Please recommend a great sounding SIMPLE system

  • Thread starter Thread starter uucat
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uucat

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Hey there

im a musician currently travelling around europe,
looking to set up a small portable digital recording studio
I have a laptop, a mac powerbook G4, and i want to know what software and hardware i need to set up a SIMPLE great sounding system.

I'm just looking fior something rerally simple and easy to learn how to use that sounds great. I dont use MIDI or synthesizers, just real instruments (piano, bass, lots of percussion, vocals, other srings and various acoustic instruments). So I dont need anything fancy. All I really need is a system with the capabilities of a great sounding 8 track. What is very important to me is maintaining the quality of the sound.

Generally i like to record like this:
I play one long track in real time on a piano or bass.
Then I add layers of tracks over this original track in different places, usually with 4 or 5 tracks of percussion and 2 or 3 of vocals. I can usually get away with just 2 mics, but I'd like the option of more mics and more simultaneous track recording, as I'm going to start playing with others soon. I could probably skip this feature however, if it really complicated my system.

I was wondering if smaller cheaper programs like Garage Band produce inferior sound quality recordings compared to the pro stuff, or is it just their lack of features and capability that make them less desirable than something like DP? Could I get away with a decent interface (suggestions?) going straight into a simple program like garage band?


thanks a lot
 
uucat said:
I was wondering if smaller cheaper programs like Garage Band produce inferior sound quality recordings compared to the pro stuff, or is it just their lack of features and capability that make them less desirable than something like DP? Could I get away with a decent interface (suggestions?) going straight into a simple program like garage band?
Click to expand...
The recordings you make in Garage Band can be just as high quality as those you make in DP - you are quite right in saying the cut-down nature of GB is the main difference. This would fit the bill as far as the hardware you describe, and will hold it's value for later sale when you're ready to move up.

The problem with Garage Band is you are limited to 8 tracks. If you think you will need more than that, see how you like Tracktion. It lets you fill as many tracks as the processing power of your computer can handle. If you like it as much as I do, buy it here.
 
cool...

Thanks for the info,
Ill look into both Tracktion and that little interface.

Anyone have any second opinions the performance of Tracktion?

uc
 
I would look into the Motu Traveler unit, it seems to offer everything your looking for.

And as far as your recording program, look into Cubase.
 
The downside to Garage Band is 16 bit recording. If you can hear the difference between 16 bit and 24 bit sound, I would get another application. If you have the budget, I would suggest something like the MOTU 828, particularly since it comes bundled with AudioDesk. AudioDesk is basically a simplified version of Digital Performer without MIDI. It's somewhat more complex than Garage Band but it does offer 24 bit recording. And it's very simple to transition to DP from AudioDesk if your recording needs ever expand.
 
Another vote for AudioDesk. I'm a Windows person these days, but I still look back fondly on my DP time. MOTU makes a fine program there.
 
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