Help needed in choosing Software

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pandamonk

pandamonk

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Hi, I have my whole studio planned out except which computer and which software i want to record. I'm looking for something which will record in 5.1 and is like Pro Tools. I do not have the kind of money to afford the HD systems, but am doing the Pro Tools 101, 201, and 210 in my college, some time in the next 2 years, and don't want it to go to waste. I need 2 ADAT I/Os to connect and have found this . What is the most suited Software(s) to my needs, that isn't more that say $1000?
 
pandamonk said:
Hi, I have my whole studio planned out except which computer and which software i want to record. I'm looking for something which will record in 5.1 and is like Pro Tools. I do not have the kind of money to afford the HD systems, but am doing the Pro Tools 101, 201, and 210 in my college, some time in the next 2 years, and don't want it to go to waste. I need 2 ADAT I/Os to connect and have found this . What is the most suited Software(s) to my needs, that isn't more that say $1000?
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What do you mean "I'm looking for something which will record in 5.1", also just out of intrest what is your frontend? ie: mixer with adat out?
 
I don't think anything is going to be just like Pro Tools except well... Pro Tools. If you want a Pro Tools system you can go with an LE setup but you will have to buy there hardware, cause that's all it works with. But I don't think LE does 5.1 surround mixing (which, why do you really need that?) Other choices would be Cakewalk Sonar, Steinberg Cubase or Nuendo (little higher end), Mackie Tracktion 2, Ableton Live, etc...

They all do pretty much the same things. Download some demos of various programs off of their websites. If you want something just like pro-tools, then you will need Pro Tools, but remember when you go that route, you are stuck with their hardware, which may not be a bad thing, but stuck none the less.
 
I highly suggest you check out Samplitude. It has a great surround implimentation, and is exceptional in many, many other ways. It's a bit pricy, but it's everything you need. They have a demo, and they also do a rent program, where you pay a small monthly payment for a liscence. Check it out at Samplitude.com.

-RD
 
michaelst said:
Have a look at N-Track Studio

It very user friendly, works very well and is inexpensive- $80 for the 24 bit version.
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Well... IMO, if you're thinking about going with N-Track I would go with Sonar HS (what I have) I had problems with N-Track being a little buggy at times, and Sonar HS 4 has had zero, and they both pretty much have all the same features, except you are limited to 64 tracks of audio on HS, but I couldn't imagine ever needing 64 tracks of audio.
 
ds21 said:
What do you mean "I'm looking for something which will record in 5.1", also just out of intrest what is your frontend? ie: mixer with adat out?
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the behringer(i know)ddx3216, and i mean, i want software which i can record in up to 5.1 surround.
 
cawhite12 said:
I don't think anything is going to be just like Pro Tools except well... Pro Tools. If you want a Pro Tools system you can go with an LE setup but you will have to buy there hardware, cause that's all it works with. But I don't think LE does 5.1 surround mixing (which, why do you really need that?) Other choices would be Cakewalk Sonar, Steinberg Cubase or Nuendo (little higher end), Mackie Tracktion 2, Ableton Live, etc...
Click to expand...
I alread have Cubase SX but don't like it. I don't need surround mixing, but i'm interested in it and see it as the future/present. How is Nuendo, I've heard a bit about it but have actually been able to use it? How does everbody else go about choosing their recording programs?
 
I'm not sure there exists such a thing as recording in 5.1. You mix in 5.1, not record (how do plan on recording just the sub bass?) If you are talking about recording 6 channels at once, then any DAW software will work.

Nuendo is pretty much identical to Cubase (with emphasis on video integration) but if your taking PT classes then PT LE should be the route you go. Digi 001 or 002 would be a good start. I have not seen any big write ups on PT7 but I know they are offering upgrades from 6 when you buy any of the hardware.

I personally love cubase and it is all that I use but my studio is a mountain of midi stuff so I do very little "live" recordings. If your going to forego PT then also take a look at traktion (mackie), it has been geeting some high praise. I don't really think that one software package is better than the next as far as usability goes since once you learn one well, you should be able to use the same skills with just about everything without to much re-learning
 
altitude909 said:
I'm not sure there exists such a thing as recording in 5.1. You mix in 5.1, not record (how do plan on recording just the sub bass?) If you are talking about recording 6 channels at once, then any DAW software will work.
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Yes, i meant mix in 5.1 surround, sorry. Ok, what i want is to record something and mix it so i can playback in 5.1 surround, ie. burn on to dvd and playback in 5.1 in any dvd player with 5.1 surround.
 
Then Cubase SX would fit your needs since it does support 5.1 mixing. Beyond that, I know 2 things about 5.1 mixing 1)Jack, 2)Shit :D
 
I'm ashamed to say this, but it's an illegal copy of cubase, got a copy from the one in the school i used to attend. That is why I'm looking for new software + i don't like cubase sx. I record occasionally with it now, with a shitty soundblaster soundcard. It goes out of sync, and lots of other things about it annoys me. Once I've finished a song and save it, when i playback it's a lot quieter than all other songs. Does this happen with most recording programs? If so, why? And how do you sort it?
 
its not the software you only need for 5.1 mixing you have to have monitors for it set up and a 5.1 room also. you are best off now since you are starting out to learn 2.1 mixing on something simple than to go fancy with wild costly software that you don't yet have a full need for. 5.1 does not make your recordings any better than the tracks that you layed out before hand. my money got spent on Tracktion and i am happy with it so far. when you are good at using some basic software its time to maybe move on...

just my $0.02
 
guitar junkie said:
its not the software you only need for 5.1 mixing you have to have monitors for it set up and a 5.1 room also. you are best off now since you are starting out to learn 2.1 mixing on something simple than to go fancy with wild costly software that you don't yet have a full need for. 5.1 does not make your recordings any better than the tracks that you layed out before hand. my money got spent on Tracktion and i am happy with it so far. when you are good at using some basic software its time to maybe move on...
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Well, I've had my Cubase for about 2-3 years, recording in stereo and now wana try out 5.1. a 5.1 room? I've got a set of 5.1 monitors planned, and my room will, or should be, dead. I know 5.1 doesn't make the recordings any better, but i just fancy giving it a go. Think it might help in attracting custom.
 
btw, your problem is not cubase, its your POS soundcard
 
altitude909 said:
btw, your problem is not cubase, its your POS soundcard
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Thats what i thought. Do you know how i could fix it? So should i go for cubase sx3? I am used to Cubase sx1, so would this be a wise choice?
 
Uh, get a better soundcard. There is stuff out there for a $100 that will work fine
 
if it does not run SX1 than SX3 will NOT be better! so save some money buy a Firepod or something half way decent and then get some good software later (the firepod comes with a legal copy of Cubase LE) myself i think cubase is not the best thing out there any more after working with Tracktion but then again it does not mix 5.1 that i know of... why not check out Adobe Audition? i think it does 5.1 now right? shoot i would still run it if i was on windows any more...
 
altitude909 said:
Uh, get a better soundcard. There is stuff out there for a $100 that will work fine
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Yeh, i know. I was planning on sorting this for recording for fun now until i get my studio set up.
 
pandamonk said:
I alread have Cubase SX but don't like it. I don't need surround mixing, but i'm interested in it and see it as the future/present. How is Nuendo, I've heard a bit about it but have actually been able to use it? How does everbody else go about choosing their recording programs?
Click to expand...
If you don't like Cubase then you won't like Nuendo. It has has the same look and feel as Cubase the difference being less emphasis on MIDI and more emphasis on Video/Postproduction.
 
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