CaliGal
Music Industry Veteran
I’ll try to make this as short as possible - but some background is needed first. I started out in electronic music/recording before the dawn of personal computers/MIDI and learned it all, along the way up through about Digital Performer V5. Life got in the way and I haven’t been involved in it for the last 20 years, but am putting together a small home setup now.
I plan to get an interface and DAW software for a Mac desktop with Thunderbolt and USB 3.0 so am looking for advice based on the following -
1. Will likely be recording just 1 stereo instrument or 1 stereo mic at a time - (possibly two) but a nice, quiet warm sounding front end is a good place to start…
2. I have upgradability for MOTU’s Digital Performer to the current rev for $150... I have to at least consider it...
3. I currently have an Alesis IO2 interface new in the box (with Cubase LE) but haven’t opened it yet because I suspect it’s poor quality/crippled.
4. I’d like the setup and use, to be very simple if there is such a thing.
5. Big bonus - bundled VIRTUAL INSTRUMENTS* - to supplement my limited MIDI gear (yes I know the really good ones cost $$)
6. Budget - yes, not spending $1000s at this time. $300-400ish for the DAW and interface would be tops
7. DAW should have quality mixing/outboard software FX bundled as well (wide plug in compatibility)
8. MIDI sequencing - MIDI I/O - still important even though nothing overly fancy is required
9. While the Mac does have Thunderbolt - no sense in paying Thunderbolt interface prices if USB 3.0 can handle it - right?
While there are some interfaces bundled with DAW software - what’s the highest audio quality, plug & play budget OS X solution in 2015? (bundled or bought separately)
Thanks for input in advance!
I plan to get an interface and DAW software for a Mac desktop with Thunderbolt and USB 3.0 so am looking for advice based on the following -
1. Will likely be recording just 1 stereo instrument or 1 stereo mic at a time - (possibly two) but a nice, quiet warm sounding front end is a good place to start…
2. I have upgradability for MOTU’s Digital Performer to the current rev for $150... I have to at least consider it...
3. I currently have an Alesis IO2 interface new in the box (with Cubase LE) but haven’t opened it yet because I suspect it’s poor quality/crippled.
4. I’d like the setup and use, to be very simple if there is such a thing.
5. Big bonus - bundled VIRTUAL INSTRUMENTS* - to supplement my limited MIDI gear (yes I know the really good ones cost $$)
6. Budget - yes, not spending $1000s at this time. $300-400ish for the DAW and interface would be tops
7. DAW should have quality mixing/outboard software FX bundled as well (wide plug in compatibility)
8. MIDI sequencing - MIDI I/O - still important even though nothing overly fancy is required
9. While the Mac does have Thunderbolt - no sense in paying Thunderbolt interface prices if USB 3.0 can handle it - right?
While there are some interfaces bundled with DAW software - what’s the highest audio quality, plug & play budget OS X solution in 2015? (bundled or bought separately)
Thanks for input in advance!