Pro Tools Purchase, Beginner Options

[flobiej]

I have some basic questions for any Pro Tools user.

First of all, I'm a songwriter in Nashville and I'm curious about upgrading to a protools setup.

1. Why choose a Mac instead of a PC?

2. Besides the Protools software, can someone list what all I need? I can't seem to find any complete information on what to buy. And some general price estimates would be great. I'm interested in the HD recording and not simply recording it to the computer's drive

I probably sound like an idiot, thats because im pretty new to this. Anyone that could help and be a reference or a guide would be greatly appreciated

[Teiwaz]

Hi Stuartpa. That's exactly how I felt when I bought their hardware...that I would use it with something flexible like Logic.

However, my feelings are that the only reason for owning a TDM/HD system is the boon of recording with 'zero' latency. I for one feel that this has been dodgy's only trump card to play of late.

However, the other platforms are now catching up in the 'zero' latency race, and once OSX is rich in audio apps/plugs, I feel that day may well be the day when dodgy loses a LOT of customers, unless their prices begin to reflect their products ie; fall. I'm already enjoying the fruits of VST2/Logic 5x after owning various TDM systems since 1996! (Check my posts elsewhere on this forum.)

Apparently, Apple expressed that they in no way want to change Emagic's modus operandi, despite the buyout. At the end of the day, it's going to be a good thing for Logic users that Apple own Emagic. I can see the R&D department at Emagic now...hopefully being visited/frequented by Apple's own code writers/technicians. What I'm implying is that future versions of Logic ought to be as stable as the elements of the Mac's own OS (- I'm not including OS9's chooser or file sharing here!!)



The "legacy" port on an HD system appears to be a good way to connect a "class" AD/DA converter, like an Apogee...why spend money on a 192? It looks like something Radio Shack would sell!



I visited Apogee's offices last summer, and one guy there was saying how through test comparisons, that the new 192 is 5 years behind anything in their AD/DA product line. I agree completely, in fact, I thought he was being incredibly modest...

If one has to buy into the bottomless financial bucket that is PTHD, don't bother with a 192...? Get a 2nd hand Apogee AD-8000SE, or a 2nd hand AD-8000. You can record at a maximum sample rate of 48khz, 24 bit with an AD-8000...but the QUALITY of the unit's converters and wordclock are unsurpassable. You will not believe your ears!! 888/24s get smoked by this converter, and 192's struggle to sound as good at 96khz. I personally don't believe that any 192 sounds as good as this "modest by comparison in price" AD-8000/AD-8000SE, even at 192khz. Don't believe the hype. ("SE" stands for "Special Edition" - these AD-8000's are slightly more pricey than a standard AD-8000, due to extra enhanced components in the A/D stage...)

Either Apogee, or the even lesser known PT compatible "Prism" converters...quite expensive though...but if you're into "spending"...

If you really want to record at 192khz with more than 8 channels, then you obviously have enough money to spend on a couple of Ferrari's as well, and don't mind going through hard drives like sweets on christmas day!



Not to mention the serious decline of available DSP horsepower at this rather silly sample rate...does one also own a 96 channel neve with $150,000 of outboard gear?



Bit depth means more to audio quality than sample rate...it's all hearsay. Ask anyone at Apogee R&D.