Protools

[cellardweller]

Who here uses protools on their PC with the MR-8 (or with any other digital .wav thingy)?

Have you used other software?

Which do you prefer?

Why?

[Chris Shaeffer]

I have pro tools and I love it, but if you're just going to use it to fly mr-8 tracking into the computer, you can do it a lot more efficiently with other options.

The one excpetion being the Mbox. Mbox is about as cheap as it gets, concidering you get both the prosumer audio interface and the multitracking software.

The major downfall of Mbox is that there are few upgrade options and no way to add more I/O to the system. You're stuck with 2 inputs and 2 outputs.

If that's all you want to do with it, mbox is a good option. I'd still lean towards a different soundcard and different program, though, because I'll bet you'll want more than 2 I/O sooner or later.

Cheapest program is n-track and does the trick just fine. Even though its the cheapest, its no slouch! Its an amazing value. I can't help with the soundcard, though: I have a laptop and haven't looked into soundcards for a while.

Anwho, to answer your question: I've used n-track, cubasis, cubase VST, Cubase SX, and Pro Tools. I prefer pro tools, but have no illusions that its better than the others- I just like it.

Take care,
Chris

[cellardweller]

Is there any problem with burning CD's from N-tracks? Is it fairly simple to amass songs and then export them to some other application such as roxio or something and then onto CD?

I am in the process of buying a new computer with a CD-RW, but have never worked with one before?

Thank you much for your assistance!

[Chris Shaeffer]

No, no problems burning to CD from any of the programs availible, and its fairly easy to import tracks from other devices.

Here's how it would look in n-track.

1) Make sure that each time you press play on the mr-8 it starts at EXACTLY the same place.

2) If you only have 2 outputs on it, assign 2 tracks to those 2 outputs (both mono, panned hard right and left, maybe).

3) Take those 2 outs to 2 inputs on your sound card

4) Enable recording in n-track

5) Press record in n-track and play on the mr-8.

6) When the song plays through, rewind and start over with 2 more tracks.

7) When you have the tracks all recorded, you will probably have to shift them around until they are all in sync.

8) Mix to taste in n-track.

9) Create a stereo .wav mix from the n-track mix (which is easy to do with the software)

10) Use Roxio to create and "Audio CD" and burn those stereo .wav's to CD.

A little whacky the first few times through, then it gets really easy.

Take care,
Chris

[Chris Shaeffer]

I should also add that I don't know anything about the mr-8 so there may be different or easier ways to do this with that device.

-Chris

[cellardweller]

I don't have a soundcard with inputs, so will the USB be a hindrance in any way you could forsee?

What's a good (good being relative) soundcard on the thrifty end of the market? Or is it another instance of buy cheap, buy twice?