro tool , i had Cubase SX but I choose Sonar 2.2 over all of them ( granted it all comes down to what works best for you ) . Pro Tools is grewat if you want to drop at least a few grand for a HD system , if not the less expensive PT units will cost you from 500 ( the M-Box) to around 2000 for the digi 002 , you you are limited to the # of tracks you can record . you can get a good rig with the info Db said and use sonar or CEP with a Delta 1010 and in my oppinion you have something that is above the digi 002 for half the price .

Administrator
Since: Apr 03, 2002


Aug 25, 2003 02:00 pm

*** patiently waiting for "blueninjastar" to chime in about the subject of multitracking application ***

Maniacal Genius
Contributor
Since: Dec 30, 2002


Aug 25, 2003 02:08 pm

Here I am! Yes indeed, good question: Why Logic or ProTools? I've been a ProTools user for quite some time and can tell you straight out that you will be better off going with Sonar or Cubase. For less money, you'll get more flexibility and expandability. The sound quality is the same and you won't be locked in to DX plug-ins. Like I said, I've used ProTools for quite a while and have had great results with it, but could have gotten the same or better results easier and for less money had I not locked myself in to the PT world. Just something to consider.

Typo Szar
Member
Since: Jul 04, 2002


Aug 26, 2003 11:22 am

Ive heard too many good things about Logic, and im so tired of my Cakewalk 9 setup, so i thought id go that way. and for Pro tools, i recently used it in a studio my band laid down our album at, adn it had some nice options for mixdown u know? im gonna be using PC.
i run alot of effects online if that info helps, ill probalby never have money to get outboard effects, except guitar pedals.
my basic concept for this setup is a place i can lay down guitar and bass audio, simple percussion, vocals, probably plenty of guitar trax, to kind of demo songs, adn practice my sound eng skills.

Administrator
Since: Apr 03, 2002


Aug 26, 2003 11:34 am

Well, if you are using PC and not Mac, don't go Logic, Logic was bought out, by apple as I recall, and there will be no more PWindows versions made.

Maniacal Genius
Contributor
Since: Dec 30, 2002


Aug 26, 2003 03:17 pm

I can definitely see how you would be tired and limited with Cakewalk 9, but don't count them out entirely. Sonar is excellent and, from what little I know of Cakewalk 9, is a VAST IMPROVEMENT. As for using plug-ins, ProTools uses only DXi plugs, so you end up needing a lot of memory to run them. I've run in to memory problems with ProTools a few times without even running a TON of effects and I've got a 2.4GHz P4 with 1GB of RAM. So, if you're going to go PT, plan on investing in some memory. You'll definitely need it especially if you use a lot of effects.

Administrator
Since: Apr 03, 2002


Aug 26, 2003 03:23 pm

I was gonna say the same thing, a good friend of mine (noize2u from these forums) has been a lifelong Cakewalk user, I tried versions 6-9 everytime a new one came out he tells me it's the bomb and I have to try it. I never liked it and continued with Vegas...I will say tho, with the Sonar series, esspeically the newest, 2.2, I am now a believer, they have developer a stellar app, very good sound quality, great features in a very intuitive intereface that works with any hardware...it's a great program.

And with Logic, well you still have the fact that there will be no further development for the PC platform...so what you have now is all you will ever have.

Typo Szar
Member
Since: Jul 04, 2002


Aug 27, 2003 01:46 am

Thanx a bunch, so any quick synopse pls? like a spec run down of the bare bones of my minimalist comp? :P

Contributor
Since: Sep 09, 2002


Sep 05, 2003 05:41 pm

[quote}Blue: ProTools uses only DXi plugs[/quote]

i thought PT used only it's proprietary TDM plugins? -j

BTW i'm still using Cakewalk Pro Audio 9

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