Posted: 5/27/2010 7:59:16 AM EDT
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So any opinions on recording software?
At present I am using a Presonus Firepod interface and Cubase LE 1.10 software. Yeah, I know the software is ancient and unsupported. But frankly, as simple and old as it is, I don't use half of the features. I'm pretty old school on recording –– live drums and guitars, bass thru a DI, and I don't really use MIDI, grooves or beats. I tried Cubase LE4 and hated it. I was thinking of upgrading computers and then thought about the software issue and whether to upgrade or not.. The main limitation to Cubase LE is only two plug-ins per track. In some ways that's good in that it makes you 'get your sound' from the room, speaker, mics, etc., and NOT eat up a lot of processor speed with FX and such. But on occasion it would be nice to be able to throw a few extra things on a track. I've been looking at the Presonus Studio One, mainly because I've always had good luck with their support and products. Opinions welcome. |
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I can't seem to get the guys in my little cover band to want to write anything original, so I'm going the cheap route at home, using Audacity, and a Digitech GNX1 with onboard rhythm (see - drum machine), it;s somewhat versatile, and it gets the job done. I have retired neighbours with bionic hearing on both sides of my house, so setting up my Ludwig kit in the house does me no good.
With everything I play/write with guitar and bass (as well as drum patterns), I have to wear headphones. 
ETA - Forgot to mention, I am about to get either a Lexicon Alpha or m-audio Fast Track, and play around with the affilitate software (Cubase ships with the Lexicon, ProTools ships with the Fast Track, I'd be interested in hearing opinions on home recording also). |
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Presonus Studio One is awesome...
I use the Firestudio Project with a ART DPSII preamp into the spdif for a total of 10 tracks at once.. I bought the Presonus Studio One Artist software after trying the free demo. It was 99 bucks as I had purchased the Firestudio Project in the time window that allowed me to get the software at a discount. I could have bought another Presonus product and got the software with it, but I was tight for money.. Considering doing the upgrade to pro here soon after I sell a couple off vintage amps off.. 
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| Right now I have Pro Tools 7.4, Acid 6, and Cool Edit 2.0 installed on my computer. Personally I tend to use Acid more because it is easier for me to use, I am the same way in that I dont really ever use the midi or grooves, I just play, record and mix. Pro Tools is a really powerful program but I dont actually know how to use half of the features in it, I have been trying to get into it more because I know in the long run it will produce better results but there is just so much to it. I have been giving some thought to seeing if one of the local colleges offer some sort of class on it or maybe finding a "Pro Tools for Dummies" book. I had Cubase Studio 4 on my comp. for a little while but I didnt really get into it so I removed it, but there were quite a few cool features in that program as well. |
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I suppose my worry on new software is that it will just be a huge set of new stuff that I'll never learn to use and that it will eat up hardrive space and processor speed with no apparent benefit to my final product.
I'm also into freeware FX plug-ins and have found these very useful. GSNAP - Pitch correction software for vocs GREV - Reverse reverb/delay, sometimes nice for snare. T-SLEDGE - multi-band compression for mastering. Has some nice master presets. VOXENGO amp simulator - don't know if I'd use it as a stand alone, but if you DI your bass, putting in a little dirt REALLY livens it up. Might work for vocs too, but I use the Cubase Tube Amp plug-in for vocals |
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I've used Acid, old Cakewalk, Sonar, and a couple others in the past, but nothing recently. My father's a die-hard Avid/Pro Tools user, but that's because he does TV & Film production. I have Cubase LE but just haven't been able to really get into it. I just downloaded Reaper and will give that a shot. It has good reviews and a pretty small footprint. No MIDI score editor, but you can get a freeware program to take care of that. Reaper has an un-crippled trial version, which is something many programs don't have. After that, the license is only $60.
In my past life, I was a radio guy. Learned to make my edits with a razor blade on 1/4 tape, then eventually got working with analog multi-tracking. 10 years ago, I used a Roland VS880 for audio and synced with MIDI on my computer via Cakewalk. Got a Boss BR-1200 yesterday, and will probably do the same. You can record audio and get the old-fart/luddite comfort of faders and transport controls right in front of you. After laying down tracks, you can import them via USB to your software of choice to edit the waves and work mastering magic. |
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Quoted:
This thing rocks with Studio One software for a control surface: http://i44.photobucket.com/albums/f11/KingmanBlues/Steel%20Guitar%20Forum/faderport.jpg Nice. Motorized fader & all. Have you looked at the Alphatrack? Similar idea, but also adds a touch pad at the bottom for scrub/jog purposes. |
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The Faderport was promotional deal. Buy the Firestudio Project and get the Faderport free. The transport buttons at the bottom do have jog/scrub function(s).
Perfectly integrates with the software for read/write automation features. Great control surface, I really like it. Didn't really consider any other controllers, as I can always use my 02r for one by syncing up with the software. The Faderport is just waaaay handier.
ETA Presonus Studio One comes with some great MIDI and real Drum Patterns, Ampire, Guitarrig. Lotsa good add on stuff. Anything you already have plug in wise, it is just a matter of drag and drop into Studio One. Good info at the forums Here Free Demo Here . |
