Logic or ProTools - Help Needed

[BRAND X®]

Hi All,
Thanks in advance for any help you might be able to offer.

I am getting ready to create a library of video/audio clips, primarily for uploading to YouTube, that are guitar, effect pedal and amplifier demo' clips.

Without really doing any research I ordered an Mbox 2 Mini with ProTools LE 8 included thinking this would be a quick, affordable and effective way to get started while I research and learn what gear is actually best for my purposes. I have a new website about to launch within 45 days and needed to get started putting this library together as quickly as possible while maintaining reasonable quality.

I'm wondering though if Logic wouldn't be a better choice for my purposes.

I am Mac only, very comfortable with Apple's typical UI and could use the loops offered in Logic to show off what the items I'll be demo'ing sound like in a mix setting.

Is it clear that one of these programs might be better than the other for my purposes based on the info I've provided?

Also, I'll be using two mic's which I already own: an SM57 for close mic'ing of the speaker and a FatHead 2 ribbon for ambient capture. If I go Logic, what would be a good 2 input preamp on a relatively low budget ($600.00 or less) to interface with that software?

In case it matters I should perhaps also mention that I'll be recording the video part of the demo's with a Canon HD Camcorder, importing the video to Apple's Final Cut Express and then syncing the audio and video.

While YouTube uploads will be the primary purpose and my starting point I'd also like to eventually put together an audio demo CD of various products for my clients so eventually CD quality will be necessary.

Thanks again!

[Smogger]

Personally, I like ProTools, but I admittedly have little experience with Logic, so it could be the better choice, I don't know. If the only reason for logic is the loops, can't you use loops from Garage Band?

As for the interface, (if going with Logic), a great choice would be the Apogee Duet, if you have firewire on your Mac.
Apogee is famous for really high quality converters.

It shouldn't be hard to maintain CD quality throughout the process. 16Bit, 44.1KHz is the typical recording quality

[MessianicDreams]

Originally Posted by Smogger

It shouldn't be hard to maintain CD quality throughout the process. 16Bit, 44.1KHz is the typical recording quality

There is fundamentally very little between the two programs for what you want to do - you already own PT, so I'd stick with that. However, you're talking about Apple loops and I don't know much about that - could you use those it PT or can they only be accessed thru Logic?

You should record everything at 48khz if you're going to lay it back to video at some point. Either that or you'll need to up-sample to 48khz..

[gecko zzed]

Either PT or Logic should serve your needs. Both are reputable programs that work well.

The choice you make depends on which suits your way of thinking about things best.

As for recording everything at 48khz . . . there's no harm in doing this, but it's mostly not necessary. Most contemporary video programs are designed to cope with a variety of sources and different sample rates. You should not have trouble synchronising video with audio, and your rendering of the final version will resample to the usual 48khz sample rate.

[BRAND X®]

Thanks for the answers so far guys. Greatly appreciated.


One of my main reasons for thinking I should stick with ProTools besides the fact that I already own it is that I have two local friends who know the program and are a phone call away of I get in to trouble.

Still, an Apple UI appeals to me.

I need to go to the Apple store and see a demo of it perhaps.

As far as the Apogee, is it really a decent interface that serves as a mic' preamp? It's lack of XLR inputs concerns me. I guess you use an XLR to 1/4" adapter for your mic's? Seems like form over function.