How possible is this?

[Namaste1]

I would like to record symphonic/progressive metal with quality like Nightwish/Dimmu Borgir/others ( Dream Theater, Pagan's Mind, etc... ). The music is written out and I can play the parts, so that is no problem. But is my recording setup able to pump out quality like that? I have...

Logic Express 8 ( Guitar/Bass )
Reason 4 ( Keyboard/Synth/Piano/Orchestra. Mix in Reason, export track to Logic. )
Line6 ( Guitar distortion/effects through Logic. )
UX2 ( To directly record bass/guitar. )
DFH ( Programmed drums through Logic. No need for real recording. )
Vocals are no problem. I can record them elsewhere.

I know next to nothing about this craft, and I'm willing to put in any amount of time/effort to learn, but can these programs even achieve this kind of sound, or will I have to invest?

 

[GazEcc]

What interface / pre's do you have? and what about monitoring?

 

[legionserial]

I would like to record symphonic/progressive metal with quality like Nightwish/Dimmu Borgir/others ( Dream Theater, Pagan's Mind, etc... ). The music is written out and I can play the parts, so that is no problem. But is my recording setup able to pump out quality like that? I have...

Logic Express 8 ( Guitar/Bass )
Reason 4 ( Keyboard/Synth/Piano/Orchestra. Mix in Reason, export track to Logic. )
Line6 ( Guitar distortion/effects through Logic. )
UX2 ( To directly record bass/guitar. )
DFH ( Programmed drums through Logic. No need for real recording. )
Vocals are no problem. I can record them elsewhere.

I know next to nothing about this craft, and I'm willing to put in any amount of time/effort to learn, but can these programs even achieve this kind of sound, or will I have to invest?

It's entirely possible. I'm...not sure what else to add. What you have is perfectly suitable.

One thing I might say...in respect ot the orchestral stuff, when you say "Mix in Reason, export track to Logic", are you talking about mixing down the invidiual MIDI tracks to individual audio tracks and exporting them to logic, or are you mixing all the orchestral tracks together, and mixing them down to one compiled audio track? If the latter, I would suggest that you might have better results with the former. Everything has an effect on everything in a mix, and if you're using one compiled audio file for all the orchestral stuff, you won't have as much versatility to make changes in that respect. And knowing bands like Dimmu Borgir as I do, those are some dense, busy mixes that are going to take some work to tame, and you're going to want all the options you can get to do that.

But as I say, in answer to your question, you're good to go. Although, as GazEcc points out, you've not said anything about your monitoring situation.

One addendum: Again, knowing, particularly, Dimmu Borgir as I do, and specifically how their mixes tend to be smashed to crap with compression in mastering to the point where it's just a big loud lego brick waveform with no dynamics....when you get to the 'mastering' phase, try to hold back on the mastering compression. That band make some great music, but it really hurts to listen to them.

Sorry, I know I'm deviating from your original question.

 

[Shadow_7]

Anything is possible, it's all 1's and 0's as far as a computer is concerned. Which can be fabricated by real input or synthesized means. Depending on how much time you want to spend on the project. Many means to an end.

 

[RAMI]

But is my recording setup able to pump out quality like that? I have...

Yes, it's probably able to get at least damn close.

I know next to nothing about this craft,

That's going to be a much bigger obstacle than your equipment.

 

[legionserial]

That's going to be a much bigger obstacle than your equipment.

^^^This.

But the point is that you have a decent enough setup that it won't neccessarily hinder you getting your chops up to scratch. Unless you're naturally awesome you'll likely be wondering why things sound like ass to start with. It was the same for all of us...with the exception of the likes of rami and gerg who I can't imagine ever having sucked at this game.

Anyway...practice, practice, practice.

 

[suprstar]

Anything is possible, it's all 1's and 0's as far as a computer is concerned. Which can be fabricated by real input or synthesized means. Depending on how much time you want to spend on the project. Many means to an end.

Yeah, sometimes I just code the 0's and 1's by hand if I'm not in a great sounding room. Why compromise....