computer recording or stand alone recording devices

[madisonx7x]

i am interested in getting into the world of recording, i am just not sure which ave to take..should it be a computer based or stand alone..such as the roland 2480..any suggestions?

[crosstudio]

if you can envision a scenario wherein you would want to take your recording equipment outside of your 'studio' then get standalone gear, or get USB2.0 or firewire capable gear that you can connect to a laptop.

if your studio will definitely be an in-house studio, then computer recording is fine.

[Devilfire]

Standalone/External Gear:
1)PRO'S
*Better Sound Quality
(studio modules and hi end keyboards sound better that sythn plug ins)

*Hand-On Experience
(using external gear gives you experiance on how gear works and can open doors for creativity)

*Hands-on Control
(you control all effects and parameters from you hands instead of a mouse which always give better results (ex:mixing)

2)CON'S
*It Can Be VERY Expensive
16-24 Channel Console-500-700$....Stereo Compressor X2 200-600$.....Studio Monitors-500-1000$....Multitrack Recorder-600-20000$....Effect Devices-100-600$.....Dynamics-100-900$
and the list goes on.............

Computer / Internal Gear:
1)PRO'S
*Flexable Audio Prodution
(when using a computer audio files are at your mercy ...with the right software you can do anything!!!!!!!!)

*Very Cheap
PC/Mac-1000-3000$
Monitors-500-1000$
Software-1000-2000$
Audio Card/Interface-200-1000$

*Expandable Music Prodution
(programs like reason or acid give you untouchable power when it come to music production for a fraction off of external gear)

2)CON's
*Computer Based
(computer systems crash and data can be lost)

*Mouse Happy!
(mixing your music with a mouse can be fucked up...some like it ...most dont !)

[victors]

If it's at all possible you should take a hands on spin with both.

You live in LA? Go to a recording studio that charges $40/50 an hour and spend two hours there talking with the engineer about the gear/rack they use.

Then have a buddy show you a fully loaded DAW setup (if you don't have friends with DAWs then worst case scenario here is to do this on the floor of Guitar Center).

You'll have you're own pros/cons list after that.

[victors]

Originally posted by Devilfire
(mixing your music with a mouse can be fucked up...some like it ...most dont !)

Actually, most people I know doing this have hardware MIDI controllers for mixing and FX nowadays -- real plastic faders and knobs and everything.

[SPINSTERWUN]

Originally posted by victors
Actually, most people I know doing this have hardware MIDI controllers for mixing and FX nowadays -- real plastic faders and knobs and everything.

I was going to make the same comment.

spin

[Devilfire]

downside -MIDI controllers like that are really expensive !!

[illacov]

What kind of controll are you seeking?

If you want sliders and knobs..then yes sometimes they can be expensive...but if you want to do stuff like input drums with pads all you need is a drum machine with a midi output..

you can cop drum machines with velocity sensitive pads for under 150 dollars new and around 50 to 100 dollars new.

If you have a program like cubase then you dont even need to use the drum machines sounds. You could use the vsti drums...and if you get the rm2 plug in or something like that you can load in your own kits which saves you DUMB money.

As for vstis not sounding good.

Have you used anything like Edirol Orchestra before??

Or Native Instruments B4?

WAAAY Cheaper than the hardware counterpart and a hell of alot more easier to use.

And since you can find retarded amounts of vstis on the web for FREE...how you possibly be complaining about not having a triton.

I have a 32 instrument library right now...coupled with my JV1010..i just started using my vstis and im ready to sell my jv1010...why? cuz my sound library on the computer is by far way more intricate and intensive and just sounds dare i say BETTER than my jv1010 and the 1010 is a very luscious sounding module but the vstis sound as good or better and 90 percent of the ones i have are FREE!!

Plus the plug in effects that you can run on the vstis more than make up for the fact that they may or may not sound as good as high end keyboards but lets compare notes really quick

High end keyboard

Korg Triton 1200 dollars USD to start with 61 keys

20 Vstis with about 1000 different presets each...Yamaha keyboard with basic midi output and touch sensitive keys...$60.
Plus Midi interface M Audio Midisport 2x2 49 to 60 dollars. Worst case scenario 129 dollars before taxes...And you have an entire arsenal of sounds to play with
Plus i got a soundfont vsti in my computer now...so im about to get MORE sounds from the soundfont world..


FOR FREE!!

You do the math...I used to have a DAW...i fuckin laugh now that i think about it...yes its more portable...but for the trouble it would take me to grab my mic and stand and haul my computer in my car to an artists house...i believe its worth the savings.

But most people would rather come to me since i dont charge for studio time you just gotta be on the label.

Oh yeah my sound card is a M Audio Revolution it costs 100 bucks and it can be bough at Comp USA 107 db SNR! it kicks the Audigys ass in my opinion.

But theres my 50 cents peace

Illa