OT - (kinda) recording software

tinker · Post by **tinker** » Sun Feb 16, 2003 1:41 am

I've been thinking about buying some home studio type software, something that can do multitrack editing, recording, etc. MIDI would be a plus, though not entirely necessary. I was thinking about Cakewalk Home Studio, but someone else suggested Acid Pro. Seems AP is basically a mixer only package though, not much for the recording end of things. And I don't really have any experience with the Cakewalk package. Any suggestions out there?

- Ben

serpent · Post by **serpent** » Sun Feb 16, 2003 10:14 am

Sound Forge is what I use. You can get a reduced-function version, Sound Forge XP, for cheap online. Also try GoldWave which is shareware and purty durn good.

(edit) SF comes from the same outfit that makes Acid Pro. Acid is more for making loops and like, dance mixes. Also good for doing game sounds.

Cheers,

serpent

[ This Message was edited by: serpent on 2003-02-16 11:16 ]

tinker · Post by **tinker** » Sun Feb 16, 2003 4:31 pm

Thanks serp, I'll check it out. One of the things I'd love to be able to do is to play one track or a metronome into headphones while recording another. Can it do that sort of thing?

- Ben

Sandy Jasper · Post by **Sandy Jasper** » Sun Feb 16, 2003 4:51 pm

I like Cakewalk for Midi recording. We also use it in the studio to clean up the audio. It is my personal favorite though I am bias as I have been using it since it was a dos program!

If you can a second hand version, like Cakewalk 6 you should do well.

Band in a box is a cheap recording program that as far as I understand it is aimed at people who are not professionals. That may be a good place to start!

All the best,

Sandy

raindog1970 · Post by **raindog1970** » Sun Feb 16, 2003 5:53 pm

On 2003-02-16 17:31, tinker wrote:
One of the things I'd love to be able to do is to play one track or a metronome into headphones while recording another.

If you go with Cakewalk software, get Plasma 2003 if you like the functionality of ACID Pro v4... Plasma has almost all of ACID Pro's features, and the interface is remarkably similar.
If it's multi-track software you need, I prefer Cool Edit Pro.
There are cheaper alternatives of course... CEP is just what I learned with, so it's my software of choice.
I only use Cakewalk software for MIDI sequencing and exporting audio tracks for mixing in Cool Edit Pro, but just because I'm so familiar with CEP... you can do multi-track editing with Cakewalk, and probably do it as well as with CEP.
Playing a metronome or another audio track through headphones while you record another is unquestionably the best way to go about it.
You might want to do it with just an earphone in one ear though... I find that to feel more natural than wearing headphones.
There are also a number of good software metronomes available at very reasonable prices... a couple are even free.

_________________
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Gary Humphrey

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[ This Message was edited by: raindog1970 on 2003-02-16 18:55 ]

serpent · Post by **serpent** » Sun Feb 16, 2003 6:54 pm

On 2003-02-16 17:31, tinker wrote:
Thanks serp, I'll check it out. One of the things I'd love to be able to do is to play one track or a metronome into headphones while recording another. Can it do that sort of thing?

- Ben

I use two sound cards, one for recording and one for playback. It gives you a lot of power to tweak things, doing that. Down-side is, well, you need to buy two sound cards!

However, you can then run a metronome in your ear and mix in the output of another track, while recording. Bubby, you can make this so complicated that nobody can even use it!!

Cheers,

serpent

Groovehead · Post by **Groovehead** » Sun Feb 16, 2003 7:25 pm

I've been using Cakewalk Guitar Studio 2 for recording. It can play a metronome into your earphones while you record. It supports up to 8 tracks with unlimited bouncing of tracks. I like it because of all the software I've used, it most closely resembles and actual recording console...

tinker · Post by **tinker** » Sun Feb 16, 2003 8:48 pm

Thanks much, all. I'll definately look into cool edit, but it sounds like cakewalk should do what I need it to, just need to pick the right package.

- Ben

McHaffie · Post by **McHaffie** » Sun Feb 16, 2003 9:31 pm

Since the topic is up

I used Sound Forge and GoldWave when I used Windows... way back when... (2 or 3 years ago!)

For any Linux users who might come across this, APCstudio is a really cool combination of audio tools that closely resembles both GoldWavd and Soundforge rolled into one. Great effects too.

Take care, and I'm sure whatever you choose will work out great.

John

tinker · Post by **tinker** » Mon Feb 17, 2003 3:48 am

Ooohhh... droolll

http://www.tascam.com/products/product_ ... duct_id=13

http://www.cakewalk.com/Products/SONAR/default.asp

I don't know that ava would approve though... that's about $1000 in gear. It's probably also a little overkill, but I certinaly wouldn't outgrow it any time soon

More realistically, I poked around and looked at the different packages a bit tonight, and I'll either go with Cakewalk Home Studio XL, or SONAR... I'll wait till I get my taxes done, and decide then. Cool edit looked pretty sweet, but since the price is comparable to SONAR, and SONAR has MIDI, multimon support, plus everything I'd use from cool edit, if I spend that much I'll go with SONAR.

Thanks again all.

- Ben

hillfolk22 · Post by **hillfolk22** » Mon Feb 17, 2003 7:30 am

For Christmas I received cakewalk PC Music Pack 2003. I am still figuring it out.

So far, I like it.

Laura