computer vs analog mixers??

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djabc

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I have yet to purchase a mixer because i can't decide whether to purchase a computer based one, or the real thing. First off budget i have about $300-$400 to spend. I need something relitivly cheap. I was leaning more towards something like cakewalk because you can just export your songs into mp3's or cd's, I don't know how hard it is to do that with analog, i just figured it would be more difficult. This will be used in my home recording studio, my comp is a pentium 3 with 550 mghz. Also for computer programs how would you master a song????? built in, or would i have to do it some other way? any feedback would be greatly appreciated
 
Well, you can't really pitch a computer vs a mixer, they do different things. For example, you cant use an external mixer to mix the things you have recorded to your harddisk unless you have LOADS of outputs...

So what you want to do is to decide if you want to use your PC for recording, or you want dedicated equipment.
Which one to use has been diskussed here before, and it's a matter of taste really. I like external stuff, but it costs more to get started.

No, it's not really harder to make MP3's out of analog recordings.
 
i'm most likely going to get a pc program. But now i haev to decide on which, cakewalk pro or cubase?? I know cubase is more professional, but i don't have that professional type of money. So for now cakewalk pro audio will do me just fine. thanks for the help
 
In my opinion, Cubase sucks h*g* d*ck.
Using it was a struggle. The program always did things the complete opposite way of what I wanted it to. Avoid att all cost! It might be more professional than cakewalk, but if you wanna go pro, it seems that ProTools and Logic is what the biggest names use. (Don't know for sure, I'm a hardware type of person...)

The most recommended app here is n-track. Dirt cheap, and the people who use it say its good.
 
I've used Cakewalk for a while and it's caused a lot of headaches for me. Lots of people have used it with success, I'm just not one of 'em. The latest version of Vegas Audio has been my favorite multi-track app so far.

I haven't used n-track, but I'll echo Regebro. It's cheap, and I can't recall a bad thing said about it in the forums.
 
Ha! When I read this pglewis and me had the exact same number of posts (875). That was fun!
 
seems like you 'll have to cough up some money... cuz either you get a decent soundcard and you might go the digital route or you get an inexpensive mixer (like behringer, but beware everyone thinks there crap!) and have a stereo mixdown rightaway which gives you less control. money money money money money money money money money money

;)

greetz guhlenn
 
You could use n-track, cubase, cakewalk, or vegas audio (I use Cake 9 and Vegas 2.0).

Then purchase the Tascam TM-D1000 it's a 16 track digital board. It gives you 8 analogue IN/8 digital IN and the same on the OUTS. It costs about $495.00 US. @ Guitar Center and Midwest Stereo.

http://WWW.GUITARCENTER.COM

http://MIDWESTSTEREO.COM

It also has an expansion module to give you 16 digital INS/OUTS (but, for $495.00 you could purchase two of them and just link them together :) ).

I have not used N-Track and I have had problems with Cubase.

I know Logic is very difficult to learn.

ProTools will cost you an arm and a leg to purchase (it is way beyond the dollar amount you are willing to spend at this time).

I know that the makers of ProTools is offering a free version of it for PC users. (But it only provides 8 tracks.)

Goto.

http://WWW.DIGIDESIGN.COM

Then search their site. I think it is inside their DOWNLOADS section.

There's a demo version of Vegas Audio 2.0 at the SonicFoundry website.

Goto.

http://WWW.SONICFOUNDRY.COM

There is also a demo version of Cakewalk 9 at the Cakewalk site.

Goto.

http://WWW.CAKEWALK.COM

I don't know where to get the N-Track, but I'm sure somebody will post the address (or do a SEARCH on this site HR.COM).

I think you should play around with all of these programs to see which one you like to use the best.

Once you have figured this out, email me.

PEACE...

SPIN

P.S. Sorry, about the long post. :D
 
Oh, yeah, I forgot to mention about your soundcard.

If you are just starting out in this home recording game, then you could purchase something like a Sound Blaster card or something equivalent.

Or one of the Delta cards (44, 66, or 1010)

If you purchase the Tascam TM-D1000 digital board, then you are going to want to purchase a Tascam 822 PCI card.

It will enable you to import and export 8 digital tracks to the TM-D1000 (through the TDIF cable).

It will also give you 2 MIDI IN/OUT, 2 SPDIF, and 1 OPTICAL.

SPIN
 
thanks spin for all the help. i think cakewalk 9 is going to do just fine for me. But one question? why does everyone stress soundcards, why do they matter? the only thing i can think of is comparing them to monitors.
 
get this straigth:

basic components of a DAW;

mic ->
preamp (mixer)->
A/D converter (soundcard) ->
internal processing (computer)->
D/A converter (soundcard) ->
monitors.

if anything until th D/A converter sucks your recordings will. if any thin after the computer sucks your playback will suck.
so getting a SB will do, but will f*ck up two components in your chain... leaving not much to be liked about your daw. that if you are serious ...
if you just wanna try out some things go for the SB.
read all the posts by skippy on the subject is 24 bit 96khz better then 16 bit 44.1 khz and you'll see why everyone stresses the soundcard.

greetz guhlenn
 
Another way to think of it is considering your soundcard as a "camera" that is taking periodic pictures of the sound coming in. The better the camera, the better the pictures. But, as guhlenn pointed out, every step in the chain will affect the sound.
 
Yes, yes, yes... it is very important to get an excellent soundcard. :)

I had simple mentioned the SB, because I don't know how much money djabc had to spend (djabc had mentioned $300-$400 just for a mixer).

Since djabc doesn't even know what he/she has in his/her computer, I felt that it would be better for djabc to have at least an SB souncard (instead of a generic pre-packaged soundcard).

By all means djabc, you should definitely run some searches on HR.COM for additional information on soundcards, mixers, etc.

Peace SPIN
 
The more ive gotten into my computer as a daw, the more ive lusted after dedicated hardware to do some things.

1. converters- listen to guhlenn...

2. mixers

a. analog- thers 2 reasons to have one, one is to organise you inputs from keyboards and efx the other is to use it for its pre amps. I am of the beleif that dedicated pre amps such as the ones by pre sonus and joe meek are much better choices. And also theres this thing called a patchbay... so to me the analog mixer is a waste

b.digital mixer-the only real use in this to me is as a control surface via midi to interact with your software. I am of the mind that even cheaper midiman converters are much better then most mixers a/d/a.

c. control surface-this has nothing to do with your signal, its simply faders and knobs that interact with your software via midi. these things are not a necessity but recomended to preserve your sanity.

So then it would be best to have your 1.software
2.soundcard
3.pre amps
4. patchbay
5.control surface

And then youll want to a good microphone, and a lexicon reverb unit, and at least some alesis monitors, but preferably better ones;any engineer will tell you the monitors are VERY VERY VERY important.

- soundcard- this is VERY important, id reccomend using n-tracks and instead spending your money on a nice soundcard. I think hoontech makes REALLy cheap stuff thats usable and better then an sb live. RME hammerfall is an excellent soundcard imho.

For midi, there a program called orion by http://www.sonic-syndicate.com that has a sequencer, sampler, analog synth, drum sampler, analog drum machine, and loop sequencer.It comes in two versions for $49 and $79 dollars. it basically does the same thing as the app. reason but is hundreds cheaper. And, its seqauencer is good.

So youll want a soundcard-$200
n-tracks- $40(?)
if you have a midi keyboard orion- $49
a mic pre-presonus blue tube-$150. or midiman audio buddy $100
A microphone- rode nt-1 $179 and/or sure sm-57 $79
moniters-$$$$$$$$
then when youve got some of this hardware think about getting more expensive software, otherwise its kind of useless because as they say, shit in shit out.

the moniters, soundcard, microphones, and pre amps are more important then software so thats why I'm saying n-tracks

Personally I want to get a dedicated digital mutitrack so I can just flip it on and start tracking with no hassles.Then the tracks can be sent to the digi 001 on my mac for editing and doctoring. I think its much easier to work this way, but thats not how im currently doing it.
I just hate noisy computers and my 17 in. moniter, a nice 24 bit 8 track would just make my day. Maybe I just need a control suface...

Maybe youd want to record on dedicated hardware, then use the pc to edit, sweeten up, and for a final mixdown as well as mp3's and burnind c.d.'s

Just a thought....
 
hey spin,

i wasn't saying you were wrong or anything... just another option. i guess you are right advising an sb when he doesn't know what kinda soundcard he 's using now LOL.

greetz guhlenn;)
 
so i do not have to be afraid of getting beaten up by you when we're alone in some dark place sometime?

greetz guhlenn;)
 
LOL...:D

I try to live my life in a peaceful manner.

But, I have been known to pull my GUN out on a mutha@&*%er!

ROTFLOL...:)

Hey guhlenn, I wonder why djabc has not posted back on this thread.

Was his/her question answered?


Peace...

spin
 
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