What To Use Options

[Top of]

Hello everyone, my first post after reading for a long time. I have at my disposal (this is not an ad for sale, I use ebay for that) the following equipment. I will list all that I have, and then get to my question. Mac G4 DP 1.42 Ghz, Mac G4 533 Mhz, Powerbook G4 Ti 1 Ghz. all with 1 GB ram. 2 x Akai DR16 Pro ( 1 with ADAT) and controller DL1500. +outboard SCSI drives, storage, Cd, DAT. 1 x Spirit Digital 328, 1 x Allen & Heath 16-8-2 (system 8 1616) + 8 Pro RR 1/4" machines (studer etc) also a lot of out board hardware efx, Auto tune,etc. A MOTU 2408 MkII with PCI card. Software, Audio Desk 1 & 2, Cubase VST Score, and to play with, Garageband 2 on my everyday G4 1 Ghz.

Now to my question, I am in my 60's and used to working with analogue equipment, I am however intrigued by the surgical editing afforded on computer based equipment, ( eyes getting a bit bad for razor blades) My biggest worry is what of the above equipment to keep and how best to put it together, I am trying to get to a minimalist stage of equipment and yet not lose the ability of multitrack. I also wish to keep a lot of outboard (like the Autotune) but digital doesn't allow for inserts after recording. Maybe I can utilise them via MIDI?

I am also worried about latency. This has been a bugbear in my committing before now to look at digital. I am assuming that I am faced with either an Akai - A&H or 328 setup or a G4-MOTU-328 rig. The latter will take up much less room ( I would like to go with Mac) and would seem to be the way forward, however I bow to the expertise of my peers on this site and hope someone can help me decide and offer advice on best possibble setup.

As to software that may be needed, then I welcome advise on that as well. I would ideally like only one piece of software so as best to avoid issues with incompatibility, which I read so much of on this site. My interests lie in demos with some friends and putting together plays ( hopefully for radio) at a future date.

If I have posted in the wrong section, then I do apolagise.

Thank you for taking the time to read this

Top of

[DANO10]

O.K. So you finally made the big 60. I'll bet you even like music with melody and chord changes - not that there's anything wrong with that.... I'm 68 and I have the answer. (1.) Sell all that stuff on Ebay. I sold all my analog stuff there. It was easy. (2.) Get the biggest and baddest MAC you can afford - with plenty of RAM. I'm running 4GB on my G5. (3.) Get the latest Digital Performer. I comes with several virtual instruments and very advanced editing. Lots of tracks. Logic is a great program but DP is more musical, more friendly to us old guys that have more conventional musical training. (4.) Get a MOTU 828mkII. The Fire Wire Cue Mix Console deals with latency. (5.) Get a MIDI controller. There are many good one around. (6.) Get the very best monitor (speaker) system you can afford. You don't know what you got till you can hear it.

Work with this system till you're comfortable. Then go to expantion later.

Hope tis helps.