Hang in there Mike, it's only toys
Aloha Mike,
I really can empathize with you about compatibility issues. I'm a relative newcomer to computer recording and went through several false starts - very time and money consuming false starts - before finding a recording chain that is working for me.
First, I had trouble with my laptop's chipset and PTLE compatibility. Then with interface-computer synch'ing, then space errors, then RAM deficiency errors, etc., etc. If I'd taken it personally I could've sworn that something didn't want me to pursue computer recording. I plowed on, learning more with every new try.
I've been a PC guy for 25 years. But the more I researched the various problems I was having, I had to admit that PC's - unless you are dedicating a separate computer for recording (think about that if you aren't) - will experience incompatibilites through upgrades sooner or later with some piece in your signal chain. A hodegepodge of manufacturers upgrading all the time - which is what PC's are - is bound to create problems, especially in these early stages of computer recording.
The problems taught me this:
- research everything in advance to ensure that all the parts work together
- don't upgrade very often to the latest versions until you see that it is compatible with your chain.
- stay with older versions and even computers and hardware if they are working for you.
- use a dedicated computer for recording only
- integration of software and hardware are very important for recording signal chains
NOTE: I am not someone who participates or cares about the MAC/PC debate. It's stupid. If it works, it's great. If it doesn't work, it sucks. That's it. Mostly I've found that when it doesn't work, it's usually my knowledge of how to use the signal chain that sucks.
However, in my reseach, the answer to these problems was putting together a signal chain that already was fully integrated by the manufacturers for hardware and software - chipset, interface, visuals, DAW, conversion - all of it. That chain became obvious to me, a musician who'd rather play and create natural acoustic music on real instruments than spend time fixing error messages or engineering or trying to make third-party plug-ins compatible with more space junk.
So I bought a new iMac with Snow Leopard OS /
Logic Pro 9.02 DAW/ Apogee Duet interface - w/4 gigs of RAM, 500 gig, 7200 HD, & 500 gig 7200 Glyph external Firewire HD. I already have great & varied front end stuff. The new rig works perfectly for me because it is fully integrated and I keep it simple. I'll get an Ensemble if I need more inputs later.
Sure, learning Logic is a new learning curve, is more expensive than Reaper, and certainly has its share of idiosynchracies. But hardware and software incompatibility is not among them.
My needs are simple, acoustic recording two-tracks at a time. Small track counts, no MIDI, no virtual instruments, only a couple plug-ins. Therefore, I'm not likely to have problems with my new signal chain as long as I don't upgrade, HA!
But, I had your exact "sync" issues with my PC and PTLE. And could not resolve them. I put the time & money into the fixes and it did not work. That was a lesson for me: Use time for playing, not fixing. Move fast if something doesn't work.
Don't get bummed out. As was mentioned, it's all part of the learning and spending curve. This will be a minor blip for you on the radar of your passion for recording music. Enjoy the learning curve. And always ask questions
before you buy!
alohachris
