getting back into recording - any new cool software stuff?

[fourmations]

hi all

about 8 yrs ago I did a load of recording on the cheap

i used a PC with a soundblaster live card
and a midi keyboard

the thing i loved about the soundblaster was the "soundfonts"
which were (and still are) high quality audio samples that
are triggered with midi, they are also editable and use
a program called vienna, where you can use you own samples etc

this was not a pro set-up by any standrds but did the job for me
the soundfonts really sounded good, one of these for example
was a miked up steinway which was superb, different samples for
different velocities etc etc

this went through cakewalk and soundforge
and worked fine, although i couldnt master mix to save my life!

is there any new development for recording on the cheap
any software i need to know about or anything

rgds

4

[northern_dirt]

hi all

about 8 yrs ago I did a load of recording on the cheap

i used a PC with a soundblaster live card
and a midi keyboard

the thing i loved about the soundblaster was the "soundfonts"
which were (and still are) high quality audio samples that
are triggered with midi, they are also editable and use
a program called vienna, where you can use you own samples etc

this was not a pro set-up by any standrds but did the job for me
the soundfonts really sounded good, one of these for example
was a miked up steinway which was superb, different samples for
different velocities etc etc

this went through cakewalk and soundforge
and worked fine, although i couldnt master mix to save my life!

is there any new development for recording on the cheap
any software i need to know about or anything

rgds

4

There is sooo mch new stuff out there, its bloody mind boggeling.

Pikc up a couple recording mags to get up to speed with whats new..
Computer Music, Sound on Sound are two good ones to start with.

[fuzzking]

A lot of people are getting into Ableton Live lately, my drummer says it's super-easy to use & intuitive... but I haven't tried it out yet.

[marco_80]

Another cool software for midi-synth music recording is Reason, really easy to use at the beginning yet professional.

It comes in a "light" free version as well, which is called Reason Adapted...you can get a copy of it buying a semi pro audio card like m-audio.

[spacecadet]

A lot of people are getting into Ableton Live lately, my drummer says it's super-easy to use & intuitive... but I haven't tried it out yet.

I have it and I can't figure it out

I think it's maybe intuitive only if you've never used *any* recording software of any kind before.  If you have, then it's the opposite of intuitive because it seems to work in completely different ways than what you're used to.

It's like how Apple says how easy a one button mouse is compared to a two button mouse.  Maybe that's true if you've never used a two button mouse.  If you have, though, and then you try to use a one button mouse, you can't figure out how to do any of the things that have become second nature to you.

I've been using Cubase LE lately, which also came with my audio interface, although I haven't delved too deeply into it yet.  It works pretty much the way I'd expect, though, having used audio recording software in the past.

[idiotbear]

I use Logic Express, but I don't know if that works on a PC. I really like it.

[fuzzking]

A lot of people are getting into Ableton Live lately, my drummer says it's super-easy to use & intuitive... but I haven't tried it out yet.

I have it and I can't figure it out

I think it's maybe intuitive only if you've never used *any* recording software of any kind before.  If you have, then it's the opposite of intuitive because it seems to work in completely different ways than what you're used to.

It's like how Apple says how easy a one button mouse is compared to a two button mouse.  Maybe that's true if you've never used a two button mouse.  If you have, though, and then you try to use a one button mouse, you can't figure out how to do any of the things that have become second nature to you.

I've been using Cubase LE lately, which also came with my audio interface, although I haven't delved too deeply into it yet.  It works pretty much the way I'd expect, though, having used audio recording software in the past.

That was exactly what kept me away from it. I looked at the interface at friend's and couldn't see a REC button 

[fuzzking]

I use Logic Express, but I don't know if that works on a PC. I really like it.

They only stopped developing for PC 2 years ago or so, when Apple bought the company. I still have a PC with Logic running. It's my fave.

[Pingu]

A lot of people are getting into Ableton Live lately, my drummer says it's super-easy to use & intuitive... but I haven't tried it out yet.

I have it and I can't figure it out

I think it's maybe intuitive only if you've never used *any* recording software of any kind before.  If you have, then it's the opposite of intuitive because it seems to work in completely different ways than what you're used to.

It's like how Apple says how easy a one button mouse is compared to a two button mouse.  Maybe that's true if you've never used a two button mouse.  If you have, though, and then you try to use a one button mouse, you can't figure out how to do any of the things that have become second nature to you.

I've been using Cubase LE lately, which also came with my audio interface, although I haven't delved too deeply into it yet.  It works pretty much the way I'd expect, though, having used audio recording software in the past.

That was exactly what kept me away from it. I looked at the interface at friend's and couldn't see a REC button 

I love Ableton for exactly that reason. Clean and functional interface without all the pointless virtual wooden panels, knobs, patch cables, etc. I can see how it gives some a feeling of security and familiarity, but for someone like me who's never set foot in a real studio it's just a lot of tacky decoration taking up precious screen space for no good reason.

[Thesmellofrain]

I love ableton, even if its kindof a electronic/programmable beats and samples software its great as a creative enviroment when youre recording, especially with loops. if youre making kindof ambient shoegazetronica like me, its the best software ever. great FX too.

[ugly casanova]

some people use audacity for recording tracks, another alternative would be KRISTAL. both freeware.
and you can use VST-effects. those are plugins to imitate sound synthetically or just effects like phase etc.

maybe thats new..

[Oyster Boy]

for what you are doing i'd suggest reason and logic pro. but if you don't have a mac than get protools le instead of logic. the only problem is you need a digidesign interface to use protools

[amanda]

for what you are doing i'd suggest reason and logic pro. but if you don't have a mac than get protools le instead of logic. the only problem is you need a digidesign interface to use protools

unless you got Pro Tools M-Powered, then you'd just need a M-Audio interface.

[idiotbear]

for what you are doing i'd suggest reason and logic pro. but if you don't have a mac than get protools le instead of logic. the only problem is you need a digidesign interface to use protools

I totally agree that Logic is plenty, if you have a Mac. I use Logic Express, and it does fine.

ProTools, IMHO, is much overhyped. I realise I'm not an expert, but I think the necessity for a PT interface is a scam, and there are other excellent DAWs out there which are like a 10th of the price and nearly as good. Oh, and let's not forget the upgrading you'd have to do to your PC to be able to run ProTools to its best advantage. And the top-notch mics you'd have to buy to make it worthwhile having such a whizzy DAW. And the effects plugins. And... you get the picture.

It's the law of diminishing returns - does blowing 2 grand on a PT setup really give you a result that's 10 times better than Logic Express? No. Twice as good? Probably, but hey - it's home recording, not Abbey Road.

Just my 2p.

[Pingu]

for what you are doing i'd suggest reason and logic pro. but if you don't have a mac than get protools le instead of logic. the only problem is you need a digidesign interface to use protools

I totally agree that Logic is plenty, if you have a Mac. I use Logic Express, and it does fine.

ProTools, IMHO, is much overhyped. I realise I'm not an expert, but I think the necessity for a PT interface is a scam, and there are other excellent DAWs out there which are like a 10th of the price and nearly as good. Oh, and let's not forget the upgrading you'd have to do to your PC to be able to run ProTools to its best advantage. And the top-notch mics you'd have to buy to make it worthwhile having such a whizzy DAW. And the effects plugins. And... you get the picture.

It's the law of diminishing returns - does blowing 2 grand on a PT setup really give you a result that's 10 times better than Logic Express? No. Twice as good? Probably, but hey - it's home recording, not Abbey Road.

Just my 2p.

+1, if you change "Logic" to "Ableton". I haven't tried version 8 and have actually heard some good things about it, but the previous version should have been named "Irrational And Unstable Powerhog 7".