decision making time: tape or computer?

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phyglenaut

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hello,

any kind soul out there want to take some time to offer some advice?

i'm looking into getting a recording setup soon. i used to have an adat setup and was pretty happy with it, plus i'm comfortable with it.

now my main question is computer or tape machine?

i have a lot of experience with computers, in fact i teach computer maintenance and have personally built hundreds of computers myself (with a preference for amd/asus machines)

so in other words, i have no problem getting a smoking machine up and running, with raid, 2 gigahertz plus etc. etc. with some minor upgrading to an existing machine

however, i just can't seem to find an industry standard for computer recording? i seriously don't have the time to sit and read through millions of websites and filter through all the strong opinions on motu, gina, layla, darla, aardvark, etc. etc. etc. etc. etc. etc. etc. etc. etc. etc. etc. etc. etc. etc. etc.

i'm just very leary with all these different sound cards, and features, and extras, etc. etc. etc. it makes me want to just get on ebay search on adat xt 20 and be done with it. of course there's that little voice that keeps telling me, what about all the maintenance? and worrying about how many hours i'm logging on the heads, etc. etc. should i go to a 100% computer based format? i mean that does make more sense in the long run if you think about it. but if so, which one? i don't have the time and/or patience to sit and research endlessly. i've already spent approximately 6 to 8 hours searching on this subject and i'm only more confused now than when i started. i imagine if i really wanted to find some stuff out, that i'd have to spend at least a week scouring message boards, and web sites, and calling people and retailers etc. etc. i seriously don't have that kind of time, so i was hoping there'd be a few of you out there who've already been through this dilema who'd be kind enough to save me the time and trouble with some good sound advice. (pun intended)

basically, what i'm getting at, is can i achieve what i'd achieve with the adat xt 20 using a computer solution for about $500-$700 (cost of a good xt 20 on ebay)? am i going to run into software limitations, or be bogged down with a bunch of extra accesories and garbage, or have a bunch of driver issues? is the learning curve horrendus? how do i get my analog mixer outputs into whatever soundcard you'd recommend? and how many analog inputs can i get into that soundcard simultaneously? etc. etc. from what i've seen just about any computer based solution that seems like its worth its salt is more expensive than an adat anyway? am i correct in my assumptions here?

also, what about an adat xt 20 with the adat edit card, or another compatible sound card? is this the best of both worlds or just more of a headache? can you cut down on head hours with the adat edit card? can you mixdown directly to computer that way, bypassing the need for a dat machine? i never had an edit card with my old adat so i don't know.

well, any info you can give would be much appreciated. i'm going to post this in the alesis section too, so that i can hopefully get responses from fans of both mediums

thanks

phyglenaut
 
I have used puter based recording for some time now and believe that it has more versatility. So much more flexability with what you can do.
There is a learning curve however with the software. But if you have been recording for some time it will come a lot easier than for someone just starting out.
As for choosing an interface and software, that can be a hard choice nowadays. I would say the most common and reliable software programs would be Logic, Cubase and Protools.
As for the hardware, Im almost afraid to say. I'll leave that one for someone else to say.
 
My suggestion is go with a reputable company. MOTU, M-Audio, Echo...etc. I really have never heard anything about Terratec. Also before you buy go to the manufacturer website and look and see if they have drivers for the system you are thinking about. A Layla and a 2ghz monster machine will do you no good if you can only run it with Win95 (Echo has pretty good drivers though I think?). You will deffinately have a few more problems with a computer than you would with an ADAT though. I mean an ADAT is about as complex as a VCR. A computer is about as complex as well, a woman. So if you are patient you can get great results from a computer and have far more flexability. Think about it, an ADAT has 8 channels total, but a computer will let you record however many channels total your card can handle and then is only limited by what the program can handle. I say go with computer, you'll save lots of time in the end. Mixdown is easier in my opinion, no transfering to a computer to master, unlimited space if you have a large hard drive, and no moving parts so less wear and tear. Go computer

Beezoboy
 
o.k.

go computer . . . but which sound card? how many simultaneous inputs can i get into it, and above all how much is it going to cost me. i really can't go over about $700 with my current budget.

right now, i'm tracking an adat xt 20 with 56 pin elco connector with adat edit card and very low hours that's currently bidding at $600 on ebay. the bids not over for another 4 days or so but if the price stays low enough, that's just about everything i'm looking for and one of the best looking deals on an adat that i've seen on ebay for several weeks.

i'm pretty sure it'll go for about $700 - $800 by the time bidding is done, but is there a computer solution that i can get that will be better for about the same cost? what will it come with?

this is the main problem. if i asked a million people which digital multitrack tape deck to get, their would of course be some loyal tascam people out there, and i completely respect that, but i'm guessing about 800,000 of them would tell me adat xt 20 without thinking twice about it. however if i asked a million people which digital multitrack computer soundcard/software solution to get, i'm afraid that no one unit would get more than 50,000 votes. there just doesn't seem to be anyone who stands out as a definite leader in this realm yet.

so how about it, anyone want to stand tall and shout out a sound card that they believe in 199% with model number, what it comes with, what software works best with it, and approximate cost new or used?

phyglenaut
 
No, there is no real standard. But with a card with adat i/o and an external convertor and a recording soft you can start at once on a pc. If it does not work out, you can still use the convertor with your adat setup. Personally I work with an RME card giving up to 3 adat i/o's (drivers for almost every operating system). The convertor is a Fostex VC-8 giving 8 channels 20-bit 44.1 or 48 at line level, not stellar but good (but you already got a mixer). As soft, Cool Edit Pro, very easy to use (but only audio, no midi).

This is not a high profile setup, more basic, but it behaves well and if you shop around should fit your budget.

You also have a lot of possibilities if you want to upgrade. More channels, better convertors, other soft...
 
Check out the Roland Studio Pack for $700. Digital mixer, sound card and software. It only has 2 real mic pre's but is capable of 8 simultaneous recording tracks.
 
o.k.

i've called several people, read over some stuff based on some of your suggestions, and mainly talked to a guy that has a lot of knowledge as far as recording goes, and i think i'm leaning towards the layla 24, after much deliberation . . .

good choice?

anyone have any opinions?

i'd also like to know if i were to get a layla 24 and were to record certain tracks on it . . . could i email the files to someone who had say a gina 24 and they could then easily and transparently take those tracks and add other tracks to them and then email me back their stuff, etc. etc. etc.

i have never used a computer based recording solution before so i don't know if this is possible, but i can't imagine why it wouldn't be?

thanks for any more help you can give
 
I'm not that familliar with the Darla and Layla stuff but the software will make a bigger difference than the hardware. The hardware is the DAC.

Almost all PC systems use .wav files so once your audio is in that format it can be used by anyone as long as they can read the bit format.

If you are going to collaborate with somebody try to use the same software. Then you can share automation, plug-in and other data.
 
The Layla is definitely a great card. If you are on a budget, you can do well going with it's smaller brother, the Gina24. Fewer digital inputs, but a very nice card. It gives you analog and digital (S/PDIF and ADAT) I/O, plus headphone jack. That's about $399 or so (check www.studiocat.com), which would leave you room to get some decent software, such as Cakewalk Sonar or Cubase.

Tom Kemp
 
OKayy ,, I hope i got to you in time

Ok man ,, I sooo know your prob. I feel your pain. and I will be the one to step up and be bold about this. First of all,,, when I start to do so, you must understand that my opinions DO come from about a year of constant search engine madness, all nighters on google, prorec, homerecording, calling producers, tons of magizine reviews, And lots of experience from home with alot of differant software recording apps. And yes I will post my e-mail and give you some samples of what I have recorded in 24/96 and even in 32/96........................................

Ok first of all HARDWARE.......Let me tell you a little somthing about the soundcard companies out there,,,, Darla, Gina, Ardvark_____All overpriced for what they give...(period). Now dont get me wrong they all sound wonderfull but Midi Man .. aka M-Audio gives just as much performance if not better,,,(to my ears) and is also cheaper... now you want somthing like 8 ins/ 8 outs 24/96,,, with good built in converters,, go with the Delta 10/10....(Try E bay or Musicians Friend first ) before straight up retail..... you can check them out at Midiman.com........... Okay as far as software goes,,,,I have battled with Cakewalk,,, Cool Edit,, N-track,,, its all garbage,,,, there is only one piece of software out there to date that pulls its wieght ,, and I have the sound files to prove it ,, it is (Nuendo) by Stienburg,,,It has a ton of just perfect effects ,, the editing is professional, and easy to grasp ,,, it can even edit Mpegs and DVD's ,,,, The software is very expensive ,, but I got my hands on a cracked version and if you e mail me I will give you a copy of mine for FREE! (yay) ,,, www.deadboyy007@hotmail.com ,,,,, ........... And for all you guru's out there who is going to disagree with me, please enlighten me to a repley post to my message ,, im always up for a good debute.............................................ohh yea ,, If you really want to know the best way to record for MAXIMUM QUALITY and CHEAPEST PRICE......... Buy a Audiophile 24/96 from ebay or an online shop for 160 bucks ,,,, and normal old breakout box with 6 ins / and 6 outs ... Use Nuendo ,,,(for free..he he) and record your whole album in Medium Grade quality for about 250 bucks........... Then go to Dreamhire.com and rent an apogee 8 channal Professional A/D converter with built in mic pre's,,, a nuemann U87 studio condenser mic, stuff that would cost you about 5000 dollars to buy ,, and Aerosmith probably recorded there last album on ,, and rent it all for about 400 a month ,,, keep it for one month long enough to lay down , your album,, and BAMM ,, you got the best sounding cd on the east coast ,, and you did it yourself for about 600 to 800 dollars............ hahahaha
:D
 
Ok one last thing

sorry I might have strayed a little from your original question,,, OK you want absulution,,,The best sound card out ,,,RME HAMMERFALL,, (PERIOD)..... Second best.... as far as quality and price M-AUDIO......

The rest are just not as good ,, in quality to price ratio......

Absulution on software ,,,,, If you got a Mac.... you already know,,,,Its gotta be Protools.. but if you got a Mac then your probibly the kinda of ,,, Yuppie Fag that has a lot of money to spend and dont care about price ,,,, but for you dude , and all you other PC platform fans out there ,,,,,,,,,NUENDO ,, NUENDO ,, NUENDO ,,,,

thank you and have a nice day...:)
 
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