OK, Getting serious

[anotherfreak]

OK,

are there some good resources for setting a DAW? actually I'm not sure if that's the right word even, I want to set up a dedicated computer for audio recording and cd production. I have been using a Tascam 2488 and I am at an end with it i think.

I am going to be using a PC, I am not stuck on any software, The most tracks I can see needing to do at one time is probably 4 or 6

What are you guys using?

[ZR]

REAPER allows try before buy - I think 30 days - of the whole non-limited program! If you like it I think it's $60 for a 2 version license...sorry I forget the details! It has a higher learning curve but it can do about anything! If you want it more simple then I'm sure someone will chime in.

http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=1&cad=rja&ved=0CDUQFjAA&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.reaper.fm%2F&ei=DEjrUM2DBZSM9ATv2IDgCg&usg=AFQjCNE4D-kg6fxmyIhlS0oRc9GnrMdntw&sig2=WnxvJ2o9ljxSwddoadDJlg&bvm=bv.1355534169,d.eWU

[sixesandsevens]

REAPER allows try before buy - I think 30 days - of the whole non-limited program! If you like it I think it's $60 for a 2 version license...sorry I forget the details! It has a higher learning curve but it can about anything! If you want it more simple then I'm sure someone will chime in.

http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=1&cad=rja&ved=0CDUQFjAA&url=http://www.reaper.fm/&ei=DEjrUM2DBZSM9ATv2IDgCg&usg=AFQjCNE4D-kg6fxmyIhlS0oRc9GnrMdntw&sig2=WnxvJ2o9ljxSwddoadDJlg&bvm=bv.1355534169,d.eWU]http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=1&cad=rja&ved=0CDUQFjAA&url=http://www.reaper.fm/&ei=DEjrUM2DBZSM9ATv2IDgCg&usg=AFQjCNE4D-kg6fxmyIhlS0oRc9GnrMdntw&sig2=WnxvJ2o9ljxSwddoadDJlg&bvm=bv.1355534169,d.eWU

It's actually not all that hard to use and it comes with an unlimited time, fully functional trial.

If you want a low cost, commercial DAW, I think it's hard to do better.

Edit: Unless you've got money to burn, decide if you want a table top interface or a rackmount one and then just pick one. At the low end of the market, it's like a feature arms race with these things and sonically, build quality wise, and feature wise they're pretty comparable.

I'm no pro, but I get surprisingly good results using the line in jack on my laptop, but it's really, really easy to psych yourself into thinking you need a 24 channel RME and that nothing less will do...

... until you decide that recording on the line in jack today is better that recording on an RME a few paychecks from now.

Edit: And this is a great guide for starting out: http://tweakheadz.com/guide.htm

There's a bunch of decent books on the topic too, but that's a fantastic free starting point.

[anotherfreak]

Cool, I am in "learn" mode, I gotta be able to pitch it to the Mrs. I need my ducks in a row, and I need to see what those ducks are gonna $$/benefit

thanks for tips!

[hamerhead]

I'm just getting started - in the last month or so - using a PC-based setup, and still have visions of recording the whole band at one time in one room (a dangerous hallucination). And that requires a minimum of 10 inputs (more if the drummer uses an acoustic kit), which means more $$. If you only need 4-6, you should be able to get in relatively cheap. PreSonus makes some pretty great stuff. My drummer's kid - like 15 years old - uses a one of their really small interfaces and makes great recordings. I hate that kid.

After looking around for awhile (and with some help from our own Hackubus), I went with a PreSonus 16.4.2., which ain't cheap, but basically works like an analog 16-channel board (like in the old days!) but with Firewire and a ton more sh!t. If you're coming off a 2488 (same machine I was using), you shouldn't have much trouble with it. One benefit of the 16.4.2 is it feels familiar. You get real sliders and knobs and stuff to mess with, as opposed to just a mouse to click. Another is being able to gig with it -and record the performance. I'm nowhere near smart enough to do that yet, but maybe some day. Ha! But it's nice to know it'll do it.

The included software is pretty highly rated, and it seems pretty intuitive. I'm getting around on it OK so far, but I'm too new to it yet to be good at it, or to even know what's good. Good luck! You're in for a trip.

[sixesandsevens]

Regarding inputs, a bunch of mid grade interfaces these days can be expanded with 8 channel preamps via ADAT connection. It's usually listed prominently in the feature set, so it's easy to find. The RME babyface has one, I know. The MOTU 8pre is an example of one of these expander modules.

They normally have a lower sample rate due to bandwidth limits of the ADAT lightpipe, but 48k is probably overkill for most applications anyway.

[anotherfreak]

Cool,

I am considerinin just going with the Adobe Audition in the CS2 Suite and getting a Mackie Board w/firewire and picking out a new I/O card for my PC.

I wish I had the coin to do the Presonus bit (would definately be my first choice), but Audition seems pretty decent for what I want to do, and oh yea, it's free

[sixesandsevens]

Cool,

I am considerinin just going with the Adobe Audition in the CS2 Suite and getting a Mackie Board w/firewire and picking out a new I/O card for my PC.

I wish I had the coin to do the Presonus bit (would definately be my first choice), but Audition seems pretty decent for what I want to do, and oh yea, it's free

Congrats!

Let us know how the Mackie works out. I was impressed to see that even at retail prices the 820i isn't much more than I paid for a 1202VLZ many moons ago. Sure it's less channels, but it sounds like all of the channels, plus the mains, plus the aux sends/returns go over firewire, which - frankly - is awesome.

[anotherfreak]

I'm getting there, Gotta convinve the Mrs that "this" is where I need to invest, It's for the KIDS