Essential Stuff? Options

[macshark]

Hello all. My name is Scott, and I am a newbie. Hello, Scott...

Okay, now that's out of the way, let me say that I have dug thorough this entire site as well as others, and I am still a little (lot) confused about the necessary equipment.

I have used/demo'd - Ableton Live, Bias Peak and Deck, Spark ME, Storm, Reason, and Metro. Haven't tried PT or Logic yet. I am on a G3 slot-loading iMac, OSX 10.2.4. I may be upgrading the computer w/in the next year if necessary.

All I want to do is record electric guitar and vocals into my imac, and do multitrack and editing on the computer. Also, I need some type of drum machine, beats, etc. Basically just looking to record my own songs for my own use (for now).

I don't have any other hardware (keyboard or midi-controller), but would consider getting an inexpensive one.

After all that, finally to the question at hand. What do I need to effectively do this? Live, Deck, and Metro seem to be the same to me in that they will let you multi-track. I like Spark a lot, and don't see where Peak is any better as a pure recorder. I could not figure out Storm or Reason. Not sure I really need all the midi-synth stuff. But I do NEED drum tracks.

Any suggestions, on software and hardware that I should look into?

Sorry for such a long request. Thanks.

Scott

[xingu]

Final word of warning: does the Big Box run in OS X yet? And does the Silver version of Logic contained therein support ReWire 2? As of now, only Platinum 6 supports it.

As to the first question, it most certainly does. I'm not positive if the actual CD in the box is OSX-ready (mine wasn't) but all you really need to do is download Logic Audio version 5.5 from emagic's site, plug in your XSKey, and begin. On to the next issue, according to the new comparision chart, all 3 versions of Logic 6 will support Rewire 2 - it's just that Audio and Gold 6 have yet to be released.

[macshark]

If you go the Logic route, that Gold Production Kit is nice if you can swing it (about $650)

- Now that does look pretty cool! Maybe more $ than I am willing to spend. Hmmm. Big Box might be a more reasonable way to go. Then save my pennies for reason. Also, I read a pretty good review of Logic Platinum in ElectronicMusician. I kow the big box contains a scaled down version, but for me that should be fine.

have a look at Doggiebox

- I've downloaded the demo. I will play with it. It is pretty fun. I bet there are some good demos on the website to keep me satisfied for awhile.

Again, thanks again to both of you. You'll be remembered on the liner notes of my first CD...

[rickenbacker]

"Again, thanks again to both of you. You'll be remembered on the liner notes of my first CD..."

Great! My time here has finally paid off!

PS...
Although you're busy saving your pennies for Reason, you have bought an audio/midi interface in the meantime, right? Otherwise you're going to have a job recording anything.

One bonus for you with the Big Box is you could probably use the EXSP24 sample player to spin in sampled drums off the accompanying CDs or get more samples off the web etc. So you'll be able to get some drums in your songs that way.

[xingu]

you could probably use the EXSP24 sample player to spin in sampled drums off the accompanying CDs or get more samples off the web etc.

Unfortunately, since you can't boot into OS9, you can't use the EXSP24 yet. Last I heard though, emagic is in the process of porting this and the EVP73 piano to Audio Units format for OSX, so all hope is not lost. (The ES1 synth does work in OSX). Either way, sans Reason or other drum machine, you can still use drum loop sample CDs that feature WAV or other audio formats, and then import into any multitracking app and copy/paste, repeat, loop, etc. to your heart's content.

Ce message a été modifié par xingu - mar. 25 mars 2003, 14:16.

[macshark]

" you have bought an audio/midi interface in the meantime, right? Otherwise you're going to have a job recording anything."

Good point. I have been researching that as well. I am currently running a 1/8 line out of the back of a cheap Digitech Guitar processor into the mic line-in on my iMac. Not great quality, but it works. I know I need to upgrade that as well.

I don't anticipae needing more than than two lines in (and possibly a midi keyboard in the future). Any recommendations? Does something like the Oxygen 8 have a place to plug a guitar into it?

[xingu]

No, the Oxygen8 only sends MIDI. There's quite a few audio interfaces out there - Tascam, Edirol, M-Audio, etc. For a low cost, multi-in solution, you might want to have a look at the Tascam US-122, which gives you 2 simultaneous ins between 2 line inputs and 2 XLRs with phantom power, plus a MIDI in/out - not a bad combo for $199 (expected retail). It should be available in a few weeks. But, if you're only going to record one track at a time, the iMac's line in should do ok for you in the meantime.

[rickenbacker]

This Tascam sounds like another interesting development. I've tested the 428 and the 224, so I'm guessing this is the latest mini-me version. What's next? The 011?

Fair point on the samples, too - nothing's going to be ideal until you have a dedicated drum app, but there are plenty of reasonable workarounds. Ingenuity, that's the key.

Your 1/8" line in will be fine for a while, too - it's still "CD quality" in theory. Some people get too hung up on 24-bit/96KHz interfaces. Anyway, the Oxygen 8 is a great Midi keyboard, but M-Audio are also set to release the Ozone. This'll basically be an Oxygen 8 with an audio interface in it, too - like an Oxygen 8 crossed with a Duo in fact. Available "soon".

[xingu]

Yeah, alot of people on the Tascam board were yawning about the 122 - the big deal there seems to be the inclusion of phantom power (which the 224 and 428 lack) plus the price tag.

I hadn't heard of the Ozone, which looks very cool and probably ideal for our friend macshark here, provided m-audio's OSX drivers are up to snuff. Nice specs - MIDI interface, keyboard, 24/96, line and XLRs with phantom power - and it's available. Musician's Friend has it for $329.

[macshark]

Great ideas. I think I will start slow, and build up. I am going to order the Big Box tonight and start with the line-in plug I am currently using. Next in line I'll take a look at the Ozone and the Tascam to improve upon things, then lastly a dedicated drum app. Then, after I receive my tax refund....

I'll keep you posted on how it works out. Again, thanks, and happy recording to both of you.

Scott

[xingu]

Sounds like a plan... Since you're going to hold off on a drum app for now, here's a page with a bunch of links to sample CD suppliers so you can find some loops. Good luck!