Multi-track Recording Software, Software that is simple and works in OSX Options

[Dadoo]

I'm just getting into the fascinating world of digital music recording. My wife and I play music together for small and large group things. I would like to be able to add some fullness to our sound by creating our own accompaniment CD's so that we can play along with a "full band", so to speak.

I just got the M-Audio Audiophile USB and it came with a "lite" version of Ableton DELTA Live. I've played around with it some and have recorded a couple of things. I find it rather complicated for what I'm doing, as I think it is more of a looping/sequencing instrument that just happens to have recording capabilities. I also find it frustrating to get sound consistently in and out of the program as I seem to have to quit and restart the program for it to recognize that I have an audio input for it. But this may be beside the point because I think it is not the right program for what I want to do.

I have hear a little about a shareware program for OS X called Jasmine. I see that I can download a demo of it. Does anyone have any experience with this program? Basically what I want to do is to plug in my bass, guitar, keyboard, drum machine, maybe some backing vocals, and record them on different tracks and then make them into an AIFF file that can be burned onto a CD. I want it to be simple and able to produce good digital quality sound. Will Jasmine work for me? Is there another simple and basic program that works in OS X that I should look at?

I'm doing my recording on a 600 MHz iMac, running OS 10.2.8, with 512 MB of RAM.

Thanks for your replies. I know I have much to learn!

[rickenbacker]

If your Mac can boot into OS 9, Cubasis is OK. Fine to get started with at any rate. You'll soon outgrow it, though. Also, if you think you might continue with Cubase as your skills/enthusiasm develops, be warned that the OS X versions (SX, SL etc) are a world apart - much of what you learn on Cubasis will be different in OS X. Might make more sense to decide on one program (whether Cubase, Logic, DP, Pro Tools or whatever) now and move straight into that. It'll last you much longer that way. Or try Garageband in iLife - that's only £40.

[Dadoo]

I've looked at some of the other Steinberg software you mention and even downloaded the demo for Cubasis VST. I found it complicated, as some have mentioned. I also found out that it cannot save recorded stuff as AIFF files, only mp3 and WAV, which is not too helpful for burning your own stuff and playing it on regular CD players.

As for Garageband, I was very excited seeing it come out at the Macworld Expo last week. Unfortunately after checking the system requirements at Apple, I figured it wouldn't be the one. These are the requirements:

Macintosh computer with a PowerPC G3, G4 or G5 processor
600MHz G3 or faster required for GarageBand
G4 or faster required for GarageBand software instruments
733MHz G4 or faster required for iDVD
256MB of physical RAM
Mac OS X v10.2.6 or later (Mac OS X v10.2.8 or later recommended)
QuickTime 6.4 or later (QuickTime 6.5 included)
Display with at least 1024-by-768-pixel resolution
DVD drive required to install GarageBand and iDVD
4.3GB of disk space required to install GarageBand, iTunes, iPhoto, iMovie and iDVD; or 250MB to install iTunes, iPhoto and iMovie only.

From that I get that my 600 mHz iMac would just barely run GarageBand, but not any of the software instruments. I would also not be able to use iDVD since I have neither the processor requirements nor a DVD playing drive. Also it appears that I would not even be able to install GarageBand as it says that a DVD drive is required for installing it.

So, as of now, it seems that my options are down to continuing to use the "lite" version of Delta Live 1.5, or trying out the demos of Metro SE, Intuem, and Jasmine. Still have not heard of anyone's experience with Jasmine!

[rickenbacker]

Try the demo of Tracktion, too.

[swilder]

I tried Jasmine once. I really didn't care for the gui that much.

[swilder]

From that I get that my 600 mHz iMac would just barely run GarageBand, but not any of the software instruments.

Audio/Sequencing programs are processor/ram hogs. If you're serious about running something professional grade like cubase, logic, digital performer, protools, and the like. You'll benefit from a machine with lots of ram an a speedy processor

Scott

[Dadoo]

Thanks again all who have given their input into this. Tracktion I've never heard about so I'll check into that as well. And Scott, thanks for the comment on Jasmine. Other than the interface, any other problems? Is it easy to learn and does it give decent results? By the time I'm ready to move into anything more serious like Logic or Cubase, I would have a machine capable of that. For now, I just want to get my music into digital form in a simple affordable way that will sound decent enough. Thanks. The feedback has been great so far! I appreciate it.

[Dadoo]

Funny thing about Tracktion. I found the website and looked at all the features. Then when I checked the "requirements" it only named Windows systems. So, unless someone knows of a Mac version of that, it would not be an option.

[Sonne]

hi
You should check out ProTools

[jpschmader]

Funny thing about Tracktion. I found the website and looked at all the features. Then when I checked the "requirements" it only named Windows systems. So, unless someone knows of a Mac version of that, it would not be an option.

http://www.rawmaterialsoftware.com/downloads/

[Dadoo]

Thanks for the link to the Tracktion website. I guess I didn't dig deep enough in it. All I saw were windows requirements. Thank you!