hardware vs. software

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Gaius

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I've been working a couple of years now with fruityloops for drums using cubase and nuendo as sequensers and for recording bass and guitars. I've reached a point where I would like to buy some pro gear. as far as i understand it would be wise to start with an mpc. (or...?). Now, my question is: What does the mpc do that fruityloops cant do? Is the sound any better on hardware equipment than software? And how do I combine the two for best results?
Hope you understand my questions.
Vale, Gaius
 
yo!

hardware doesn't mean pro, infact it's more expensive, if that means pro to you or not. but most pro's use hardware because it is a luxary to do everything hands on, and much more fun as you would imagine. The only thing I've heard is best external I think was reverb, not sure. not saying anything is better, but it depends on what computer programs and what price level of hardware, they can both be excellent.
 
I see....but do the hardwarestuff (sorry I called it "pro". I figure you know what I mean) give me more freedom opposed to for example fruityloops or is it just "because it is a luxary to do everything hands on"?
And what, besides the mpc, would you recommend for making and producing semi-electronic music like for example Saint Etienne?
Vale, Gaius
 
it gives you way, way more options... and instead of just your mouse you got nice buttons and sliders...
I'd take a yamaha motif station or rs7000 over the mpc any day.. imo it's got a cooler sequencer and way, way better sampler and effects section. The sounds on the RS7000/Motif are also some of the best rompler sounds i've ever heard.
 
Actually...

I would say having a computer will give you way more options than hardware would... It gives you a great screen to get a visual of your sequencing etc at the least. So in general, I would use the computer for that regardless of what equipment you have. A hardware peice of equipment is just that, you can't upgrade the options, it's not gonna all of a sudden let you upgrade to a few more buttons or add ons anytime ever, where software is always being advanced etc. So why would it have more possibilities. It's purely that hands on and actually fun with hardware I'd assume...becasue computer recording is sorta evil overall.
You can't go wrong either way, aslong as you go either way right.

I don't know enuff, but I choose the computer route because it was cheaper for me, also computers are becoming more and more the norm for audio and can be fast enuff to do thigs in real time etc, there not the cardboard box with buttoms they used to be. The only thing I hate is my computer wont shutup, the fan that's attached to my not even sure rattles and makes lots of noise, Lots of fucking noise, it will cost me a hundred dollars atleast to replace, so in a sense I'm sorta pissed. I'm gonna have to build some sort'ov crazy studio that I can access the computer and it's outputs without having it in the same room... It drives me insane, soon I'll put it back under my desk, but my headphones arn't long enuff right now.
Not that your computer will necessarily be as loud though.

Do alot of research before you buy, but odds are you'll make soem mistakes we all do usually when it comes to our first purcheases, so make sure your full knowledged and I can't help you much their.
 
Hi Priz!

The pro argument for external equipment is, that these things have own signal processors, and these beasts are far more powerful in their special tasks than even a 2.0 GHz PC can be.
A good digital reverb for example has a few Megs of RAM and 2 signal processors - have you ever heard a PC software reverb that sounds like a relatively cheap tc m-one?
Take a short look into a Waldorf Q! This tool is full of electronic.
On the other side - a sw sampler does quiet the same job as its hardware opponent. But be patient, a sw sampler can cause glitches and pops if you play it while there is an unexpected interrupt from any hardware of your pc.
 
For sequencing you could go either way. I like dedicated hardware stations because I spend less time fixing computer glitches. My time is generally more productive without having the net to play with when I should be doing something too.

Protools, logic, is getting so good that it is probably about time to switch though.

I would say that if you are doing heavy duty dance/electronic music you are going to need a computer at some point.
 
I would say that if you are doing heavy duty dance/electronic music you are going to need a computer at some point.
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I agree totally with you on that point. :)

peace...

spin
 
priz, hardware get updates all the time m8... i've upgraded my supernova 2 times, and alot of buttons got new functions
 
Chriss said:
it gives you way, way more options... and instead of just your mouse you got nice buttons and sliders...
I'd take a yamaha motif station or rs7000 over the mpc any day.. imo it's got a cooler sequencer and way, way better sampler and effects section. The sounds on the RS7000/Motif are also some of the best rompler sounds i've ever heard.
Click to expand...

ummm, i use a Mpc2000xl/trition/priteus/mo phat/(motif, not mine)/and more. i guess i'll check out the rs7000. because can't nothing touch my mpc2000xl. i'll have to go do some reseach and go to the local stores and check out the rs7000. i may have to trade in the mpc for the rs7000
 
it's definitely not a toy.. allthough the wrapping indeed sux.. is yamaha starting to take on rolands new plastic coating style or what?
Anyway.. the sequencer and sampler on the rs7000 beats the mpc anytime.. the fact that the machine is very "live" oriented is probably the reason you find it a toy.. click there, turn here... i love it.. the mpc is like using an old 60 telephone as interface
 
I've been thinking about getting some soft synths etc.. to compliment my system. What do you guys do when it's time to lay tracks at the studio? Do you make sure the studio has all of your software and bring files or what?
 
Originally posted by Metronome I've been thinking about getting some soft synths etc.. to compliment my system. What do you guys do when it's time to lay tracks at the studio? Do you make sure the studio has all of your software and bring files or what?
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If you are adding soft synths, then I expect that you have a computer. I would be VERY DIFFICULT to justify spending money to load soft synth tracks. If you have a computer, you should buy a digital audio program. This way you can lay down all of the synth tracks at home into your digital audio program. You can start each file at the beginning of the track. Each file will be saved as waves and you just simply bring in wave files on a CDR to load to the studio tape tracks. If the studio is using hard disk, you don't even have to waste precious money and studio time to load the tracks, because the tracks will already be waves (wave files should be compatible with most any digital audio program). The other benefit is that you don't have to worry about what softsynths a studio has or worry about compatibility of their digital audio program to yours.

Studio time, if you use it, is for using gear that you do not own, not for doing things that you can do for yourself at home. Studio time may be necessary also to have a better engineer mix the project. But, using that time to load virtual synth tracks (if they are not going through any special processing on the way onto the hard disk) is a waste of Money and time.

Rev E
 
Thanks for the first part of your reply Rev E. But...

I create in my home studio; I might even record a demo there, but I record any release in the studio. Sure I mix there too, but I also lay tracks to 2 inch (sounds better than digital IMHO), record vocals, and for the most part finish the song. It is not a waste of time or money. You can't knock a good engineer, ssl boards, mikes, rooms etc. that you get in a decent studio.

Studio time, if you use it, is for using gear that you do not own, not for doing things that you can do for yourself at home.
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Your above statement is not a rule.
 
true dat.. just the precense of an experienced crew really push the process up quite a few notches...
 
Studio time, if you use it, is for using gear that you do not own, not for doing things that you can do for yourself at home.
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I agree with that statement and it seems by your answer that you agree with it also, Metronome. :)

You said...
I also lay tracks to 2 inch... You can't knock a good engineer, ssl boards, mikes, rooms etc. that you get in a decent studio.
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And to paraphrase the first quote... "it is for using gear, etc. that you do not own or for doing things that you can't do at home"

peace... :D

spin
 
"it is for using gear, etc. that you do not own or for doing things that you can't do at home"
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My point was that they above statement is not the sole purpose for using a studio. It's part of the creative process as well. It's like working at home vs. going to an office. Sure you can do this stuff at home, but you go to the studio and you're surrounded by people who make music for a livng like you do. It's a different vibe. I've done full songs in the studio, from start to finish. I've seen underground rappers lock down a studio for month. Sure you can create at home, it's a matter of preference not a rule.

When I first started going to studios, I was so caught up thinking about money... you gotta go in thinking about music. F*ck it book the studio for 12 hours straight and just chill, have fun. Work on some songs. Pick the engineer's brain (even the most no name engineer has a bag of tricks) . Network. Play with that $20,000 reverb.
 
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