PROTOOLS? Any warnings? Preferred software?

I'll second that. I think the MEZ CD came out sounding just fine. Plus I have enough cables right now.

i'll just muddle along in my kitchen with my sonar 7 and reason 3. works fine for me. if i want a band recorded for reals i'll go to someone that's set up for that. too many cables for me. elizabeth might trip over something when she's cooking dinner, for god's sake!

Ok, I hate all this point click #@&%!. I don't even much the controll scenarios where you have one set of knobs for EQ and you select the channel to edit with a button. I want gain, dynamics, eq, sends, pans, and faders each with its own knob.

Anybody know someone with real money?

I will build the ultimate virtual console controller for your DAW. Imagine calling up an SSL 4000 G Series and there you have an image of the console drawn 1:1 scale. And you can use your finger to turn any knob, fader, or switch! And it is mapped to your VST SSL plug-ins. You would never touch a mouse or a keyboard except for when dealing with files. A Developers Surface cost $15,000. Hello?

ok getting a portable le 4 .. I remember when it would take hours to download songs, and god forbid a program would exceed a mb... now I do a search for some of these apps and they are all around the 5 gb size, good grief!

I noticed Presonus's DAW. I think it's a little confusing but It's probably designed and optimized for the hardware (duh) but anyway, you gotta love all this dev for music. It's the best thing about the pc revolution IMHO. I think I'll see what I can torrent today for a sample before buying. Maybe I'll edumacate myself.

My presonus came with a very usable version of cubase 4 le. I was actually very surprised with how unlimited it was. Almost wish I hadn't paid for the studio version. Presonus has there own DAW out now too, that is supposed to be very much like cubase. i think it's based on cubase, or made by people from stienberg. It's suppossed to be good, but I don't know for sure. I'd probably rather have cubase, just because it's been around. So, I wouldn't doubt it if they already started packaging it with their interfaces.

thanks Joe, that's really helpful advice actually. I appreciate it. I hadn't consideded the presonus firebox /cubase package, and hadn't messed around with much but I have considerable experience with the plugins! That's awesome. Had no idear about the midi friendliness either. That's exactly the sort of advice I was looking for. Can't wait to order something. I may have to see what I can get in the way or a trial version of cubase, see how I like it :) Muchas gracias.

I think the mbox bundle is a pretty good deal mainly for all the software you get. That being said, I think something like the presonus firebox is a much better peice of gear.
Also, cubase is still light years ahead of PT le for midi. Honestly, always being a windows guy, I found PT to be kind of complicated. It feels like Mac software with the way the menus and quick keys work. I really found it frustrating. And to say that PT le is the holy grail is simply wrong. There are plenty of pros using cubase/nuendo...
If the presonus firebox is still coming with cubase 4 le, that would be my choice. You don't get as much software with it, but it's a much better piece of hardware. If you want to spend even more, and if you need the extra in/outs, the presonus studio project is awesome. It's what I'm using now.
I'd avoid motu like the plague. I actually bought the traveller, and spent about 3 days trying to get it to work. Some of the worst support and the worst drivers I've ever experienced. I took it back to get the Presonus. No regrets, I'm completely happy with it.
I've also had good luck with e-mu. Patchmix is awesome. The preamps are great. But the company is slow too respond to market changes.
Pretty much all the DAWs now days do the same thing, and do it well. I do a lot of drum programming, and much prefer Cubase, or anything else with a dedicated drum editor, over PT for that.
I also prefer VSTs/VSTIs over any of the other plugin formats.
My opinion is biased. I started on, and have always returned to, cubase and nuendo. So they are what I prefer, but hopefully I've helped a little.

yes, watching threads devolve into disanity proves interesting to me

but they are worth their weight in gold. I look fwd to Jam's 1/2 page rant on whatever subject piques his interest. Pure gold indeed. Such things can't be growed in a lab brother.

Not to devalue your insight either.

....replies can be a mite slow 'round here....

this is funny I just found this "GearSlutz - where sane conversations go to die . . . " sounds like this place except exponentially quicker.

actually I want to be slutty on this site

I am reasonably technical and I do check in at GS when I am looking to buy some new toys, but really when it comes the stuff I already use....I just turn the #@&%! on and play with it.

yeah, I just saw a bunch of threads similar to this that would take a right turn and either turn into product loyalty threads or really nitpicky sound quality issues. I enjoy reading all the technical stuff, but sometimes you just want to know if people enjoy working with software, or if the plugins suit their needs.

Take Reason for instance: I think it's great, for treaking midi sounds and works great for somebody like Scott: but it's not for everyone. I still will go over to GS and always do, for buying new products, etc. I appreciate all the help Jams.

Sorry about sending you guys to Gearslutz. Frankly, I thought most of you guys were technically savvy. But I guess you can have technical expertise without getting into the nuts and bolts. But Gearslutz is multi-faceted with so many different communities. The matering and post-production bunch are real snobby self important know-it-alls. But the actual technical group - people who build, modify and fix electronics - are a very cool bunch. You can find what you are looking for if you take the time to wade thru it all.

One thing I have noticed that seems odd. When recording with a DAW, itseems like it takes more time to go start another track or go back to punch in something than it did with tape. That doesn't seem right and I am talking about working with seasoned engineers. And things sound good, but not as good as on a Sony/MCI 2" machine.

I love the options we have now, this is what I, and Monkey too I guess, used back in the early 90s...thing bled like a new inmate too.
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/23/29088034_2a7476fe65.jpg

That's cool Ruud. All I know about Ableton is the fact that NIN actually recorded one of their albums on it, and it has a loyal following. I would probably stick with Reaper but I do want some better plugins. Also, I miss being able to score midi.... All the synth editing is just getting sick these days. I need a week to click and drag stuff... just to operate some of these

I've been working with Ableton Live for a year now and it's great. Very easy to find my way through the recording and editing process for someone who had not recorded with the computer before. It's very user friendly. Now, since we went into a professional studio with the Black Hills, I was forced to buy ProTools together with a MBox Pro. I find it a little harder to work with, it's even a little stern, but I have to admit it's really professional. But it simply takes more time and study for me to get it.

well said Babar

Gear gear gear.....I am waiting on some cables so I can use my mic again!

GS has some great info but with my limited skills I have found I do best by playing with the toys I have. I seem to learn more by just #@&%!ing with everything until I get what I am after. Plus the #@&%!s here are nicer #@&%!s.

matter of fact: there are a lot worse aholes on gearslutz than there ever were here, respectfully said hopefully.

Actually, I did a bit of a search in the forums. Most get too technical - I just wanted to know how much people liked it, or how hard it was to learn, etc. I'd much rather get my answers here. I saw some huge debates over there. I'm not too worried about latency, or electronics, engineering, all the nitpicky stuff and I"m not getting a HD rig.

That said: I find the bit about the adat in the front as being particularly cool.
over at GS I just realize I'm a small fish in a big damn ocean

Frankly, I do not find a signficant difference between any of them. They all do recording, playback, editing, dynamics, eq, and effects. And with interfaces like VST and DirectX, you can get most of the functionality that others have from plugins. I am sure we are at a point where processing algorithms are not too different from each other for the same effect.

The biggest factor in digital recording is not the software but the hardware. What made ProTools superiror where the DSP processor farms handling the processing while the host computer handles GUI. The first multitrack DAW I ever had used the ADAT as its front end instead of cheezy PC sound cards. The last studio I used has the MOTU interface and sounded very good. Didn't see any major improvement over ProTools with Apogee converters. There is also SSL and Lynx. Few pros have much good to say at all about mbox.

As I have express previously is standardization. In the upper realms, ProTools IS the industry standard. I would want to know if LE on PC has compatitiblity with Mac ProTools.

For anyone serious about any of this, join GearSlutz.com as that site is full of real professionals giving rare free advice on any and all technical issues.

Yes, that's about my line of thought. I was thinking about the original MBoxes, and found a couple pretty cheap locally but I keep hearing that there are definitely some hardware issues /latency, driver problems. People swear that the new versions are far easier to get running across platform, etc. I was really surprised at how much of a bang for a buck you get from the LE, and the m-powered isn't that much more for an upgrade.

I did find a cubase and sonar le that come bundled with a bunch of misc software as well. Woe is me that tries to go legit with software. I just didn't feel right with anything bootlegged last year. I didn't realize how much software had improved since some of the older versions. I think that you will get a great deal regardless of which big platform you choose.

Chris, I do have a strong interest in MOTU and presonus, focusrite, or some of those fancy usb mixers you can get. So many choices!

hey unk, i'm using PT8 LE on a first generation mbox (i recently upgraded the software from version 6.4 LE). it has two balanced inputs which is nice for recording with mics in stereo (i do two overheads for drums). i think that mini you're looking at has just one, so something to keep in mind (although i'm sure you could figure out to work around it with a preamp or mixer. i am very happy with the set up, and i doubt i'll ever change the software; i'll probably change the hardware down the road.

Hahahah Coolfog

yeah- I hear ya... I don't really need a big interface but I understand what a lockin you have after you get the system vs. the software. The thing I've been looking at is this http://www.digidesign.com/index.cfm?itemid=4962&langid=100 for about 225, etc. Not bad.... I'm a little on the fence. Eh... well I guess I need a little money. Thanks Chris

Go for it give us a review of how you like it.

but oh no! they stopped bundling it with cubase. what a bummer. I have no idea how that DAW is and its new so thats a big gamble. I wonder who's got cubase's license to bundle now..... License to bundle haha.

One last piece of input.... MOTU's sound great and seem great but 4/5 people I know that went motu (in a study of 5 people) have had software issues and compatibility issues and motu just doesnt give a #@&%!. Their customer support is godawful.

http://www.presonus.com/products/Detail.aspx?ProductId=5

and check out the reviews on this thing. I feel its an enormously better way to spend your money.

my mistake, you can le for under 1000, but it comes bundled with an interface that has 2 mic inputs. The cheapest decent interface they offer is 1,300

the only disadvantage to protools is that you are forced to use m-audio all the way. 1000+ bucks for LE is no #@&%!ing bargain either. My preference is cubase. Presonus has badass gear with tons of ability that comes with cubase and logic.

I'm not a whiz at this stuff by any means but I've heard so much negative about protools. As long as you want a branded system with everything being protools/m-audio branded and are willing to pay for the name time and time again for the sole advantage of having your gear be 'the industry standard' than its fine. That was enough to scare me off. I can hook anything I want up to my gear and if for example a component #@&%!s out on me and I need to borrow a buddys interface/controller/faders etc etc, I can do it without worrying.

Me too. Poolhouse: what version do you have? I'm hoping LE is enough... but expansion looks pretty easy too

I am a fan of whatever system works to get the sound you want.

Thanks Poolhouse: I've read and heard everything from the warnings that it requires a doctorate and a super system, to the idea that any monkey could use it....As far as systems, I'm drooling after the mbox 2 mini ...Looks good, and I have every OS imaginable, so theoretically at least, that shouldn't be a problem. Worst case: I can always build a workstation for it. Really, I don't think I'll need more than a few inputs but that's how you always feel before you start working.

I like protools, but I don't know much else. It doesn't work with many windows systems after xp, so check compatibility before you buy.

personally I just think Sonar is overpriced, but the Protools LE comes with several devices: for as little as about 70 bucks....I guess it's not exactly a huge gamble. Actually: you can do a. ton in audacity matter of factly, but I like the idea of surround mixes, and all these plugins I keep reading about. Computers man: thats where it's at sometimes

I have not tried Protools, but am very happy with Sonar.

Hi, I know I've preached and suggested different things but I'm really tempted to get the protools LE but I know there are some warnings out there. I used to like cakewalk, but Sonar seems to be a turnoff for me.

Are there any suggestions for other software suites? Any reasons for or against this? Maybe it's just the appeal of the holy grail, but It's about the only thing I haven't tried. Hmmm