ProTools 6.0 or Emagic 6

[Craig]

I'm just about ready to make the transition to recording on my G3 blue and white Mac (running OSX Jaguar). I was going to buy the new digi 001 ProTools 6.9 package, but Emagic 6 keeps coming up in discussions I've been reading. Just wondering what the key differences are between the two? Do they both do pretty much the same thing (both having their strengths obviously) or is one a completely different animal? To give you an idea of what I'll be using it for, I'll be recording acoustic/electric guitar, bass, vocals, drums and would like to get into virtual instruments (orchestral instruments). Any info would be greatly appreciated. If there's a Web site that breaks down the differences, that info would also help. Thanks for the help...

 

[Stealthtech]

Really, the only difference is the interface. They both do pretty much the same things.
I however prefer Logic as thats what I've used the last 7 years.
Logic is an extensive and reliable program with plenty of power.
You can also have the EXS24 for virtual instruments and several other virtual instruments that are native to Logic.
And as many VST plugs as you wish.
If your using a mac you will surely be privledged to the upgrades along the way. I would take Logic over PT anyday

 

[ambi]

I second the logic recomendations, but i've heard it is quite a lot harder to use than pro tools. Also with protools you can ONLY use protools hardware. So unless you want to go the digi 001/digi 002 or a full blown pro tools rig, i'd be careful with protools.

 

[charger]

Considering that you're using a Blue and White G3, I would go with Pro Tools TDM (instead of a native-processing system) if you can afford it. That's an underpowered computer for today's level of audio trakcs, plugins, and instruments. The only system that will give you kick-ass results with a slower system like that is Pro Tools TDM (which uses dedicated hardware), or one of the other dedicated hardware cards (Universal Audio UAD-1, TC Powercore).

Running Logic or Pro Tools LE with a bunch of tracks and few plugins and virtual instruments is going to very quickly bog down your processor.

That said, if you are thinking about upgrading your computer, any native processing system will give great results with the G4 800+ Macs.

 

[DaisyCutter]

I'm just about ready to make the transition to recording on my G3 blue and white Mac (running OSX Jaguar). I was going to buy the new digi 001 ProTools 6.9 package, but Emagic 6 keeps coming up in discussions I've been reading. Just wondering what the key differences are between the two? Do they both do pretty much the same thing (both having their strengths obviously) or is one a completely different animal? To give you an idea of what I'll be using it for, I'll be recording acoustic/electric guitar, bass, vocals, drums and would like to get into virtual instruments (orchestral instruments). Any info would be greatly appreciated. If there's a Web site that breaks down the differences, that info would also help. Thanks for the help...

I pretty much record the exact same type of instruments that you want to...except for drums.

I switched back to the Mac recently from using Cakewalk on the pc. I was either going to get an MBox/PT LE setup or M-Audio/Logic system.

I could never get ProTools LE to run properly with my Audiophile2496 card (or my two other cards) in my PC. As someone mentioned, it is meant to be used with Digidesign hardware.
It is a really great app if you do alot of audio. I like how it handles midi events in the main window also. It's pretty limited when it comes to midi though. PT's is easy and fast to use. It's main strength seems to be for those who deal mainly in audio. 3rd party plugins seem to be very expensive.

I ended up buying the Logic Big Box because it comes with a sampler, so I can use the orchestral soundfonts I've bought over the years. Comes with some cool soft synths, nice built-in effects, all for around $200-240. It is a strange beast, in that there are some deep features and unique or convoluted ways to do simple tasks, but it is a really great app. I don't like having to use a USB dongle just to run the software...but Digidesign makes you use their hardware, so it is almost the same thing as a hardware dongle also. All the software and plugins of the full Platinum version of the program can be unlocked in the registration screen...so you can buy and unlock other plugins and synths as you need them...you can also demo them, to try them out. The serial numbers are stored in your USB dongle, so you can take your USB key/dongle to another Logic system, plug in your USB key and it'll unlock that copy of Logic with the software you've purchased.

 

[Craig]

Thanks for the info so far guys. As I try and learn more about Emagic 6, it seems like it's software only and I'd have to buy my own interface card/breakout box. Sounds like more $ to me. These decisions are never easy. Thanks again...

 

[Stealthtech]

Thanks for the info so far guys. As I try and learn more about Emagic 6, it seems like it's software only and I'd have to buy my own interface card/breakout box. Sounds like more $ to me. These decisions are never easy. Thanks again...

I use an Audiophile 24/96 card with Logic and it rocks !
You can pick up an Audiophile for $150.00 new
Digi002 with controller runs at $2000.00
Digi001 is $800.00 {both include cards}
Logic 6.0 will be around $700.00
Add an Audiophile for $150.00=$850.00

 

[charger]

You can pick up an Audiophile for $150.00 new
Digi002 with controller runs at $2000.00
Digi001 is $800.00 {both include cards}
Logic 6.0 will be around $700.00
Add an Audiophile for $150.00=$850.00

Beware though, that you can only get 2 in/2 out with the Audiphile, which is fine if you're just recording drums in stereo, but not if you want to go beyond that. The 001 has eight analog ins and outs (two are mic preamps). Either way you go, you are also going to need a small mixer to provide mic preamps for some of those channels, the 001 has 2 mic pres, the audiophile has none. A better comparison point would be the m-audio Omni studio, which has 6 analog inputs (two are mic preamps), for $429.

Either way, recording at the prosumer level is not cheap.

However, I have to disagree about the plugins. Most of the major plugins (Waves, etc.) will provide you with whatever format you want for the same price. It's not going to cost you any more to buy the plugins for RTAS (the Pro Tools LE format) than it will for VST or DirectX. Most of the insane, mac-only and/or TDM only plugins, you can't afford anyway.