Re: Firewire advice

On Feb 18, 1:37 pm, ed s <esham...@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:
On Feb 18, 1:19 pm, RS <R...@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:





On Thu, 18 Feb 2010 06:19:25 -0800 (PST), ed s <esham...@xxxxxxxxx>
wrote:

On Feb 17, 6:26 pm, RS <R...@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
On Wed, 17 Feb 2010 14:29:45 -0800 (PST), ed s <esham...@xxxxxxxxx>
wrote:

On Feb 17, 4:03 pm, Dinosaur_Sr <frostback2...@xxxxxxx> wrote:
On Feb 17, 3:10 pm, ed s <esham...@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:

On Feb 17, 1:42 pm, Dinosaur_Sr <frostback2...@xxxxxxx> wrote:

I am getting a DAW. All I want to play into it is a guitar and a base.
I want to get a basic firewire interface. I am going to start out
basic across the board, see where I want to go and upgrade after
that.  Any suggestions?

Since your a Dinosaur & seemingly not wanting to get overly
complicated - I'd forget the PC based stuff and get a stand alone with
knobs. I have a Tascam DP01FX & just upgraded and got a  Tascam Neo
2488  also. Love both easy to use NO PC crap to bother with. 2c Ed S.

I had to think quite a bit about which way to go, but in the end I
really like computing...and I go way back. Made myself a Sinclair
computer back in the day!

You have been warned! Mouse away - reboot - to small to see in bad
lighting - latency problems, compatability, complicated .  etc etc.
I just wanna play and have it sound good with no fuss. ed s.

Not sure I follow that, Ed.  The whole point of using a computer-based
DAW is for better visibility, easy download of bug-fixes, etc.  You
can get a lot more information on a 24" monitor than on one of those
tiny LCDs.  And if you want to do waveform editing...?

I appreciate the all-in-one thing too. A portastudio kinda thing can
keep you focused on what you're playing.  It's got less distractions,
so you can get basic track ideas down quickly.  Problem is there's
relatively little depth if you want to get deeper into plugins,
splicing, etc.

Latency problems can be addressed by just getting a good interface,
which is one of the things that you're paying for with a standalone
anyway.

Complicated...well, that's another thing. Very easy to get bogged down
in details on computer-based systems.  Cause they're there.

A couple cautions to anyone using Firewire though: Many of the
interfaces were originally intended for the Mac. -Some- vendors (like
Digidesign) tend to throw together crappy Firewire drivers for the PC
just so they can sell more hardware.  Digidesign's tech support has
been known to tell their disappointed PC-using callers "buy a Mac." (I
find that company unbearably arrogant).

Also, laptops don't usually have a full 6-pin Firewire connect, so you
can't power an other-wise 'portable' interface from the conventional
mini-Firewire plug.  Not the case with USB.

So while Firewire is better for streaming, often USB 2 will work in
places where Firewire won't.- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

While I appreciate most of your points - Its funny you start off with
"Down Load BUG fixes!" - hahaha - thats one of the main reasons I
don't like it.

Eh?  You don't think there are bugs in firmware for standalone boxes?
The problem there is that it's usually tougher to fix.  Not sure how
that's done with the particular recorder that was mentioned--I'm sure
that some of the newer ones do just keep a bootstrapper in ROM and
load the main program from a drive. (Like the BIOS and bootstrap for a
computer)

I've written a lot of software for the music and media industry, and I
can assure you that there's always a bug or two somewhere.  Except in
my code.  Someone else must have put that there.  Seriously, it's
about how easy it is to fix.  Or to expand when new technology comes
out.

One of the things that I've thought about a lot though--I used to just
crank up a Portastudio and put down a few tracks.  The simplicity of
it was a simple, direct path. Whether you liked it or not, it kind of
forced you to work.  Of course there's no versatility there, and there
are limitations on getting pro-quality tracks.

With a computer-based system, you can buy plugins for emulating
expensive reverbs, you can do mastering, etc.  The price to be paid is
in complexity, but of course that was always true, even in the old
24-track reel-to-reel studios with miles of patch cables, etc.

Whatever works for you is the important thing in the
end -  ed

Yep.- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

Both my Tascam digital ports studios have had zero bugs I have ever
come across. And the basic effects are very good ( reverb -
compression etc)- but the guitar efx suck , as do most digital guitrar
efx. No prob use the real thing and use a mic. Anyways for medium
level stuff I think it at least adaquate if not very good & yes you
can master also .  just a quicky from my basement last weekend live-
Neo 2488 portastudio - just playin -  2c e- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

Got my Tascam NEO 2488 for $612 - 8 live 24 tracks before bouncing .
oops - link Angel =
http://www.sectr5.com/audio_samples
ed
.

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