software

I've finaaly decided to join the 21st century and set up a home PC recording studio.
Since every card I've seen advertised touts itself as the best thing to ever happen to sound reproduction I would like to hear from those who actually use the stuff as to which card/software offer the best BFB(bang-for-buck).

I also have to aquire a PC-this one belongs to someone else and I can't be punching out blanks and installing progams. Don't plan to spend a whole lot of time on the internet, other than checking out the forums here, registering software, software downloads and the like. Ihave seen a couple on craigslist for under $300.00 and see no reason to sink upwards of $1000.00. But just because I can't see it doesn't mean I know what I'm talking about.

Any help y'all can offer a throwback to the reel-to-reel era will greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance.

What kind of quality are you hoping to get out of the recordings? Will you be micing anything up, or going direct?

I want CD quality sound and yes-I will be mouse heavy-looping/proseccing backround-track phrases etc.to save time.

I use an E-MU 0404 soundcard. They're around $99 and have fantastic specs and sound. For software, I use n-Track Studio, a shareware product. Has more functionality than I can use, about $40 to register the 24-bit version.
This setup makes some incredibly clear sounding recordings, even with my cheap 15 year old audio-technica mic

Oops, here's some links.
it's been a while. Looks like the 24-bit version is $75 now. Still a great piece of software with incredible support from the developer. I've been using it since verion 3.3.
The E-MU card somes with recording software too, I forgot to mention that. It's pretty good stuff, but I've been an n-Track user for so long that I never even loaded it up.

For PCI, the Echo Gina 3G looks good:

from : localhost/Firewire, I like the Presonus Firebox:

from : localhost/good sound, the entry level is ~$300. From there, it goes up to $1500 for RME stuff.

If you want it exclusively for Audio content work, then you can´t go wrong with M-audio or MOTU products....

from : localhost/you want to play games, watch DVDs and such on the same PC, the New Soundblaster X-FI Platinum is a good start, and includes Cubasis (quot;Cubase Litequot;) and Wavelab Lite


Originally Posted by ZerberusIf you want it exclusively for Audio content work, then you can´t go wrong with M-audio or MOTU products....

from : localhost/you want to play games, watch DVDs and such on the same PC, the New Soundblaster X-FI Platinum is a good start, and includes Cubasis (quot;Cubase Litequot;) and Wavelab Lite

Yeah good call. M-Audio make some great stuff bacg-for-buck wise. The new M-Box 2 is an ace piece of kit. I've got the M-Box 1, and ive got no complaints, other than theres only two inputs, but that only because i've recently started recording drums. If you use a drum mackine or a VST drum instrument, you will be fine. It also includes a copy of Pro Tools LE version 7, Amplitube LE (not great, but it does the job if hyou are in a rush) a stripped down version of Reason that you can Re-Wire into pro tools for drums and synths etc. Its a basic studio in a box.

I'm looking at upgrading to a motu traveler or something similar soon, to expand my input capabilities.

I second the emu recommendation- for the price range they're in their own league.

What about the SB Audigy?


Originally Posted by ZerberusIf you want it exclusively for Audio content work, then you can´t go wrong with M-audio or MOTU products....

from : localhost/you want to play games, watch DVDs and such on the same PC, the New Soundblaster X-FI Platinum is a good start, and includes Cubasis (quot;Cubase Litequot;) and Wavelab Lite

I have an M-Audio MobilePre-USB and have no complaints with it

It's a 2 channel USB Audio interface with Phantom power, so it does everything I need it to. To say it's quite a cheap unit (around £100), the onboard pre-amps actually sound quite good.

It also comes with a recording program called 'Garage Band'. I use Adobe Audition or Cubase SX2, so I've never actually loaded the Garage Band software up. Apparently it's quite good though

Craig


Originally Posted by BrowI have an M-Audio MobilePre-USB and have no complaints with it

It's a 2 channel USB Audio interface with Phantom power, so it does everything I need it to. To say it's quite a cheap unit (around £100), the onboard pre-amps actually sound quite good.

It also comes with a recording program called 'Garage Band'. I use Adobe Audition or Cubase SX2, so I've never actually loaded the Garage Band software up. Apparently it's quite good though

Craig

ooh that MobilePre looks mights interesting. £99 at Gak.co.uk



from : localhost/myself have been looking into getting this one, comes bundled with Cubase LE, in case you'll need a program at the same time

Hm. Interesting.This looks interesting as well. Then again, I'm clueless on this topic. I am interested in venturing into this realm, however.

If you're a reel to reel guy then moving into the computer relm is going to be nuts and totally alien for 'ya. It'll cost a bit more but I'd get a control surface with real faders amp; knobs like the Tascam FW-1082 or the new M-Audio thing. Trying to record and manipulate with a mouse and keyboard is unreal and really slows the process down. Having a surface makes it a little more 'invisible' amp; easier to grok so the learning curve is way shortened.

As for programs amp; computers, Cubase is great! Really comprehensive and will probably do everything you want it to unless you get into extensive looping amp; sampling and then you'll need something to augment it. I'd avoid Digidesign stuff like the plauge and I'll spare 'ya that rant unless you want it. For a computer get as much ram as you can afford! At the minimum you should have 1 gig of ram, two drives (one for recording amp; one for the system) and ideally a Pentium 4 of some kind. I've heard about guys running Athlon chipsets but some cards amp; programs have problems with them and will randomly lock up, freeze in the middle of recording or won't even launch! Ideally you'd want a DVD burner for backup so you can get a couple three songs onto a single disc rather then 3 CDR's per song.

Music 'puters and the interknot don't get along too well...one virus or some spyware can slow the system to a crawl and mean the difference between running 14 tracks with 3 plug-ins or 50 tracks with dozens of plug-ins. No matter how quot;cleanquot; you keep it there's always going to be something there. Try amp; keep it off the internet or at least use some other computer for looking at porn amp; stuff! The music PC at the mix suite isn't connected to the net and yah, it makes software updates a little more cumbersome because I'm jumping from machine to machine, but the system is rock-solid and I know that when it does crash it's not because of a virius.

Thanks All. There's a lot of info to digest here.
In regards to USB setups-are they better,worse, the same? It seems that they may be reduntant since you need a decent sound card to process and edit anyway.

I am using Cubase SX3 and RME converters.