switchin platforms need advice

[dgdollaz]

sup, my current setup is a roland vs-2000 and a triton and a motifes.

im selling my roland for a computer.

im about 75% sure i want a PC.

my main concerns are that i want to record at least 8 tracks at a time. so does that mean my audio interface would have to have 8 inputs or do i need firewire?

also im interested in pro tools, reason, and gigastudio,
1. anybody know about how these programs compare to their counterparts?

and i want to have the computer control both the triton and the motif
2.do i need a special interface for that?

3.basically im concerned about what interface to get and what software to mainly use.

4.and if this is possible, how can i get an mbox to record 8 tracks simultaneoulsy?

appreciate it
ive been shying awaying from computers for so long, now i feel like i need one.
thx in advance

 

[ssscientist]

im about 75% sure i want a PC.

They are the best value for your dollar. Simply stated, with a Mac you pay more to be insulated from the nuts and bolts of pesky computers and computing.

i want to record at least 8 tracks at a time

That means you will be working in a studio with a full band most of the time, right? If not, consider an interface that gives you 2 or 4 ins at a time.

pro tools, reason, and gigastudio

protools (ick) is very low on my list, mostly because it's brutally expensive and the choices are an M-Box with no midi or a Digi-rack with 8 inputs. Reason is a brilliant sound and song creation program with no ability to record audio - I use a program called Tracktion as a ReWire host to add audio recording capability to it. Gigastudio is a 'soft sampler' and comes in many versions. I got a cut down copy free with my Tascam US-122 but gave up on it before getting it to work.

i want to have the computer control both the triton and the motif

A standard midi interface, even a $30 one, would let you do that. Just hook them up with the local off to break the connection between the keyboard and the sounds inside.

what interface to get and what software to mainly use

I strongly recommend a desktop machine over a laptop. Even in 2005 the laptop market still has enough air in it to make portability a luxury. This is an interface that gets good marks from other HR members, as does this. If you want to record more than 2 tracks at a time, this comes cautiously recommended. You mentioned firewire and in the context you used it I'm not sure you know what that means. If you are going to go with the Edirol, be sure the computer you buy has a firewire port. Last, for software this is an incredible value that now includes a whole bunch of VST's and VSTi (virtual instruments) as well as a full suite of Mackie compression plugins that are among the best I've used.

how can i get an mbox to record 8 tracks simultaneoulsy

Not possible. The MBox is a 2-input interface. If you're sure you need to record 8 tracks at a time go with the Edirol and Tracktion.

 

[ssscientist]

And welcome to the board.

 

[dgdollaz]

sscientist
right on, appreciate the help,
after a couple weeks of goin crazy and so undecided on a setup i decided after my roland vs didnt sell on ebay that ill keep it and run a gigastudio/reason/samplitude PC in conjunction with my VS.

would you know any way i can fully utilize the vs with a PC?

is there a way i can transfer or record multiple tracks to/from the PC/VS?
i know the vs2000 has a usb....

and how does traktion compare with the above software titles??

 

[ssscientist]

would you know any way i can fully utilize the vs with a PC?

Two ways, and you can switch easily between them. First, sync them via midi with the outputs of the computer going into two (or more) inputs of the VS. Second, use them independently using each one for what it's best at - the VS for recording audio and the PC for visual arrangement and sample editing.

is there a way i can transfer or record multiple tracks to/from the PC/VS?

If your VS allows an 'export to wav' option the best way to do it would be to print the files onto a CD in the VS and open them again in the PC. A tempo would need to be set in the VS and the wav's would need to be trimmed, but once you get the routine down the most complicated songs shouldn't take more than half an hour to set up...
Going the other way, just match the tempos and use the export to wav option on whatever PC sequencing software you choose.

and how does traktion compare with the above software titles

Download the demo here and decide for yourself. In my opinion it beats anything on the market for a fraction of the price.