Computer Recording Studio?

[Rob Channell]

Does anyone here use the computer as a recording studio? If so, what hardware/software have you used and would recommend?

Here is a list of things I think I would want:

- Ability to record three to four channels at once and record it to hard drive on a computer through Firewire or USB. Recorded sounds would be vocals, piano, wind instruments, electric guitar/bass, and the occasional Porsche exhaust Portable enough to use with a laptop in a car a big plus.

- Ability to play back previous tracks while recording new ones(layering). Some of the devices claim a zero latency monitoring. I guess they do this by having an adjustable delay on the playback loop for monitoring while recording the new tracks.

- Ability to mix and match tracks and previously recorded sound files, mix track levels during playback and keep a repeatable, variable mix level for each track throughout the playback.

- Ability to run tracks or sections of tracks through filters, adjust timing, pitch, etc.

- Ability to program a mix down to a stereo or better yet a Dolby 5.1 set of tracks for recording to disc or DVD format.


Any places I should go for advice, research, and/or equipment reviews? I was thinking it might take $300 or so each in hardware and software to get started.

Products similar to these p[erhaps?
Software - Pro Tools, CuBase, Cakewalk Sonar?
Hardware - Presonus Inspire, M-Audio Mobile 410?

Any insight would be appreciated.
Thanks,

[nostatic]

http://nostatic.com/technical/catBox.html

[nostatic]

I used to do a portable setup with a MOTU 896 converter, Presonus 8 channel preamp and rack mount external drive in a 4-space rack. That and my Powerbook running DigitalPerformerv3, then later Logic. Mics are the major expense/pita.

[930addict]

I use logic pro on the mac. Check it out at apple.com under pro software.

[930addict]

Nostatic that's an impressive home studio you've got there. Very cool.

[HardDrive]

I have recorded 2 EPs using Cool Edit. I like it for recording, but I don't like the mastering tools. They work, but everything sounds a bit flat.

I used Sound Forge (Sony) and Wavelab )Steinberg for additional 'noodling'. I could imagine Wavelab would be helpful for mixing down live music.

I have used Cubase SX, both as a sequencer and for recording, and always found it irritating. I spent more time screwing around trying to get the software to work than making music.

EDIT: I make techno music, so there is no 'recording'. Its all direct to disk. But I do record samples of instruments, found sounds, vocals, etc....

[Sonic dB]

Hello Rob.

I have a pretty good deal of experience in both home and studio recording. Nostatic's modular approach with the Presonus, Logic and Mac is a pretty good way to go. This is a standard type home/project studio, which is good because you want to learn and utilize software that is powerful and somewhat familar in the industry (Logic). The most important thing is that his setup all works together, probably pretty flawlessly, no driver issues, system hiccups etc.

Personally, Im not crazy about the MOTU converters, but really its not the converters in these systems that is at fault...its the system clock.

In a prior life, I was the National Sales Manager for Aardvark Digital Audio (a company no longer in business because their stuff didnt play well with others aka driver issues).... but one of the things Aardvark did famously well was Clocking.

I use something called the Aardvark AardSync II to clock my rack. The converters (A/D and D/A) use the Aardvark clock as a reference as to "when" to precisely take a sample... this is extremely important because the accuracy of the samples is what gives you the digital representation of the analog audio wave form, most accurately (speaking in laymans terms).

At Aardvark we had one of the most accurate clocks in the world, with some proprietary clocking technology that really made the converters work more efficiently and Sound Better.

Now, my reason for bringing this up is that if I were you, and were putting together any system...I would consider purchasing an external clock (such as Apogee Big Ben, Lucid Audio Clocks, Rosendahl Nanosync etc.) to clock the rack with... as this will help to make "pro-sumer" gear sound more pro. If you do go this direction though, which I personally recommend, you need gear that accepts Word Clock In or S/PDIF in that is clockable.

Looking at Nostatic's rig, Id guess that he is using the superior clock in the Apogee Rosetta to clock everything in the studio to. This provides solid word clock sync for the studio and probably makes his MOTU inteface sound better too. Nostatic also has some pretty sweet mics and mic preamps etc....all of which will make a huge difference when he crafts his sound.

Back to digital audio workstations... if I had to start a studio now (and I am considering tossing my PC stuff and going Mac) I would go Pro Tools. The reason for this is that Pro Tools has long been the industry standard software, and probably always will be. If you know Pro Tools, you can walk into virtually any top studio in the world and know how to throw up a mix or lay down a track (very important if you ever want to do this for more than just fun).

Pro Tools has a selection of lower cost pro-sumer gear such as the M-Box 2
http://www.sweetwater.com/shop/pro-tools/
which works with their Pro Tools LE software.

If you are going on PC, you could consider using M-Audio gear a company which has been around for years and is known to have solid working drivers and a wide array of products. Give the guys at Sweetwater a call...they know digital recording very well and can recommend a good system to fit your budget.

If $600 is your budget, then I think you can get a decent system but not nearly as good as if you spent a grand.

As for software, in general Cubase is very good but has a steeper learning curve...I like Sonar as it has good capabilities especially on the PC, but its considered pro-sumer in the industry (if that type of label means anything to you or doesnt matter).

There is NO such thing as zero-latency (however it is compensated well with the better interfaces and software). Physically its impossible. Even me playing a guitar through a cable to my amp has latency. Every computer recording interface has both internal latency (very very small and not noticable)...and latency that builds as the tracks are recorded and played in the computer. The most powerful DAWS compensate for latency with a combination of software delays and DSP chips. You wouldnt notice it untill you were playing back 12 tracks with some signal processing and effects on a PC with limited power and RAM.

for more info, check out some of the forums on the web such as www.homerecording.com or www.audioforums.com
another good retailer in addition to sweetwater is www.audiomidi.com (they know their stuff pretty well there)

[IROC]

Rob,

Believe it or not, I have been able to do alot of what you're looking for with GarageBand (part of Apple's iLife suite). Very cheap (and easy) way to get into this. I've recorded vocals, acoustic guitar, electric guitar, layed tracks, etc. You're probably looking for something more professional, though.

Mike

[dhoward]

Ampex MM1200
Either go hunt or stay on the porch.

[mr. dude]

Check some of these out. I personally like propellerheads Reason, quite complicating to learn though. I've been playing around with N-track a little.

http://www.synthzone.com/digaudio.htm


http://www.hitsquad.com/smm/win95/MULTITRACK_RECORDING/

[Sonic dB]

Ampex MM1200

Yeah man! Nothing sounds better than good old analog.
Hit that tape at +5db, get some saturation on the snare and bass groove.

To the original poster: I think a simple firewire interface such as this would be excellent. Usually they bundle these devices with some starter software. If they dont, write back and i will send you some free stuff.

http://www.audiomidi.com/8Pre-Firewire-Audio-Interface-P8575.aspx#

[dhoward]

Mmmm...... The smell of hexaclorobenzine...