wave digital systems???

[trique]

Anyone recommend or advise against going with a system bundle from a place like Wave Digital? I'm not questioning the reliability of the merchant, just whether or not you guys think that would be a smart move...funds permitting of course...

Being new to computer based recording, their "we sweat the details..." policy is enticing, BUT_will I be missing out on an important aspect of music making by not piecing together the studio?


thank you

 

[kennedy connor]

Go for it

You can save about a 1,000$ building your own system...but the real issue is that wave digital isn't going to be around to hold your hand when things go wrong...although I'm sure their support is good they are not on call 24/7.......digital audio (DAWS) IMHO is definitely not a "plug and play" medium....everyday I am called upon to learn something new about how my system works and what I need to do to fix it. I've had TWO maxtor drives die on me in 9 months time.. this is a reputable company but things break , windows crash, ad infinitum.
It took my tascam tape recorder to the shop once in 10 years.....No matter what you decide to do the more you know about your system the better off you will be! FYI I used the wav digital specs to have my local trusty computer store to create my system....All this sounds a little negative but I must also say that the quality of the recordings I do now are amazing ,at least to me. I'll never go back to tape!

 

[trique]

Thanks so much for the advice!! I've nowhere near the $$$ I need to get a good system...but while I save, I will research my ass off and try to learn everything I can.
Just out of curiosity, what does your system consist of?

thanks again!!!!

 

[kennedy connor]

Amaze Yourself!

this is a fairly detailed list of my specs. The computer sans monitor cost 1500 at that time... the ram alone is now half price. I gleaned this combo spceifically to work with giga sampler and cakewalk.... the soundscape card is the most sophisticated and most reliable audio component...I totally endorse them because they are the most compatible card.... GSIF DIRECTX ASIO,Amae multiclient etc..

Abit BE-6-2 440BX
Pentium 3 750 slot 1
Maxtor Diamond Plus 30.7GB (audio)
Maxtor Diamond Plus 10.2GB (programs) HighPointUltraDMA-66 PLUS Controller
512MB PC 100
Plextor 12x10x32x CDRW
ATI Xpert 98 8MB
Teac 1.44MB
Mitsumi keyboard
ATI rage pro
Microsoft intellimouse
Win 98 SE
#A50 Case
Linksys 10/100 ethernet LAN card

Soundscape Mixtreme V1.2.1
Soundscape SS810-3 analog I/O
Soundscape Audio Tool Box V 1.03
Wave Mechanics DSP Reverb V 1.1.1
Cakewalk Proaudio 9
Giga Studio 96......

If you already have a computer you can start using it in a somewhat limited capacity to begin to do some recordings...I initially started on a P 166, cakewalk homestudio and the stereo mini jacks,and the quality was still better than tape!

 

[mjhigg]

I have no idea what the heck Wave Digital is, but I think I can offer some advice on the PC front. I would agree with kennedy in that it's just better than tape, any way you cut it! I went from a Tascam cassette recorder as well, and the difference is amazing! But there was a pretty big learning curve. Searching the forums on this site can help greatly. From my research, I have understood that you need some basic things:

1. the computer (obviously)
2. the software (multi-track like Cakewalk or N-track, and sound editor (like Soundforge or CoolEdit)
3. the soundcard (lots of info about that on the site)
4. the preamp (for interfacing instruments and microphones with the computer)

There's room to cut corners to save $$$ with all of the above, but you really need all of these to get going.
And it helps if you have a nice mic or two, preferably a condenser (which I don't have, and manage to get by).

Some will say to put your own system together, and that's fine, but it's not always as easy as it sounds. I'm no computer geek, but I'm no dummy either, and I had a very difficult time trying to put together a computer from scratch! In the end, I decided to go with a refurbished Dell computer at http://www.dell.com/us/en/dfh/products/series_dimen_desktops.htm That way, I had the basic system in place, to which I could add a soundcard, etc. They have an online database, and the systems are far less expensive than their new ones, and they come with a decent warranty. Also, www.buy-atlas.com was recommended by C-NET. Try selecting and configuring the PS3000. It's a pretty amazing bargain for a system!