Starting my studio

  • Thread starter Thread starter Mike223
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Mike223

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Hi to all, this is my first post here. I am in the first phase of my studio. Just getting started on the endless journey into recording.

Could I get some opinions on Mac versus PC for Protools. Sonically and Financially.

Hardware opinions.
Monitoring opinions.

I am starting on a very limited budget but hate at the thought of purchasing cheaper equipment only to sell it in a short period of time. Unfortunately as a guitar player for 15 years, I understand that equipment purchasing is a journey. I think the only equipment I have that I started off with is my guitar stand. Oh wait a minute I lost that at a gig. Anyways, I really want to minimize the purchase/sell proccess.
 
Welcome to our site, and our sick hobby!

I can't comment on the Mac v. PC (although the PC is cheaper, and more people record on them), I will tell you that a good place to begin is monitors.. You can get good, basic monitors for relatively cheap, like the Yorkvilles or the Tannoy Proto-J's. Getting these early in your learning curve will start you off in a very good direction, because you can take the time to learn how your monitors sound while you are saving up for your next gear purchase. Monitors are also a good initial investment, because when you decide to step up to better monitors you can keep your first ones as secondary reference monitors.. and you can never have enough mediums to listen to your mixes through.

Cy
 
Could I get some opinions on Mac versus PC for Protools. Sonically and Financially.
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Sonically, there should be no difference. Financially, there is a considerable difference. You'll pay more for a Mac and get less performance. BUT, Pro Tools is one app where it almost pays to get a Mac. I say almost based on my pains using Pro Tools on a PC and the apparent ease Mac users have with it. That's not to say that nothing but pure misery awaits any PC user who tries and between this forum and the Digidesign forum, you should be able to overcome just about any problem that arises. Actually, my last occasion using Pro Tools with a Digi 001 went pretty smooth. Another thing to conider is that Digidesign is claiming Windows XP support is gonna happen soon, which might make Pro Tools on Windows a happy union. Time will tell.

Are you set on using Pro Tools? There's lots of other, and IMO, better apps out there. The thing with Pro Tools is that it's a hardware and software solution so you know it's gonna work together. I use Vegas, but you can get excellent results using Cubase, Logic, SONAR, etc... For instance, you could get an M-Audio Delta 1010, a nice compact mixer, Vegas, and a PC and be just as professional as any Pro Tools setup you'd be looking at (unless you're planning on spending $20,000).
 
Mike223 said:
....Could I get some opinions on Mac versus PC for Protools. Sonically and Financially.

Hardware opinions.
Monitoring opinions.
.....
Click to expand...

BTW, What is your budget?
 
And................................
Welcome to this site. ;)
 
I am somewhat set on protools. However, I have never used it for PC and am open to all suggestions. Financially, I am unable to afford to fork out 20g's right now so that takes care of the Protools/Mac route. I am looking for something to keep me happy with writing and recording good quality music. Preferably, I want the ability to laydown at least 8 tracks at one time. Right now, I am using Acid 3.0 and am digging it alright. Thanks for the input on monitors. I think that will be one of the first purchases. How are Genelecs?
 
If you're using Acid right now and would like to step up to something more powerful, I would recommend Vegas. You basically already know the UI so you shouldn't have any problem whatsoever migrating. Moving from a Vegas style UI (Acid) to the Pro Tools UI is something I considered, but just could not do. The only drawback to Vegas is no MIDI sequencing, but then Pro Tools MIDI sequencing didn't really impress me.

I've never heard Genelc monitors, but from what I gather they are very good monitors, though, not quite deserving of their inflated price tag.
 
Genelecs are wonderfull. We have a pair in the studio I work in, and they sound absolutely fantastic. They also translate well to just about anything.
They're extremely pricey, however, and you might find something just as good at a lower price range.

Oren
 
Yet another newbie question.

What hardware would I need to record 8 simultanious tracks. If I went with Vegas or Pro Tools?

Is Vegas XP compatible?


If I purchased Hardware will I still need to upgrade my soundcard to something like Cubasis VST?

You guys are greatly helpful!
 
You'll need a soundcard that has 8 audio inputs if you want to do that. So this basically means you'll have to upgrade your soundcard anyway. There's alot of options here. I'm not really up to date with all the models, but as far as I know, the ones that have an outbreak-box certainly have a big plus over the others...
 
What hardware would I need to record 8 simultanious tracks. If I went with Vegas or Pro Tools?
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Based on all that I've read here and elsewhere, the M-Audio Delta 1010 is the way to go. You will need a mixer, or something with mic pres though. Another option is the Aardvark Q10, which has eight mic pres built in. It's hang up is drivers though, but that may have been resolved.
Is Vegas XP compatible?
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Indeed it is.
If I purchased Hardware will I still need to upgrade my soundcard to something like Cubasis VST?
Click to expand...
I'm not sure what this means. Cubasis is a junior version of Cubase, I believe (which is software). Anyway, in this case, the hardware is the sound card.
 
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