Music recording software

I'm sure some wag will suggest Pro Tools but, for your purposes, Cakewalk Sonar Home Studio is just the job.

Mike

If you have a look through the threads on Padded cell I think someone already had a thread about this not so long ago.

quote:

Originally posted by Sloop John B:
It will soon be young Sloops 14th birthday and I was thinking software that would allow him to record his music (and his fledgling band's "music") and manipulate it would be a good choice.



Anyone know of some good recording software (for PC) and are there any peripherals that are necessary or useful?


Thanks


SJB

Yes, he and his bandmates will need some peripherals to record to a computer. Most instruments, mikes and amps are analogue, so he needs analogue to digital converters. The "mic in" on a PC or Mac just won't cut it. The converters, at a minimum, simply turn the analogue signal from mikes or line-outs on amps to a digital signal that the computer and software can understand.

More common are units that provide mixing and processing "off board" like this Yamaha unit. The multi channel mixing is useful as it lets them record multiple instruments all at once, rather than lay them down one at a time and mix them in the PC/MAC software.

The power that even inexpensive units like this have to produce great recordings is unprecedented. The sky is the limit on how much you can spend, though.

Thanks for the replies.

I came across Mixcraft.

Anyone know about this?


SJB

It's just the software. He'll still need the hardware. The Yamaha that I sent the link to includes software bundled with it. The included version is sort of a "CuBase lite".

"Cubase Ai4"

Cubase, along with Protools is one of the major players. The fully featured versions of these ain't cheap.

I think most of the computer audio mixers like this do include some sort of software.

quote:

Originally posted by winkyincanada:
It's just the software. He'll still need the hardware. The Yamaha that I sent the link to includes software bundled with it. The included version is sort of a "CuBase lite".

"Cubase Ai4"



Cubase, along with Protools is one of the major players. The fully featured versions of these ain't cheap.

I think most of the computer audio mixers like this do include some sort of software.

Point taken,

the Yamaha you mention is a little out of range I want to pay, do you have any opinion of the Yamaha MW10C



SJB

I don't know too much about any of these specifically, but the one you suggest would be fine.

They can all do whatever is wanted, really. One difference is in the number of channels. More channels makes "live" recording easier, but you can still mix as many channels as you want in software - you just needs to do more takes. The "effects" available are fewer in the inexpensive mixers, but there are more than you could ever need in the software.

As I said, the power these things have for a few hundred quid would put a 1968 Abbey Road to shame. Probably.

Good micropohones are another expense, but the 80:20 rule applies. You don't need to spend a fortune. Get advice on the style, though. You use very different mikes for different purposes. Depending on what instruments they want to record, they might need a couple.

Thanks for the help.

I'll have to extoll the virtues of " track to him!



SJB

Well we ended up with the Yamaha MW12CX





packaged with Cubase 4AI and boy has it been a learning curve for both of us!


but tonight after much gnashing of teeth we have touchdown Houston.

Now he's 14 and it's his first attempt but I think it's not half bad


Written in Ink


SJB

Awesome. I hope it brings many hours/years of fun.

Isn't it astonishing how much you can do with these things and a decent PC/Mac?