Unbiased educated opinion needed! - Recording Software

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chrisv

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After downloading several of the leading demo audio recording software applications (Cakewalk, Pro Tools, Sonic Foundry's - havn't downloaded cubase yet) and using them for a while, I still have not come up with a discision regarding what I should go with. I would like it if anyone out there that has used these apps for professional use - (not just tinkering like me) - could give me some educated tips on what to go with.

My goal in all of this is to create a high quality demo for my band. I am an experienced systems consultant, so technical difficulty or intuitiveness are not as important to me as useablity and overall features. One of my pet peaves is buying something and then finding out down the road that I could have spent $100 bucks more and gotten a product that's much better. This will also be for a home studio, so buying a 10 grand pro tools system is out of the question. I need quality and reliability. Thanks for the help!

Chris
 
something to think about...

you just has to bring one of those topics...( he he he), so I will just give you a little info (this could get crazy). If your thinking about pro tools, I guess you mean pro tools free. It is very limited, you might need more (and you need to supply more info about what you have and where you want to go). You have to think about plug ins ( avalibility, pricing ). This maybe why you want to go down the Sonar route (LLLLOOOOOTTTSSS of plug-ins and SOME FREE!!!!) however Sonic fountry is good to it also uses Direct X plug-ins and offers cool stuff, like their mastering software, and noise reduction stuff. Im like you I want pro features in my software, so I preffer Sonar. Back to protools, if you want a step up from PT free, you have to buy the tool box thing for about $500 (NOT recommended) or the Digi 001 $800, I like it as well, and it is pro, but remember the plug in thing , they can be very expensive. You have to use special plug-ins for that RTAS or Audio Suite, their are only a few makers out there for these. I will let the pros on here go on further for you.

Ham
 
one more thing...

you did not mention N-track, did you try that. I think you should down load that demo (its very good) you can actually start using it right away to record. If you like it buy it for about $50 bucks ( yes, $50 bucks), I have recordered with it (not just tinkering) it really is cool and very professional. Now keep in mind Im not suggesting to compete against protools $10,000 with it (real time plug-ins and very high track count. Cheaper software and hardware will rely on the computers processing power. So heres my choices for you by list of importance ( and all are very high quality) the rest is up to you hard ware, inluding the soundcards quality.

Sonar #1
N-track #2
Sonic fountry #3
 
so I will just give you a little info (this could get crazy)

It may help if I let known what hardware I have decided on. I have decided on the Aardvark Q10 (unless I am highly persuaded to go with pro tools, therefore making me go with the digi001). From my understanding I cannot use the Q10 with pro tools. But after all of the threads I have meticulously read through I have been questionable about going with the digi001, mainly because of the preamp issues.

Sidenote: After all the talk about the studio projects C1 and after hearing a downloaded sample recording, my ears have decided on buying this mic. I was very impressed with it. So my thinking is this: Why go with a unit with a questionable preamp (digi001) if I am going high quality on the mic (C1)? I have not heard any issues regarding aardvarks preamps (I know the Q10 was just released, but I havn't heard anything about the 24/96 preamps either). Plus if I go with the digi001 and decide to switch software (due to any number of reasons), I will have to buy new hardware (from my understanding).
 
your on the right track, dude, go with it. That aardvark is quite cool. I believe you will get cakewalk 9 full version with that, I say stick with that package, (order it now dammit..he he) you will very happy. remember that if you get a card with software, somebody tried to work out the compatibility issues, which you would have to do yourself, experimenting with this card that software, ya know?
 
another thing about the mic deal, the digi001s pre amps are kinda weak. the aardvarks ok. Remember, most guys on here use a specific preamp, so as not to rely on the cards pre amps. This you will have to try yourself, but I like the aardvark set up, dude.

Ham
 
DUDE read this!!!

I went to bayviewproaudio.com I saw this: buy the aarvark card and it Includes a Free SE Electronics SE2000 Microphone ($399.00 value) includes spider shock-mount and deluxe case. I have not really checked out the prices on this thing at other stores but, I thought i'd tell you.

Ham www.bayviewproaudio.com
 
That free mic deal looks pretty good. They are packaged that mic with several of their more expensive products.

Ok...so with all things accounted for - all things said and done - do all of these products (Sonar, Sonic, Cubase and ProTools) produce pretty much the same? From what I've used, they all seem to have many of the same bells and whistles. Does it come down mostly to user preference? Or is their a major advantage that one has over the other? Could all these be compared much like Coke and Pepsi - (ohhh! Coke has more fizzzz!!......ohhh!!! Pepsi tastes sooo much different!!) - but when all is said and done they are pretty much the same thing? Or are their major advantages one has over another? From my tinkering I was not able to decide that one was better than another.

Maybe what I'm getting at is when I have all of my demo songs recorded down and ready to be mastered, which piece of software will do the best job of it - with audio quality of course being my top concern (user experience not taken into account)?Or can all of these produce the pretty much the same end product? Because if so, I am thinking that Sonic XL upgrade from cakewalk (which comes with the Q10) would be my best bet. Thanks for the input.
 
I am thinking that Sonic XL upgrade from cakewalk (which comes with the Q10)

Yes< go this route, what you want to achieve will be done properly this way. You dont want to go down the protool way in your case. Trust me on this the sonar aardvark package will do a very good job, and if it sounds bad its not the software or the hardware, I LOVE my sonar...even compared to protools LE which is what your comparing this to.

Like I said before "buy it!!!!"

Ham
 
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