Re: Beginners PC DAW suggestions needed

just bob wrote:
I want to configure a very basic beginners DAW, i.e. sequencing and
recording system on a older Pentium M laptop for a 13 year-old, with
like zero budget, and I am looking for suggestions.

She has an acoustic drum kit and sings.

I'm thinking any old used keyboard with midi out could serve as a
controller so I'll keep watching craigslist for that. I hope by
plugging in a headphone jack I can disable the onboard speakers.

With the small consumer-type keyboards, that used to be normal. How it is
nowadays: I don´t know, but I´d guess it hasn´t changed.

I was hoping to setup a sample-based softsynth for sounds so
everything is contained in the laptop but I'm not sure where to
start. Any suggestions for freeware?

If your just looking for a very simple audio-only multi-track sequencer, I
would suggest taking a look at "Kristal Audio Engine" (supports ASIO drivers
and VST effects). It´s very stripped down and basic, but IMHO because of
this just perfect for beginners. The "downside" is, that it has no MIDI
functions at all.
http://kreatives.org/kristal/

If you want to spend some money for an all-in-one audio + MIDI sequencer,
take a look at the small versions of Sonar or Samplitude. They are quite
cheap, but surprisingly good. Both programs are compatible with ASIO drivers
and VST + DX plug-ins (for softsynths/-samplers + fx) - so they are
compatible with the "standards" for home-recording/project studio DAWs.
http://www.cakewalk.com/Products/HomeStudio/English/
http://www.magix.com/us/samplitude-music-studio/detail/

I'm trying to avoid buying a sample sound module. The local swapshop
has a Proteus for $75 (I think I paid $900 for one almost 20 years
ago!) so that is an option but I'd rather not have outboard gear.

I would also try to avoid outboard gear as far as possible - especially for
a 13 year-old beginner. There´s already enough other stuff to learn with DAW
related functions...
Outboard gear is fine, if you know what you´re doing. But combining outboard
gear with a computer-based DAW is nothing for a beginner. She can still
decide later, if she thinks she needs anything "real" (as opposed to
"modeled" in software).

Also need some sequencing software, and again looking for freeware or
dirt cheap, I'd pay maybe $70 if it was easy for her to use. Might
that also serve as the softsynth?

Indirectly. You can load software-based synths or sampler plug-ins. There
are tons of freeware available on the net. A lot is crap, but there´s also
great freeware stuff out there. With a DAW sequencer software, that´s
compatible with VST and DirectX plug-ins, you´ll be open to a wide variety
of those.

Finally she'll need a USB interface for audio and midi, and I'd like
to pay around $100. Suggestions?

Hmmm, you´ll probably have to spend a bit more for a 2-channel (with 2 mic
preamps) + midi USB interface. I´d stay away from the Tascam US-122 or 144 -
they´re nice devices, but tend to have quirky drivers. Without good drivers
for your audio interface, you´re lost in the software DAW world.

I have a couple old unbalanced mics she could use, or one of my
SM57's if the interface supports XLR. She'll monitor all this with
cans so I'll have to get a set of those, too.

Any of the USB audio/midi interfaces I´ve seen, have XLR ins and headphones
outputs. There are bundled versions of Cakewalk´s Sonar that come with such
an interface. Otherwise buy something separately.
Since I personally don´t use USB interfaces, I can´t really suggest
something from personal experience. Anyway, M-Audio is a maker of such
interfaces, with a reputation for good drivers. The "Fast Track PRO" is
their smallest product with audio and MIDI. The "Fast Track ULTRA" has 4 mic
inputs, which may be favorable for recording drums with up to 4 mics (2x
overhead, kick, snare), but also some other additional features. The
question is, if a beginner really needs those additional features.
http://www.m-audio.com/index.php?do=products.family&ID=USBinterfaces


Hope that helps a bit,

Phil


.

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