I'm doing a pretty "basic" recording project with some friends. We're on a very tight budget (who isn't?) and we need to do something that'll do the job. So I'm in charge of figuring out what we need and what will benefit us in the future. I have a m-audio firewire audiophile and then the pci audiophile version. I have a yamaha mg102 mixer that runs into the pci card. (i've had all this for a couple years now for live setup) I also have a decent mic, and I'm making most of the music in Reason. But reason doesn't record audio so I'm trying to figure out what I need and what would be best. So I am considering the m-powered version of pro tools for $300.
I also have heard Cubase is good too. Cubase SL is $300 I believe too... are there any advantages of Cubase SL over Protools m-powered? I realize PT is industry standard, but I'm still not sure about a lot. I think we do want to be able to transfer our tracks to other studios to get mixed if we wanted.
On the other hand, I was also considering get that presonus firepod (not firebox) and try using the Cubase LE version that comes with it and learn that. I am considering the presonus because I'm assuming the pres on the presonus are better than the ones on my yamaha mixer > sound device. Would I get better sound quality out of the presonus firepod? Would the sound quality be worth it even though the Cubase LE is limited? Really we only need to record vocals at the moment.. since most of the rest is done in reason or electric guitar. Would the presonus be a good investment incase we were to record multiple tracks at once in the future when we get more established?
I'm concerned about the protools m-powered stuff because if I'd ever expand my audio interface in the future to a motu, presonus, or anything except m-audio/digi I'd be stuck with software I can't use! But on the other hand I'm concerned about transfering tracks to other studios.. would other studios be able to pull up a song made in cubase rather easy?
My thoughts are very scattered and I get extremely confused whenever I think about this and it's time to be done with it. I got m-powered protools, cubase, and presonus all running through my mind but don't have any idea as to what to do! Can anyone offer me advice? I hope most of this makes sense.
I also have heard Cubase is good too. Cubase SL is $300 I believe too... are there any advantages of Cubase SL over Protools m-powered? I realize PT is industry standard, but I'm still not sure about a lot. I think we do want to be able to transfer our tracks to other studios to get mixed if we wanted.
On the other hand, I was also considering get that presonus firepod (not firebox) and try using the Cubase LE version that comes with it and learn that. I am considering the presonus because I'm assuming the pres on the presonus are better than the ones on my yamaha mixer > sound device. Would I get better sound quality out of the presonus firepod? Would the sound quality be worth it even though the Cubase LE is limited? Really we only need to record vocals at the moment.. since most of the rest is done in reason or electric guitar. Would the presonus be a good investment incase we were to record multiple tracks at once in the future when we get more established?
I'm concerned about the protools m-powered stuff because if I'd ever expand my audio interface in the future to a motu, presonus, or anything except m-audio/digi I'd be stuck with software I can't use! But on the other hand I'm concerned about transfering tracks to other studios.. would other studios be able to pull up a song made in cubase rather easy?
My thoughts are very scattered and I get extremely confused whenever I think about this and it's time to be done with it. I got m-powered protools, cubase, and presonus all running through my mind but don't have any idea as to what to do! Can anyone offer me advice? I hope most of this makes sense.