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,