Digi 001 or Cakewalk 9/Sonar

[Jim S]

I'm trying to decide between the Digi 001 (Mac or PC) vs. Cakewalk v9/Sonar when it comes out.

Regardless of the platform, what made you Cakewalk users choose it over Digi001 with Protools LE?

I'm interested in user friendliness and sound quality. Number of inputs and extensive MIDI aren't important to me.

This for home recording original tunes to CD with moi` playing bass, guitar and using loops/sequencer/sampler/MIDI for drums and keyboards (I don't know how to this, never did it before, I but plan on learning real soon). And I'm not particularly computer literate either. Just decent musical talent, a good set of neurons, and a budget max of $5k for converter/hardware, software, and the computer (sans monitor and keyboard which I alread have).

 

[robert jaybird]

Jim you have some choices to make.either one of the two laid out are good.I'd like to point out that there are things more important then pro tools vs. cakewalk, though if your playing rock or editing audio id say pro tools.If you want to do techno id say get cakewalk, and get fruity loops to go with it.

The program with the best balance of audio/midi with among the most intuitive interfaces is Digital performer.
For a complete setup dp is it. If you want to learn about audio industry and eventually get a job at a big studio get a 001.

If you want to do techno dont get the 001.But pro tools is superior for editing, mixing etc.

If you want to use a variety of softs from various formats
then I'd say get a different soundcard then the 001.

 

[Jim S]

Thanks for taking the time to give the advice. My originals are rock, metal, and jazz/funk @ Marcus Miller--no techno for me. The key issue will be looping recorded phrases, editing, and mixing. I think PT LE hs enough plug-ins for my tastes: I'm not big on fx in music and PT LE has enough production fx. (Eg---for guitar I usually plug into my Soldano with a bit of reverb; for bass: Sadowsky ->Kern preamp->Crown power amp->Euphonic Audio cab.) From your advice I'd lean toward PT LE over Cakewalk.

My ONLY concern about Digi001 are the converters. Some folks think they're fine and some seem disappointed. However, I wonder if the latter comments are from studio pros who's livelihood depends on this.

Also, regarding "a job at a big studio": I'm 37, a radiologist (M.D.), married with two kids so I don't think a career switch is in the future. Nevertheless, music is a passion and serious hobby of mine.

 

[robert jaybird]

Get pro tools and run it on a mac.But before you buy the digi oo1 take a look at some of motu's stuff.
Cakewalk really isnt all that.Its a good sequencer(i guess) but otherwise...

If I were you Id look at digital performer or pro tools.

The a/d converters are pretty good.Theyre 48 not 96 but the secret they dont tell you is that the human ear cant even hear 48 let alone 96. I dont think theres a gap in quality between the 001 and similarly priced units.The 001 will hold its own with the delta 1010, or motu's units no prob.

Most of the complaints about its a/d/a are from people who dont own it and arent fans of digidesign strange enough.And I think most vocal critics of digidesign have never gotten within a mile of their top end stuff let alone owned a 001 so hey.Just because some Idiot cant figure out how to install pt free doesnt mean pro tools is crap.Its the one to use for audio.

Now, for really great quality converters you'd need to hook up a bank of apogge or rme's to your 001 that there would be a step up.

And Jim if you can afford a mac to go with your 001 that is the way to gnce you get going on a mac theres no turning back. Microsoft writes a second rate os, and pc hardware integration is less then great.

 

[Jim S]

Get pro tools and run it on a mac...Now, for really great quality converters you'd need to hook up a bank of apogge or rme's to your 001 that there would be a step up.

And Jim if you can afford a mac to go with your 001 that is the way to gnce you get going on a mac theres no turning back. Microsoft writes a second rate os, and pc hardware integration is less then great.

I really hate to waste bandwith because I know the Mac vs PC dead horse has beaten beaten to death so many times the workers from the glue factory are checking the forums. However, I've gathered the general consensus is that

• dollar for dollar I get more power with a PC--I'd get a PentIII933mhz or 1ghz chip vs Mac 533mhz G4
• I've worked on a PC for about 5 years and it would take more time to learn the Mac platform
• and the PC (or Mac) that I would buy would be tailored to Protools' specs and the new LE 5.1.

I spoke to a company, Wave Digital Systems who builds PC and Mac systems and they recommended PC over Mac because of my familiarity with the former format. I'm not definitely persuaded yet and I plan to take the $ plunge first or second week of March providing ample time to obsess and torture myself.

 

[robert jaybird]

People have also gotten really good results on pc, so either way.

Im excited about os 10 and the new g4's personally.Apple has had some troubles in 2000, but they seem to be worked out. I think that the 533 chip would burn the pc on some applications, but pro tools aint one of them the complete architecture for the new g4 is implemented with the 733 onwards. Still youd get a similar performance, and on mac and youd have all the plug ins available.And If you check out the waves native gold bundle I think youll want it.Also bombfactories classic compressers and cool moog filters. Ands theres a shitload of other cool stuff like the mcdsp plugs. These things currently arent available on pc.

Some of the plug in effects like the waves gold bundle will greatly aid you in ending up with a great sounding hd of material beyond gimmicky effects.

I couldnt say none is better then the other beyond some of the specifics you may have seen me lay out, so with either one im thinking youll enjoy. But theres no rtas waves, bombfactory, kind of loud, or much of anything on pc.This is disapointing to me.

wichever you choose I know youll just love it. It just feels good to have such a potent tool every time you boot up. Its inspiring.And if you have a nice tube pre amp like a manley it will just be butter.

And maybe this is sacrilidge, but I actually have found the pod while so so in headphones or through an amp will wow you when you go direct with it, but send it through a good pre amp and maybe tweak with a little compression and eq.I like my ampeg vl 1002, but the pod is like an easel and the amp is where I go for a dose of balls...

 

[Jim S]

I checked the Bombfactory and Digidesign websites and both indicate RTAS plug-ins work for PC Windows 98/ME and Mac.

I note that most of the literature/periodical reviews of the Digi001 with PT LE use Macs as does Dig001 video. (That video is seductive. And I'm attending a PT Digiworld session in Miami at the Power Station on Tuesday.)

Anyway, I think I'm splittings hair on this issue. It's sort of like which Ferrari: front engine or mid-engine? And ergonomics on cars: sure a Honda is most intuitive and easy but after two months in any care you know where all the controls are without looking. Whichever platform I get I'm psyched to start recording, layering, and editing. I plan to take the dinero plunge in March. Robert, thanks for your input and attention.

TANGENTIALLY:...the nice thing about the Sansamp plug-in is you can record the guitar dry and then change "tone, amps, and cab" with the RTAS. With the POD what you record is what you get. I may also eventually get a Palmer speaker simulator for my Soldano SLO head and X99 preamp.