Re: Suggestions for a simple but high-quality DAW on a PC or outboard system
- From: "Bonzi" <chainsawhalos@xxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: 16 Oct 2005 08:44:48 -0700
Thanks for the tip on the E-Mu stuff pw. I like the fact that it has
DSP effects on it. I have a feeling I won't get much effects if I try
to rely on either CPU for effects (via directX effects?). I'm still not
sure I understand all this yet so please correct me if I'm wrong. So
I'm looking at dedicated boards for effects (in addition to an
interface) such as the UAD-1 by Universal Audio. Pricey stuff but at
least I can expand into it. If there are interfaces that have the
effects on them, that's great too (assuming they sound pretty good).
The nice thing about the UAD-1 is that there are versions of the Bomb
Factory 1176, LA2A, etc. for them that I've heard samples of that
sounded pretty good to me (still don't get near tape though). I've also
seen some outboard products (around $2000) that do the tape fattening
thing so that's always an option in regards to that.
It's interesting to note that from what I've been reading PCMCIA is
about as fast as PCI. What I don't have a handle on is whether it will
make much of a difference (especially if I use hardware based effects)
if I use the 850mhz over the 1Ghz laptop. I don't have a problem using
PCI based stuff and using the tower (or getting into a faster tower
later). The laptop has always given me grief in the dependability area.
The other problem is fast harddrives. I am assuming I would need a
firewire based outboard harddrive to do 10 playback tracks at a time
(especially on the laptop). It's seeming like the laptop is the way to
go but for some reason my gut says to avoid it. Probably because I know
that if it goes dead I can't justify buying another laptop with how
these things depreciate. I don't need the portability.
I was looking at jumping into maybe an m-audio audiophile or an echo
indigo just to get going (pcmcia). I heard that the echo gets REALLY
hot. Another outboard interface (looks similiar to the E-Mu) is the
Edirol Roland UA-5. I don't know that it has effects offhand. But it's
USB, so there you go. I decided after your post that I would NOT be
going USB.
I've used the MOTU Midi stuff before with Digital Performer. It seems
like it was really tied in away to the software. I will probably avoid
their stuff due to this. I guess I'm looking at Nuendo or Sonar
(Cakewalk) as the softare.
If I had the budget I think I'd get an SPDIF PCI card and get an
outboard converter from apogee, RME (perhaps with effects if that would
work) or maybe just a lynx II. Then I would get one or two UAD-1's for
effects. Then run Nuendo or Cakewalk. This of course would run a few
thousand. But I can work towards this and be somewhat modular it seems.
Eddie
prevailingwind wrote:
> The E-Mu 1616m uses a PCMCIA card interface, but it's not Firewire or USB -
> the pre-amp unit connects to the card using a common network cable. Since
> not all of your computers have firewire - that might be an option for your
> laptop.
> From what I've read, USB doesn't have the bandwith to support high quality
> sound. Of course quality is relative. But for someone who's experience is
> with the 2" analog world, my guess it that you would not like the sound
> comming across a USB channel. I'm actually looking for a unit myself, and
> posted a listing before noticing this one. Mentioned the E-MU1616m 'cuz
> that's one of the units I'm considering. The other one is the MOTU
> Traveller which uses firewire.
>
> pw.
>
>
> "Bonzi" <chainsawhalos@xxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
> news:1129393133.626026.204100@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
> > hi all,
> >
> > I'm looking for suggestions on setting up a VERY simple but good
> > quality recording system on one of my PC's. Here are my requirements:
> >
> > 1. 24-bit at a high sampling rate all the way in/out, if possible.
> > 2. Record only 1 or maybe 2 tracks at a time.
> > 3. Playback 8-10 tracks back would be nice.
> > 4. Nice to have - run plugins like Bomb Factory stuff UREI 1176,
> > LA-2A, etc.
> > 5. Nice to have - run soft synth stuff and do sequencing
> >
> > PC's I currently have:
> > 1. Dell 4100 833mhz tower with 384megs RAM. Has a PCI bus and USB 1.0.
> > 2 drives.
> > 2. Dell laptop 1GHZ (c600 Latitude) with 256RAM. Has USB 2.0 and 2
> > PCMCIA slots. I've heard there are conflicts with dell laptops having
> > to do with video/screen.
> >
> > I'm willing to spend up to a $1000 to get a workable DAW running. I had
> > my tower doing 8+ tracks before with just a soundblaster card and
> > Cakewalk/Audacity. I'm looking to get a little more serious with maybe
> > protools or something.
> >
> > It seems like there are quite a few different options. A semi-pro
> > 24-bit AD convertor via Firewire (even on the laptop using a PCMCIA
> > Firewire interface card), USB, or via a PCI card. I've read a little
> > about Apogee, MOTU 828, Protools Mbox (I've used it and I didn't think
> > it sounded very good), Echo, Lynx, RME. I kind of like the idea of
> > having the pre-amp separate from my experience with Protools MBox.
> > Since I only do one or two channels at a time I could collect some
> > high-end analog outboard pre's.
> >
> > You know the drill. I come from the 2" analog world so I know what good
> > sounds like (damn i should have kept that 3M M-56).
> >
> > I would even consider scrapping DAW and getting a turnkey recorder like
> > the Yamaha AW16G but it's only 16bit and sounds like a clone of that
> > Roland VS880 thing. I used the Roland once and absolutely hated it
> > (couldn't figure out how to burn a CD and the effects sucked).
> >
> > I've done the DAW years ago on a MAC and hated all the bugs and locking
> > up. I'v e waited a few years and of course there still appears to be no
> > simple solution out there to record one or two high-quality tracks at a
> > time. But there definitely appear to be more quality and choices in any
> > case. I figured I would try to leverage the power I have in computers I
> > already own. I just know from the last time I looked to go 24-bit (I
> > went full analog instead but don't have the room now) that it was like
> > deception city. The specifications couldn't guarantee anything sounded
> > good.
> >
> > Like I said, that turnkey digital gear usually sounds like crap to me.
> > I haven't tried something simple like a PocketStudio yet but it's mp3
> > (4 tracks of mp3 probably sounds REALLY bad), smart card, 16-bit. I do
> > like it's ease of use though. My experience with gear has always been
> > the heavier it is, the better it sounds.
> >
> > Any suggestions? Thanks ahead of time for your replies!!!
> > Eddie
> >
.
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