Help in step #1 of starting HR...DAW software or Digital Portastudio for my needs??

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rian4224

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Ok, I'm sure this topic has been discussed at nauseum for as long as HR.com has been in existence...but I want to ask because I'm about as Noob as you can get to home recording...and I would love some opinions on where you guys and gals think I should start, based on what and how I'm looking to record:

So here's the kindergarden question: What type of interface/system should I look to buy? ie - should I go through a computer based DAW, Pro Tools, Cubase, Logic, etc...or should I just get a digital portastudio like a Tascam or Zoom 8, 16, or 24 track?

Before you answer, here's what I am looking to do and why I'm confused on where I should even start...

I would like to create songs where I record the individual tracks (guitar, bass, drums, vocals) and then mix them down to create a master track. That's basically it. I'm not interested in any digital instruments or plug-ins. I want to record my guitar through my amp, record real drum tracks, record my vocals...and then mix.

I guess I'm trying to keep it as raw and organic (god I hate saying that...I'm sorry) as possible. I guess my goal is to make recordings that sound like a really good recorded live show.

So would DAW software be overkill if I'm not looking to use all the bells and whistles?

Plus, who knows?...maybe some day down the road I'll want all those features...could happen.

Any feedback/opinions on your thoughts on DAW software vs a digital portastudio would be appreciated!

Pros and Cons of both???


Thanks!
 
And the answer is.... "it depends"....

Depends upon how you like working. Personally I use a standalone Yamaha recorder and have for some years, but if I was starting now I think I'd probably go the PC/software route on a dedicated 'puter. Standalones are great for a number of reasons, such as physically controlling faders etc. when you're mixing, but they're limited in other ways such as track count, ease of editing etc.

Some people really struggle setting up and using a PC based DAW - getting things to talk to each other, correct drivers, latency etc. from what I read here. This is another advantage of the standalone route - these problems simply don't exist.

All that said, I'd probably still go the PC DAW route if I was starting again (and I'm not) because of the editing flexibility, the unlimited track count and various other reasons, including that standalone development hasn't really gone as far forward as I'd like - no-one does a 24 tracker with 24 individual faders and a decent display (as far as I know...).

It's a very well worn topic here so don't expect people to jump all over your post. Most people are "over" this discussion. But you never know. Have a search for old similar posts and see what you think.

How do you like working? Are you happy sorting the myriad issues that PCs can throw up (which aren't necessarily difficult to solve, but my require some help), or is that sort of thing anathema to you?
 
Since you already have a computer, the least expensive way would be a Reaper free trial download. Your only critical hardware purchase would be an audio interface card. It's not all that pleasant without a control surface, but it's a start. (Setting up a control surface is often a royal pain in itself, for that matter.) With other methods (portastudio, mixer and tape recorder, etc.), you're looking at a heftier investment.
 
There's not many of us left......

There's a few of us though. I guess we're like the Jedi in Star wars "Episode iv ~ a new hope", the last vestiges of what was once a powerful mover and shaker in the universe !
I also use a standalone DAW and so long as they still exist and there's someone to repair and service it, I possibly ever will. I'm by no means against the computer by the way. In fact just to prove it, I'll go as far as to say that I can't come up with any particular advantage (or for that matter, disadvantage) in the standalone's favour.
For me, it's preference, pure and simple. I have a 12 track with 238 virtual tracks and it's editing capabilities for me are just right. The only thing I wish I had was the ability to record backwards (there are other 'pain in the patootie' ways around this) and the ability to import other projects into the particular one I'm working on {if I had a second one I could}. But other standalone DAWs can do these.
Given that I'm doing such a lame job of persuading you to go this route, then why should you ? Because you want to keep it simple, raw and organic, yet good quality. An 8~24 track recorder will happilly handle vocals, guitars, bass and drums and some of them can dump the data to computer for the bells and whistles that you don't want but may move to later on in the day. Check out the music on this site of RAMI, Armistice and Dogbreath (and, I think, Jim lad) for examples of great stuff recorded on standalones.
Below is a reply I gave to someone last year who was looking into starting recording at home.


Are you totally sold on the idea of using a computer ? I will admit, that's far and away the most popular and probably the most efficient method, interface and computer with recording software.
But it's not the only way. If you are at the beginning of recording and you don't claim to be in any way experienced, a 4, 8, 12, or 16 track standalone might be worth considering. Tascam, Zoom, Fostex, Yamaha, Boss, Roland, Korg (they also do a 32 tracker) and Akai all made them and although most are no longer in production there are still standalones doing the "used" rounds.
I'm not sure what country you're in but check ebay to see what's around. I guess most people will come out against standalones and it's not hard to see why. But like everything else, they do the job and you'll learn much of what you need to know about recording.
I hope a few others chime in and give you other options so that you can make up your mind from a balanced perspective.
In the meantime, this article and this one may be of some use to you.

Whichever you choose {heck, you may even go analog, again, I wouldn't come out against tape, I also use it still and it's beautiful}, you'll find plenty of help here and whatever difficulties you may encounter, it's part of the learning curve. Keep it fun and be enthused ! Even when depression or frustration threatens to win the day.
 
Where do you want your music to go ultimately ? If you are in it just for the satisfaction of your muse then a stand alone recorder would probably suit your needs fine. On the other hand if you envision the glory rode to becoming professional with comercial releases then go the pro tools and other formats of that school.
 
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