Mac Recording

  • Thread starter Thread starter NifT.Bean
  • Start date Start date
N

NifT.Bean

New member
Okay, I have a Macintosh G3, and love it completely. I have been a Mac user all of my life and /really/ do not want to have to go over to the dark side to purchase a PC. But I also /really/ want to start recording and mixing on my own. I don't have a /whole/ lot of capital being only a lowly student, but I am willing to put some money into it.

My questions are for any other mac users out there who could give me some advice. I would like to know what kind of soundcards are the best, and any type of mixing software for the computer, plus any other components I might need in my recording ventures.

thanx, chris
 
Check out http://www.soundchaser.com/ for the software-- I picked up Cubase VST 24/4.0 w/a student discount for $299 (their normal price is $519), and they have prices on other brands of programs.
USE YOUR POWERS OF STUDENT-NESS!! You know how credit card companies offer cards to students hoping to establish customers? Kind of the same thing http://www.zzounds.com/a--2676837/ also has academic discounts. Actually, use this link for soundchaser http://soundstore.holdit.com/perl/cart?category=19&x=2.
I recommend Soundchaser because they were quick with the order and their customer service was good.
At this point, I gotta wait until I can make some more $$$ over summer in order to purchase more equipment (decent mic, soundcard, preamp/mixer and monitors) but I *really* like Cubase-- I find it very easy to use.
What kind of music will you be recording? That may dictate what kind of software/hardware you will be looking at. Check around the different forums here and you will be able to find A LOT of opinions regarding the different software/soundcards, etc.
Oh yeah, I have a G3, too. :)
 
I just purchased a G4.
It's nice to see other Mac users on this forum.

Anyway, You may not need a soundcard right away ... depending on the
type of music you are recording. But ... I'm still new to the digital recording thing.
It's a new world coming from recording on a Tascam Porta2.

I am hoping that using Emagic Micrologic AV software and a MIDI/USB interface
using the existing soundcard will be adequate. I will be recording instrumental music
using a synth. But if you are recording guitars, vocals, and what not ... you may need
more of an interface and perhaps a better soundcard. Unfortunately ... the aftermarket soundcards for the Mac are pretty expensive.
 
ahhh, finally, a mac thread! i asked dragon about starting a mac forum but no go yet...

i have a g4 and digi 001 and it rocks! the 001 is selling for $800 now and it has hardware AND software. it's a great deal for the money. as the interface already has 2 mic pre's, you really don't need a seperate mixer. very cool! not to mention it comes with a whole slew of rtas plugins. add up all the stuff you have buy seperate and compare the value. also, everything is upgradable to the full protools!

i'm also building a smaller mac daw based on an imac dv se to do just stereo mix editing and burning cd's at home. according to apple, the next revision of os9 will support all the current audio usb drivers. which means you can use audio usb interfaces like the roland/edirol sound canvas products. and with firewire, we're sure to see alot more external audio interfaces. there are quite a few options out there for a mac based daw, you just have to dig a bit harder. and while they're may be more stuff for pc based daw's, the majority of it is very cheap and low quality.

good luck!

tony
 
Ditto on the 001! I am a recent Mac convert.
(G4/400/128/os9, w/ Digi001)

If cash is short, Digidesign also has the ToolBox for Mac that looks good too...Same PTLE 5.0 software as the 001, but just has the Audio Media III card. Should be under $500?
 
I posted this elsewhere - where no one seems to be interested in macs. Maybe one of you folks can shed some light. Thanks...

I'm new to all of this. I just want to lay down some simple acoustic/vocal tracks on my handy dandy G3....have a little bit of control over effects and mix...and I don't want to invest $200 to do it just yet. Anyone have a suggestion? Thanks! Michelle
 
I have an old mac which I use a cheap software package for midi on Opcode musicshop
cost me $99.00 which I found very user friendly and I liked. Alas I have swithced to
a pc (shudder). Anyway I was visiting digibid
.com an online auction and found a version
of Opcode studio vision 3.5 a $500 dollar list price software package. I bid $30 dollars on it and am still the highest bidder
but have now found out it is only mac compatable and if someone doesn't outbid me soon I will have to call digibid and retract
my bid, or maybe I will just buy it and resell it if possible or just put it on my
old mac.
 
<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by NifT.Bean:
Okay, I have a Macintosh G3, and love it completely. I have been a Mac user all of my life and /really/ do not want to have to go over to the dark side to purchase a PC. But I also /really/ want to start recording and mixing on my own. I don't have a /whole/ lot of capital being only a lowly student, but I am willing to put some money into it.

My questions are for any other mac users out there who could give me some advice. I would like to know what kind of soundcards are the best, and any type of mixing software for the computer, plus any other components I might need in my recording ventures.

thanx, chris<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Hi Chris! I run a very modest 7200/90 "Power Slug" With Cakewalk's Metro 4.I soon will have a G4, but even then, to record any kind of cool multitrack audio, I will need to invest in a"BIIGG!","FAAST!" Harddrive.I have a 7200 rpm seagate barracuda, and Metro still tells me it is too slow when there is alot of audio tracks.So unless I'm doing something wrong with my system,(Which is very well possible!)
My advice is to get the Biggest,Fastest harddrive you can possibly afford.Still a beginner myself.I hope that helps you some.
 
T.J. Hooker.

You mentioned about purchasing a G4.
I recently bought one and am recording on it.
It seems that the Ultra ATA hard drive that comes with the G4 is up
to the task of recording audio. I'm using Emagic Micrologic AV which
I understand is low level compared to Cakewalk Metro ... but the hard
drive seems to be catching up just fine. I don't know if I pushed it to
the limit yet either ... but I'm sure I'll find out soon enough.

I have an Adaptec ultra SCSI card already installed just in case I need
to get a SCSI hard drive.
 
fogg
I was just today talking to a man very knowledgable on this subject.It seems that having a seperate monster harddrive run from the PCI SCSI card is the optimal way to go for this type of thing.
Being that it is a seperate path than thru your Main system with all your
applications and crap to slow it down.There is also the Firewire for hardrives.

[This message has been edited by T.J.Hooker (edited 04-05-2000).]
 
Sounds like good advice.
Looks like an investment for next year.

In the mean time I will push my Ultra ATA to the limit.
I still think it's up to the task.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top