Newbie Pro Tools Question

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BluMusic

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Greetings All ~

First I would like to establish that I am a musician/composer foremost and although I am quite comfortable with a PC, my overall user knowledge of music software is limited. I, started out in 1990 buying C-Labs' Notator/Creator which was then bought by EMagic developed for the Atari. I, got to know this sequencing software so good that I really could give seminars. Obvious limitations was that it didn't record analog so I had to improvise when recording guitar and/or vocals. Then I was forced kicking & screaming to purchase a PC for music due to system breakdowns on the Atari and the inability to replace parts. So, my next move up was Cakewalk Home Studio but before I became real comfortable with this program, a buddy showed me his work on Cubase and it seemed a little more powerful than what I was using so I purchased Cubase SX v1.06, which is what I still use as of now.

Recently, I came upon DigiDesign's FREE PROTOOLS and saved it to CD. However, I haven't installed it as yet because of a couple of reasons.
1. I'm currently working on a musical project w/Cubase and don't want to interupt the flow with that.
2. Since I've never used ProTools or seen it in action, I'm uncertain of the learning curve.

My question to the Board is, do I need it? I'm starting to really understand Cubase. Maybe not as good as I understood Notator/Creator but I'm getting close and for what I do in music, Cubase seems to provide the necessary functions. What will this Free Version of ProTools give me that Cubase can not? I, realize that there are versions of ProTools that run up to $10,000. I'm sure that installing that system is the ultimate but obviously Digidesign is not giving those features in the Free Version and I am paranoid about using much needed space on my drives for another program. If anybody is fimiliar with Free ProTools, is it pretty much the same as what I already have with Cubase SX?

Thanks :confused:
 
When you allready have SX, it is a better option than Pro Tools Free.

Pro Tools free is more of a bit of a 'playground' were you can find out how the program works or to make small premixes you want to use later for mixing in another studio.

If you really want to make the loop to Pro Tools, you can go for the Pro Tools LE version, which is supllied with the MBox, Digi 001 and Digi 002(R).
I'm a great Pro Tool slover, but I don't want to advice you to rush into things. If you are really comfortable composing and recording with SX, you can stay with that.

Consider Pro Tools LE if you really want to expand your audio recording abilities (PT will do some good sequencing but Cubase will beat it in that) and if you consider going professional with recording. Pro Tools LE gives you compatibility with almost all the large studios and it is the industry standard. If you want to stay in the homerecording field though, consider staying with Cubase SX.
 
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Thanks Brett ~

You have given me very good advice. I am only interested in making the best Home recordings possible. Basically, all I want to achieve is broadcast quality recordings for my personal use, not for public profit. In other words, I am not aspiring to open a recording studio for other people to come in.

I guess since I've been hearing Pro Tools is the Grand Daddy of music software, I thought this was something to check out. I don't have the money to build a ProTools workstation especially since I'm not a seasoned engineer and it's really only for my own projects.

But when I send my stuff out, I want the listener to hear the best quality possible and my recordings thus far with Cubase are not consistant. I have not yet been able to get a wide range of distinct sound with my mixdowns. If I record a tune with four or five instruments, no problem. But when I start adding strings and/or horns to a tune, things start to get lost in the background and was thinking that maybe ProTools would correct that.

Thanks Buddy
 
HarleyDavid said:
Thanks Brett ~


But when I send my stuff out, I want the listener to hear the best quality possible and my recordings thus far with Cubase are not consistant. I have not yet been able to get a wide range of distinct sound with my mixdowns. If I record a tune with four or five instruments, no problem. But when I start adding strings and/or horns to a tune, things start to get lost in the background and was thinking that maybe ProTools would correct that.

Thanks Buddy
Click to expand...

You're welcome,

It seems that you have more troubles mixing your music than actually with your software. I would advice you to improve your mixing skills (try to read a lot about it, listen a lot to music you like) and you're results will much improve. Pro Tools as a software can not make things sound great: like any other DAW it needs someone with knowledge to operate it.

Good luck!
 
harley. if you want something for composing songs that will save you a lot of time try band in a box sometime. a lot of cubase, pro tools and other users use it. its a very usefull songwriters tool.
 
HiYa Manning ~

Sorry but I'm a little confused with what you wrote. I don't have problems with recording or composing. My problem is strickly mixdown quality and separation.
Now if you feel Band-in-a-Box can help solve this problem, I will certainly check it out. But what Brett was saying makes sense to me referring to reading more on sound recording techniques and what he said about listening to other recordings is what I am currently doing to guage how final projects compare.

I was at the movies a few days ago and the song that was playing at the end while the credits were rolling was a very good tune. But what impressed me was there was all these instruments going at once and in the background of this song was this glock very soft hitting on the 3 in every other bar. But you could hear it as if the freakin guy was sitting next to you striking it. The vocals were in your face and yet there wasn't a single instrument that you had to strain to distinguish. That's what I need to get from my recordings.

Peace
 
harley. i was purely trying to make a point that ive seen people spend hundreds of hours with traditional multitrack software trying to get tracks down , and biab could have created a back up band for them in a bout 20 minutes with drums, bass, keys. etc etc. also it lightens the load on your pc .
 
Ah yes .. I certainly understand where you're driving too ;) However with me, I absolutely love playing music. I'm a fusion guitarist that use to gig in L.A. with jazz bands as a keyboardist. Also my drums aren't a module, I bought Roland's V-Session Set. I play the Chello and I'm not that bad on Sax, having started out as a child with the Clarinet. So you see my friend, with me, it's all about playing the music. That's where I get to leave this Planet and travel to other places. It's when I get to the recording part that it starts to pull at my hair.

Don't get me wrong Manning, if I didnt absolutely cherish the information that I get here, I wouldn't waste my time posting these kinds of questions. I've found that you guys have it down and I am completely jealous at how much you all seem to know about this stuff.

The only real fun that I'm having so far is playing and I think I'm missing out on the other end of the spectrum. So software programs like BITB is not for a guy like me. I'm thinking that I need to enroll in a recording class at the local College and learn all about sinewaves and air pressure and crap like that :eek: so I can strut my stuff like you guys do.
 
Pro Tools Free is only going to work on Windows 98 or ME
so if you're running XP...it's not going to work
Brett's answered the rest :cool:
 
Thanks Benny ~

Yeah I'm still running 98se (old school) but I think I'm gonna hold off from installing it for now. Sounds to me like ProTools Free isn't gonna give me much more than I already have with Cubase SX 1.06

Oh yeah, I wanted to ask if Sound Forge would assist in my over-all mixdowns or does Cubase have whatever Sound Forge offers?
 
harley. i see where you coming from now.
as your heavily into guitar give this a look sometime - its a whole master class series , but maybe you already know about it.
it shows the guitar freboard while playing. rather interesting.
http://www.pgmusic.com/jazzguitarmasterclass.htm
there are also many others of this ilk. including oscar peterson.
 
Hey Manning ~

Very Cool ... wish I would think of stuff like that. I don't know a single advanced musician that feels they have nothing more to learn. George Benson is a friend of mine and even he likes to listen to other guitartist to hear what kinds of new tricks guitar players are doing these days. I'd probably piss my Instructors at Berkeley off if they found out after all that money I spent over 4 years, I was taking Jazz Guitar lessons from a CD Class.

Thanks Guy
 
harley. tell george B , as you know him how much ive always liked his rendition of "On Broadway". can never get that tune outta my head when i hear it.
 
manning1 said:
harley. tell george B , as you know him how much ive always liked his rendition of "On Broadway". can never get that tune outta my head when i hear it.
Click to expand...

Are you kidding me
:confused:

First of all, that's George's signature guitar song and you would probably be one of about 20 million people that said that to him.

Second, since that tune was recorded so very long ago, I think he would like to hear that somebody was turned on by other renditions that he did.
Don't know where you are but if you are anywhere near New York, you might want to stop in at Sam Ash White Plains from time to time. He told me a while ago that's where he likes to shop for new toys.

Or if you happen to go to Maui, George owns Lahina Recording Studio. Never know, you might even catch him there if you book a session.
I haven't seen or talked to him in about 3 years now. I think maybe I should buy a Christmas Card since he's in my thoughts.

C-Ya
 
harley. do you know where it was recorded ?
your right about the millions of fans.
what i find interesting about that particular song is some guitarists would have layered all sorts of lead breaks all over it. whereas he acieved "such a balance" with it. i'm always screaming at some guitarists about taking a balanced approach and playing "the spaces" and not trying to showcase how many notes they can play in a few seconds.
 
Manning ~

I completely understand what you're talking about. Speed does not and never will equate to talent. If your fast then I would say you're skilled. But I wouldn't necessarily say you're talented. Ever wonder how a guy like B.B. King can be recognized as a premier guitatist when most everybody on the Planet can play circles around him? Granted, he's not one of my favorites but I do respect his ability to simply put in his solo notes to accent the song not cover it and that is a talent in itself.

Well my wife is yelling at me to come watch Survivor with her. Have a good evening Manning and thanks for the help today. I think I'm keeping things the way they are for now and maybe someday I'll get to buy ProTools Le or something cool like that.

Peace
 
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