MacBook Recording Studio - Please help

[sheslit]

Hey everyone, hows it going?
I just discovered this site, and this is my first post.

I bought a macbook back in July and I want to start recording on it.
2.4 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo - 2GB 667 MHz DDR2 SDRAM

I sold my PC for school money, so now i need to set up my studio on my mac.. i love pc and mac, so please, lets be civil lol

i have a 12 ch. mixer, mackie big knob, m-audio mons, pre amp, blue mic

now I need to get an external sound card for my set up.. i was thinking of getting the apogee duet (any comments on that?)

I am running parallels on os x and I have Audition running on xp already. I've been usuing audition for a few years now and I cant get enough of it!! can i record tracks onto this without drastic latency??? also, my sis bought me logic pro, but im not too sure about it yet :S i'd prefer learning how to use slowly on my own time then to be forced into right now..

also, i've been hearing its best to record on an external hd... but my external sound card (duet) will be taking up my firewire port.. is usb 2.0 a suitable solution????

how does recording on an external hd even work? can someone break it down for me and let me know how to set it up using audition??

Thanks a lot!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[fuzzrhythm]

You can daisy-chain the Duet through a FireWire external HD. However, you wouldn't be able to use the Duet with Windows. You'd probably want to look at something that can be used with both Windows and Mac OS like Motu, Echo, RME...

Logic is a great program, but you could still use Audition with Bootcamp. I'd advise against using Parallels at all while recording.

 

[sheslit]

thanks!
in that case, i'm strictly going to record in logic.

can you recommend any external HD that would do the trick?? I've heard of "MyBook" from western digital.. is that something i would be able to connect duet to also???.. how would i set it up so all my recording files go straight to the hd??? i dont think i understand the idea of the external hd for recording


thanks once again!!!!

 

[gecko zzed]

can i record tracks onto this without drastic latency??? also, my sis bought me logic pro, but im not too sure about it yet :S i'd prefer learning how to use slowly on my own time then to be forced into right now..

also, i've been hearing its best to record on an external hd... but my external sound card (duet) will be taking up my firewire port.. is usb 2.0 a suitable solution????

how does recording on an external hd even work? can someone break it down for me and let me know how to set it up using audition??

1 If you get a soundcard designed for recording work you should not encounter latency problems.

2 Logic Pro is a great program, but very complicated. However, the complications needn't get in the way of you being able to record halfway decently straight off. Learning the greater detail can come later.

3 I've recorded successfully to a USB external hard drive using Logic. It's presented no problems. There are benefits in using an external drive to record to: your files are safe if you have a main drive crash, and the separation of system and program files from data files has system advantages. An alternative is a second internal drive if you can manage that.

4 Recording to an external drive needs no special set up arrnagements other than specifying in the program you are using where you want the saved files to go.

Best of luck!

 

[danwarden]

the difference between firewire 400 and USB 2.0 is very minimal. You should not have any issues using a USB 2.0 external hard drive.

 

[tojo]

I'd stick with firewire for the external drive, or better yet, a drive that has both firewire and usb 2.0. you can "daisy chain" it too, so that you hook up your external and if it has 2 firewire points then you can hook something up like the duet.

However, you wouldn't be able to use the Duet with Windows.

are you sure? Is it only for mac?

Oh and logic is amazing, use it over audition for sure.

 

[fuzzrhythm]

are you sure? Is it only for mac?

Yep, the Apogee Duet and Ensemble are Mac only.

 

[RD423]

Parrallels isn't the best program to use if you want to do that, because it cuts your system specs down to a minimum while running it. Your best bet would be to use boot camp. I have a macbook 1.83 core duo 2gb ram, and in parrallels even when I move the slider for the ram all the way up it still only reads it at 192mb ram.

 

[tojo]

wow, apogee is only for mac?! Even though I have a macbook that would prevent me from using it, as I may end up using the interface on a pc... I guess I'll head for motu stuff.

 

[Elton Bear]

Parallels doesn't support ASIO, so it's a bit crap for recording.

I use a macbook, Presonus Firebox (Firewire), and some monitors.

I don't really see the advantage of running Parallels/Bootcamp when OSX can run plenty of DAW programs much more reliably than XP. Logic is fine, although I've had problems once you've run up a few audio tracks with freezing and recording glitches. Something like Reaper can be fantastic if you want cheaper software (you are asked to pay, but it still works if you don't).

I mix in Logic because the plugins are great, but if you've got a decent desk you could just do it all oldschool.

 

[tojo]

how's the firebox working for you? Eventually it will be between that or spending $200 more and getting the motu 8pre or the motu ultralite.

what do are the extra outs on the firebox for? Sorry to take over the thread a little bit...

 

[sheslit]

^ good question




i want to thank everyone for helping out!

as for logic, i started to get the hang of it.. in some ways, all recording programs are the same.. but i'm still kind of mad at adobe for not porting audition over to the mac...

 

[tojo]

you should be able to get used to logic pretty fast. It's a great recording program, and I think it's got more advanced features that not many other programs have (+ like 3 other programs too!)

 

[sheslit]

im thinking of recording in logic for now.. then opening up parallels > audition and doing the mixdown and edit in there..
well until i get a better feel for logic.. i love how the "wavs" bundle integrates itself into audition.. its just so easy

but its going to be such a time consumer.. ex. if i dont like the take after i start mixing.. im going to have to shut down audition > parallels.. re open the logic session lol

 

[sheslit]

I just got the duet and im so upset!!!

i cant hook my equipment up to it lol... its more like a small studio on the go then anything.. cool.. very.. but not what i need i guess..

can someone please direct me to the right product


i need 2 left (1/4) inputs and 2 right (1/4) outputs.. thats all.. and it must be external (preferably through firewire... and for the mac)

anyone??

 

[sheslit]

uppinngggg? anyoneee??

 

[sheslit]

uppiinggg again.. please help?

 

[tojo]

why doesn't the duet work for you?

sell it?

to me? haha

 

[ad_weiss]

If you are still looking for something else I would suggest either an M-Audio or Motu unit. There are plenty in the same price range as the Duet, but will provide many more inputs. Both M-Audio and Motu work with any program and are Mac friendly as well.

 

[MessianicDreams]

i need 2 left (1/4) inputs and 2 right (1/4) outputs.. thats all.. and it must be external (preferably through firewire... and for the mac)
?

Have a look at M-Audio products. Find something with line inputs.