Software?

[cellardweller]

Pro tools? Cake walk? Unknown?

For some reason, I can't get Win media (or any other media player) player to recognize the midi file from cakewalk, and pro tools requires more ram than I have!
I was teetering on the verge of buying a new cd-rw when I noticed the aforementioned. Now I am wondering if it would be more cost effective in the long run just to buy a "modern" PC.
I've been searching tiger direct and dells refurbished page all day!

Finally, is there any logical reason why running the mr8 into the RCA inputs of a tape deck would produce a "crackling" sound????
Is it digital distortion of some kind, and if so, is there some "buffer" which could be placed between the two?

[gospel]

Originally posted by cellardweller
Pro tools? Cake walk? Unknown?

For some reason, I can't get Win media (or any other media player) player to recognize the midi file from cakewalk, and pro tools requires more ram than I have!
I was teetering on the verge of buying a new cd-rw when I noticed the aforementioned. Now I am wondering if it would be more cost effective in the long run just to buy a "modern" PC.
I've been searching tiger direct and dells refurbished page all day!

Finally, is there any logical reason why running the mr8 into the RCA inputs of a tape deck would produce a "crackling" sound????
Is it digital distortion of some kind, and if so, is there some "buffer" which could be placed between the two?

I can't answer the first part. About the "modern" pc, it's according to what you have? Tell us what you have. I have a refurb dell and love it.
As for the crackling sound, does it sound like a connection sound caused by a bad hookup and/or is it showing up on the recording?
Note: everything I have done in the past with CD to cassette or anything to cassette is you have to make sure the recording level is right or you will get distortion. Lot's of times I've had to turn the recording level on my cassette deck way down to not distort when going live to cassette or CD to cassette.

[dave in toledo]

make sure you are using the output jacks and not the headphone jacks, the preamps are differentand the headphones can sound that way.

[cellardweller]

I strongly suspect it is a connection. It is a borrowed dual cassette deck, and the owner swears there is nothing wrong with it RCA connections. I have tried turning the levels down to where they never come close to the red l.e.d., and it still appears sporadically.

I just bought a refurb. Dell last night! My old comp. is a HP Pavillion 433 Mhz, with 64MB of RAM!!! Talk about antiquated!

So how about the software question? Does anyone use the free version of Pro tools? Does anyone use Cakewalk, and if so, have you had problem with playing midi files under any other media player?

Thanx, this is by far, the most helpful message board I've ever found!

[gospel]

You did good by upgrading computers. 64mbRAM just wouldn't cut it with any of the multi-tracking software. Most of us on here use n-track www.fasoft.com . It is cheap and easy to use.

[morindae]

Why don't you download the demo version of N-track and see if it works for you. It imports midi files very easily and can be synced up with the MR8 so that you can record the midi files as wave files into the 'wee red box', and then transfer them back into the computer for editing and mixing. It has some limitations as a straight mid recorder, but as far as audio is concerned, it is excellent.

[Axe4Yahweh]

I tried Pro Tools Free and it was OK but messed up the other two Recording Programs that I have on my Computer. It's like it took over all the audio funtions. LOL The ones that I use are Fasoft n-Track Studio (just upadated to the latest version last night) and PG Music Power Tracks Pro Audio 8. n-Track works well with all the free DX Plugs that comes with PT 8 except PG Reverb and n-Tracks has it's own free Reverb.

Pro Tools Free would prolly be OK if it's the only Recording Program that you have on your computer.

CR ><>

[cellardweller]

So, for you, was it just that you were more familiar with the other two programs you already had (n-tracks and the other you mentioned) , or were they just more user friendly? Are the two interchangable for you, or does one serve one function and the next another? In you opinion, would it be worth even messing with protools?

I've agreed to relenquish this computer to my wife, and so am somewhat reluctant to download anything at this point until mine arrives. Is the use of N-tracks similar to that of Cakewalk?

[gospel]

cellar,
Before 6 months ago I had never used any multi-track software. Pro Tools free will not work with XP so I've never tried it. N-track was very easy for me to learn to use. I never looked at the manual. When I would get to something I didn't understand there would be a help button close by that explained what I didn't understand. Just take our word for it and get n-track. Don't worry about paying extra for the plugins. There are plenty of free ones on the net. One such is anwida reverb light. I can't believe they give this thing away. I've used over 20 different free and demo reverb plugins and this is by far the best.