The 3 E's(Easily,Economically and Effectively)

[TAE]

Hello, I am a relative "newbie" to this PC recording deal and must say the choices available and vast aray of options and opinions can make a person who comes from a time when an 8 track recorder and a effects module could get you a decent demo say Yeooouch! my brain hurts! It would seem that it shouldn't have to be Rocket science to lay down a few tracks of music on a PC. The possibilities seem incredible. What I'd like to see Hardware wise is a module that you plug into your PC that has an A/D converter with 1/4" and ballanced inputs for analog things like Mic's and Guitars. Midi inputs for keyboards and then analog,digital and midi outs for whatever medium you want to record your music on. Software wise I'd like to see a program that would allow you to record ,edit and or erase say at least 64 tracks of digital audio onto your Hard Disc or a CD-RW simultaneously. That said
is there Hardware or Software out there now that has these capabilities without costing a
small fortune or requiring a degree in computer science?

[drstawl]

Sounds like the Aark 20/20+ will fit your requirements, except for that simultaneous file manipulation vis-a-vis the HD and the CDRW. You create a file on the HD and then write it to the CDRW. Even if this could be arranged software-wise, it would detract from your digital audio capability to do so. Unless you had sufficient RAM space to create a buffer. Which, I suspect, is why this isn't a common capability in audio programs. CDRWs are just way slower than HDs. I've always lobbied for RAM exclusive editing
capabilities from digital multitrackers, but have been told that there is no market for this ability. Just give it a few years....

[This message has been edited by drstawl (edited 10-03-1999).]

[Fishmed]

The Event Layla is perfect for your hard ware. It allows 8 balanced 1/4" inputs and 10 balanced 1/4" outputs. I also has 2 digital I/O. For MIDI, it has In/Out/Thru ports. You will have to pick one of these up used for now since Event is no longer selling them, but I have heard that Echo will pick up the distribution that Event was doing for them. I guess we shall see.

[SN]

What exactly are those 10 1/4" outputs for? Once on the computer should it not stay on the computer till final stereo mixdown?

Do any of you actually use all of those outputs simultaneously?

[reco]

The outs are for monitoring plug them into a monitor amp or head phone amp... and the reason is so you have alot of options.

[crazy horse]

I am the low-fi kid, the anti-tech, and general practitioner of voodoo logic. Among other things, I record my 100 watt Johnson Millenium (guitar ?) amp from speaker out DIRECTLY into my Dell's line in. I am not going to pretend that this is at all safe but it is possible. No matter what my source is, I always start with 0db input and gradually increase the level while watching real time audio meters via Cakewalk. Should you do this? No, especially not if you've got the dough for real equipment!

[rjbriggs]

All of the above are good options but I have found that the Roland UA-100 works well for me. It is an external box with Guitar and Mic 1/4" inputs, Rear Input/Output, Optical Output and DSP effects to boot. The box connects to your computer by USB avoiding computer "noise". I use this with Cakewalk PA 8 and it is phenomenal! You can find info on it at www.edirol.com.

RJB

[drstawl]

Doesn't the UA-100 handle 2 ports of MIDI data through the same USB connection?

[rj]

With 8 ins you may as well have an out for each in, plus a stereo pair for monitoring.
Once in the computer, YES!, stay in the computer (as far as I am concerned) But with 2 of these Layla's and a 16 channel mixer, some people would like to mix on the real versus computer console. Its kinda like the way my dad wont learn to use the VCR.. old dogs.I heard a guy at guitar center condecendingly say "I dont mix with a mouse".
Well with My Cubase VST 24 and automated mixing, He had better have 15 hands if he wants the options that I have.