Getting Started - Total Newbie Alert! Options

[theyesman]

Hello everyone. I'm new here - please be kind to me!

A little background information...

About 18 months ago I bought my first mac - an iMac G5, 1.8GHz, 768MB RAM and a copy of Logic Express V7.01 with the intention of moving my songwriting from an 8track recorder to computer.

However university got in the way and its only now I am getting a chance to get back into writing songs seriously again.

What I want to do is be able to record songs using guitars, bass, drums (roland td8 vdrums) and vocals into my mac.

Can someone please advise me on how to go about this -

what kind of midi interface do I need?
do I need some kind of preamp?
can I plug guitars straight in or do I need to mic amplifiers?
if I want to not use the vdrums can I just program the drums?
etc, etc.

So to summarise:

I have an iMac G5, Logic Express, a load of 'traditional' instuments and absolutely no idea how to make them all work together.

I'm not trying to make mega high quality, polished audio yet, I just want to be able to get my ideas down and mess around with them.

Any advice would be absolutely brilliant. Thanks.

Ce message a été modifié par theyesman - lun. 6 nov. 2006, 21:53.

[gdoubleyou]

Take a look at the range of firewire audio interfaces from MOTU.com, they have a few models that have a built in midi interface. You can go directly into the interface or use mikes on the speaker cabinets.

I use a combination of drum loops and midi triggered samples for my drum tracks.

Logic/Garage Band come with a basic set of drum kits. More drum kits can be added via Jam packs and 3rd party Apple Loop collections.

Also there are a lot of EXS format sample collections, check out http://www.soundsonline.com search on EXS. I quickly built up a large sample library by purchasing several of their Pro Samples collections.

[theyesman]

Take a look at the range of firewire audio interfaces from MOTU.com, they have a few models that have a built in midi interface. You can go directly into the interface or use mikes on the speaker cabinets.

I use a combination of drum loops and midi triggered samples for my drum tracks.

Logic/Garage Band come with a basic set of drum kits. More drum kits can be added via Jam packs and 3rd party Apple Loop collections.

Also there are a lot of EXS format sample collections, check out http://www.soundsonline.com search on EXS. I quickly built up a large sample library by purchasing several of their Pro Samples collections.

Thanks a lot!

A friend at work today suggested the Digidesign MBOX2 for my needs. Do you think that this is the right sort of thing for my requirements?

[gdoubleyou]

In the long run you would be paying more for an app that has less capabilities. Express has a maximum 255 audio tracks, PTLE maxes out at 32 tracks. PTLE midi features are a small subset of what is available in Logic.

If you are more of a composer go with Logic. If you are only concerned with recording and mixing PTLE may be faster.

The Mbox2 is USB, It may not be able to record four tracks at once at high sample rates. It does have a good plugin bundle, but don't confuse PTLE with the $10,000+ Pro Tools HD systems.

I'm currently completing my third CD project using Logic Express, and when I need better mikes I just take my harddrive to a larger studio. They have Logic Pro as the front end of their Pro Tools| HD system.

[hahaworld]

I'd like to second gdoubleyou's motion in favor of LOGIC. I used to be a Pro Tools user until a friend of mine introduced me to the Wonderful World of Logic (and this was even before Apple bought out eMagic). I think you'll find that LOGIC does everything Pro Tools does and more (albeit with a steeper learning curve). Once you get your feet wet in the program, you'll never look back and wonder why you left Pro Tools. I have written so much more music since I switched to LOGIC, and it opened up so many new possibilities for MIDI applications that were (at the time) unavailable in Pro Tools, or available on a much more limited basis. I realize the lines are getting more and more blurred, but if you're using a Mac, I can't recommend LOGIC highly enough. Good luck!

[leegrainge]

Take a look at the range of firewire audio interfaces from MOTU.com, they have a few models that have a built in midi interface. You can go directly into the interface or use mikes on the speaker cabinets.

I use a combination of drum loops and midi triggered samples for my drum tracks.

Logic/Garage Band come with a basic set of drum kits. More drum kits can be added via Jam packs and 3rd party Apple Loop collections.

Also there are a lot of EXS format sample collections, check out http://www.soundsonline.com search on EXS. I quickly built up a large sample library by purchasing several of their Pro Samples collections.

Thanks a lot!

A friend at work today suggested the Digidesign MBOX2 for my needs. Do you think that this is the right sort of thing for my requirements?

Hi there.

I'm new on this forum. BUT I am not new to what you lot are talking about here.

My advice to you would be to check out Pro Tools a bit before jumping to Logic. Besides if your a musician and want to have something that will be you're stable .app in a few years then don't go with Logic Express. Look at Logic Pro (so many more options) or look at MBOX Pro (bundled) and look at getting the Music Production Toolkit. With this in mind you will get a great bundle f plug ins that work better than the Logic one's. Okay, Logic has some great synth's and one of the best IR reverbs (being Space Designer) but as for the EQ's etc... Pro Tools in my eyes comes out on top. Pro Tools is also a better automation tool. With the Music Production Toolkit you get 48 tracks. It is still nothing compared to logic's track count (Mac power dependent) but then again the sound card that comes with MAC's isn't worth a P••• in my eyes. At least with the new MBOX PRO you get Firewire 4ins 6 outs - The pre-amps are better than before. It's a big choice. I have been using Logic since 1999 and Pro-tools since 2000 Both great apps. Both have good points. Make your ownchoice by testing the Pro-Tools fee-download and try and check out Logic somewhere before you buy.

Good luck.

Lee

[gdoubleyou]

You have to decide about price point, a Mbox pro + production bundle costs more than Logic pro and a MOTU ultralite.

I suggest going to your local music store for a test drive, of each app.

The plugs that came bundled with my M-Powered version of PTLE are not superior to the plugs in even Logic Express.

[leegrainge]

You have to decide about price point, a Mbox pro + production bundle costs more than Logic pro and a MOTU ultralite.

I suggest going to your local music store for a test drive, of each app.

The plugs that came bundled with my M-Powered version of PTLE are not superior to the plugs in even Logic Express.

A price point indeed.

Whilst Logic sells from Apple for £600 / Ebay... Possibly less...

Not sure how much the MOTU is. The Ultralight does seem like a decent piece of kit...

I wonder how the soundcard compares to the MBOX II Pro? Anyone??

Anyway I am saying the MBOX II PRO + bundle (the bundle has some really good additions) and Music Tool Kit (which also has some great extra plug ins) will set you back around 900£

Not cheap but I can't see Logic Pro and the MOTU being much less.

It's all a point of view and what sorts you out the most. They are both great app. I use ProTools mainly for film work, with music I find both have there good points...



Lee

Ce message a été modifié par leegrainge - jeu. 9 nov. 2006, 01:26.

[leegrainge]

You have to decide about price point, a Mbox pro + production bundle costs more than Logic pro and a MOTU ultralite.

I suggest going to your local music store for a test drive, of each app.

The plugs that came bundled with my M-Powered version of PTLE are not superior to the plugs in even Logic Express.

A price point indeed.

Whilst Logic sells from Apple for £600 / Ebay... Possibly less...

Not sure how much the MOTU is. The Ultralight does seem like a decent piece of kit...

I wonder how the soundcard compares to the MBOX II Pro? Anyone??

Anyway I am saying the MBOX II PRO + bundle (the bundle has some really good additions) and Music Tool Kit (which also has some great extra plug ins) will set you back around 900£

Not cheap but I can't see Logic Pro and the MOTU being much less.

It's all a point of view and what sorts you out the most. They are both great app. I use ProTools mainly for film work, with music I find both have there good points...



Lee

(Logic sells from Apple for £600)

Sorry got it wrong it's £699

[lepetitmartien]

A hint in short

- If you're a way more audio only guy, go PT. PT is fast and very good on Audio work (mhmm there must be some reason)
- If MIDI, virtual instruments are a must, go Logic. Logic MIDI covers A to z and the ancient greek alphabet and more, audio is one of the best (but less instantaneous than PT so to speak), way more versatile.

On the minus sides:

- PT tends to enclose you in its platform, it's easier to work with Digidesign/M-audio hardware than third party. The real new features are scarse as most of the time PT covers its strength and goes the (usually) rock solid road. Digidesign is slow at feedback too.
- Logic has a learning curve. But it's worth it if you need all the power hidden in it. Users seem a bit shaky on the future as Apple seems more interested into GB or soundtracks (which are all right by themselves but can't replace Logic for professionals)

I think it's going to be really what and how you want to work that'll guide you.

And there's DP…

And I forgot, you'll need RAM, 768 MB is not enough. Max out.