Need Advice - Which Way To Go - DAW or Computer

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Ken7

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Hi Everyone, I'm new here and I have a some questions.

For some backgound, I believe I overspent and got in way over my head when I bought a Roland VS1680 system. I'm new to home recording, and to be honest, the Roland Unit blew me away as far as all the options and I felt like I was trying to fly a Jet! That constant shift key rountine was driving me crazy...

Was getting the Roland VS1680 as a starting DAW my first mistake? Or should I revisit that Roland instead of selling it all off?

What are the pros and cons of DAW vs Computer Recording?

My wife and I want to do recording at home as more of a hobby. We have no aspirations of stardom. But we do write songs, I play guitar and she play keys, guitar and sings. We would like to have a catalogue of our material and have fun, burn CD's, and yes show off our work to friends, bandmates etc.

What direction or directions would make sense for us.

Thanks for any feedback on this :)
 
Ken7 said:
What are the pros and cons of DAW vs Computer Recording?
Err... DAW stands for Digital Audio Workstation, and it can use a computer for recording.

And I would go with the Computer. It's easier to edit takes and mix with it a computer than a standalone unit (IMHO)...
 
It's entirely a matter of preference. Standalones like your 1680 are much more portable, but not quite as flexible to work with. I'm a PC guy myself.

Incidentally though, I've worked with the 1680 and, IMO it's an excellent package. The learning curve might be a bit higher than with a PC based setup, but it's well worth learning.
 
Software interfaces are a little easier to get around on but they are still far from perfect. They usually pack in 100x more features and that seems to offset the advantage of more screen space. No matter what you want to do it is usually going to be 3 menu pages down.

If you are a real sadist go for the Roland studio pack which combines a difficult to use digital mixer with Logic the worlds most difficult DAW software.

It's really just a matter of picking your poison and learning the system.
 
Softwear is easier and more flexible. Allows you to upgrade easlily, get new effects, try out new sequencers, etc.. You're not tied down. One thing is that you have to trouble shoot bullshit computer problems sometimes, the stand alone DAW's are supposed to be rock solid and don't take any "tweaking" like computers do, just to get them working. Also with a computer you can do everything. You can use it for communication, checking message boards, promoting, research, burning your cds when you've mixed them, etc..

You have a lot more options with a computer, and you can upgrade more easily. If you want more inputs, you can buy a new sound card instead of buying a whole new recording unit. You want a more advanced interface? Get a new sequencer, not a whole new unit.
 
Ken7,

I just bought Sonar 2XL with a Edirol Da-2496 (8X8 I/O) Sound Card. Prior to this I was using a Roland 840EX.

Before I looked into using the computer for recording I was looking at a Roland VS2480.

Why did I choose a computer path?

Firstly I looked at the price of a VS2480. In Australia it costs about $10000.

I had a nicely spec'ed PC, a 1.8Ghz, 512MB RAM, 7200RPm data drive, so I started looking at software. Sonar cost me $1000AUD. The 2480 is a 24 track, 16 simultaneous inputs. Sonar supposedly is unlimited.. dependant on hardware. I also bought the Edirol which cost's $1800AUD .. 8 simultaneous inputs and I can run up to 4 of those card in the one PC.. 32 inputs!!

The 2480 has the VGA option, however using a native Windows program I would be able to navigate around it like any other program.

The way I saw it, if I ever wanted to upgrade "I" believe I have more flexibility to upgrade the computer vs the Roland.

But that's my opinion. For portability the 2480 would win hands down.. For sequencing and recording, SONAR wins hands down. I chose the later ;)

Strokes for folkes,

Porter
 
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