Digital Audio Workstations or Computer-Based?

[jlizerbram]

Which is better for recording multiple tracks simultaneously? Should I go with a DAW or a Computer-based system (such as Sonar with a decent audio interface)? Is there a preference in the professional recording world?

 

[MickB]

Depends where you want to start. A DAW is a custom built unit, designed specifically to run as efficiently and as high quality as possible (specialist software, secure OS, totally compatible hardware, low equipment noise, etc).

I could spend lots of dough on one if I wanted, but for my own projects and occasional recording of mates, a jolly decent Pentium 4 with an M-Audio Delta 66 (connected to a Soundcraft M8 mixer) works very decently.

Alright, you have to keep an eye out more for glitches, but once everything's installed and the correct settings applied there is no reason why a newbie (or someone satisfied with his lot) couldn't get complete satisfaction from a PC put together from off-the-shelf parts.

 

[mixsit]

You mean an all in one box product vs a computer+ interface (I'd call that a DAW too, so...) Then there's the dedicated hard drive recorders (some with or w/o software).
One big difference looking at something like this is balancing a single-box feature set -complete (complete enough?), portable/compact systems, vs an open set of gathered pieces that can be more flexible but maybe harder to ramp up on.
I've tended in general to be leery of 'do it all' pieces for their being more restricted/less flexible, but as always you'll need to scope it out good.

 

[jdier]

Which is better for recording multiple tracks simultaneously? Should I go with a DAW or a Computer-based system (such as Sonar with a decent audio interface)? Is there a preference in the professional recording world?

This choice is 100% personal preference for home recording. For pros, if they are using DAW's they are typically Pro Tools based, but if you were to do a bunch of stuff at home on Sonar OR on a all in one unit, you could easily take it to a pro studio and load it up to PT and do overdubs or a professional mix.

I have buddies that run PT on MACs, some that have all in one units (Zoom and Yamaha) and another that runs PC/Cubase. They all make pretty darn good sounding records.

I personally chose PC/Sonar combo and am very happy with my results.

 

[dementedchord]

the only reason to consider the one peice thing is convenience... they are limiting in a lotta ways... not the least is upgradability... FWIW one of the only "major" stories outta this last lame"minor" namm show is that some manufacturers are getting out of the self contained market... do yourself a favor find a prog you can wrap your brain around and buy the damn thing...

 

[jlizerbram]

Thanks for everyone's responses. Personally, I'm a Sonar/PC guy. I've been writing back and forth with Tom Volinchak, a Memphis recording engineer who wrote a great guide "Make Money with Your Studio...." in 2003, which I recommend as a good read. It's been a few years ago, but his preference is DAW, which kinda surprised me for a commercial studio. But he produces some fanstastic results. That's why I wanted to get a little poll..maybe I should actually put out a poll!

 

[iqi616]

I've had my Korg D1600 for 5+ years. It has its limitations but gives damn good results. I like it because I look at a computer screen all damn day and it doesn't distract me with email or the Internet! It's also portable so I can take it and record wherever I like.

If you're into plug-ins and the latest coolest effects, it has to be a PC but if you're just looking to record drums, guitars, keyboards, etc. and don't give a stuff about virtual instruments, an all-in-one is a valid choice.

 

[DavidK]

Thanks for everyone's responses. Personally, I'm a Sonar/PC guy. I've been writing back and forth with Tom Volinchak, a Memphis recording engineer who wrote a great guide "Make Money with Your Studio...." in 2003, which I recommend as a good read. It's been a few years ago, but his preference is DAW, which kinda surprised me for a commercial studio. But he produces some fanstastic results. That's why I wanted to get a little poll..maybe I should actually put out a poll!

I think your terms are switched, or mine are. DAW is Sonar.Standalone is not. I think

Generally, an older generation might like standalones because they work in a similiar fashion to what they have used for 20 years. Same with hands-on mixing, if you are used to it you might not like automating envelopes with a mouse. I have no doubt that he can get create results from either.

I could never go back to standalone. The editing on a computer has spoiled me.

 

[DAS19]

Maybe i am biased but to me the only way to go is a computer based system. There are so many benefits. Most daws you cant see and change waveforms. Add vst effects. Work with midi. Theres a lot of downfalls to daws and I think interfaces are just as cheap if not cheaper and can be figured out by a noob with a little help from tutorials and this forum .

edit: oh and to answer your question in the professional world computer based is the most widely used. I think daw is rarely ever in a professional studio, daws are made as out of the box studios. I think pro tools has become the industry standard.

 

[dementedchord]

some of this sounds confusing because they are all DAWs... dig aud workstation.... one is computer based and one self contained... but even that is somewhat misleading in that the selfcontained is a computer as well...