Advice needed on software and interface choice

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theFrost

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Hi folks, first post on this site.

Im here as im ready to buy some recording software and a audio interface. Im after some some good advice so i dont go and buy something to expensive that i dont really need or wouldnt use ot to its full potential. I want to use it for the basic recording, editing, mixing, mastering and exporting.
At the moment im using a laptop with Windows Vista.

First of all, ill be recording band stuff, mic'd up amps, kits and vocals just in a bedroom, recording them one at a time. Wont be using midi so much. By doing some research iv seen the bottom of the line is the ProTools essentials for around £50. Includes basic software and a basic interface, im sure your aware of the product. What am i to expect from this, not much?

The saffire 6 USB audio interface looks like a decent bit of kit, probably at the top of my price range at £150 with lots of other equipment to buy. What softward would work best with this?

Cheers guys, theFrost
 
if your recording Drums you absolutely cannot beat the bang for your buck factor of the Tascam US-1800. Not sure if that's available across the pond. You won't find a better deal for that I/O. One thing new guys often overlook on an interface is the importance of SPDIF in and out. If you want to use a better AD/DA converter or any other gear later on you absolutely need that.
 
If you read all the posts here that ask the same question, you will see Reaper gets a big nod at US$60, hard to go wrong. If you are recording drums, you will want an interface that can do at least 4 separate tracks at 1 time - maybe more, what have you been thinking will be the maximum number of tracks you will want to do at 1 time?
 
theFrost,

For the software, adding my vote for Reaper. For the interface, the Tascam US-600 has 4 mic preamps/XLR inputs, which would give you about the minimum you'd want for drums. It's about 78 pounds ($125) which seems to fit your budget.

Hope that helps.

Ken
 
Thanks for the replies, its more guitar, bass and vocals and not much drums at all. The Reaper, i havnt heard of it but ill give it a go. You guys suggest a better interface i could do with for a all round usage, or is the tascam the one.

Cheers
 
The amount of flexibility, and quality, can't be beat for the price of the 1800. Trust me, eventually you will wish you had purchased it.
 
In bang for the buck terms, you're going to have trouble beating the Tascam US 1800. Yeah, there are better available but at many times the present Tascam price.

Is it "not much drums" or "no drums". If you ever want to record them at all, you may as well invest in gear that can handle the required number of mics rather than buy a smaller interface then regret it soon. I "mainly" record things one at a time but would be seriously sorry if I didn't have the ability to up the channel count now and then.

As for the DAW, let me +1 Reaper. The stripped down version of Protools (or any other DAW for that matter) is just a lure to persuade you to spend the big bucks on the full versions. With Reaper, you're getting the full version for the same money.
 
i just bought a us 1800 last week the thing is awesome very low noise good pre amps lots of inputs and its cheap. i also use reaper and it works flawlessly with it on a core I3 laptop with 6 gigs of ram pretty much zero latency.
 
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