Author Topic: Recording and software (Read 237 times)

bsee · « **on:** February 11, 2011, 10:42:57 AM »

What's everyone using these days? I have been using Cubase LE on PC for a few years and Presonus is going to send me a copy of their recent package to try out with my Firestudio Tube. Anyone have an opinion on the Studio One software?

In general, I find all the DAW packages I look at to be bloated with all sorts of MIDI and virtual instrument stuff. That might be important for a subset of the world, but I'm just trying to record bands playing their instruments. I'm hoping Studio One will be a little more tuned to simply recording performances.

I don't know if I'm a purist or just not at the experience level of the guys who use all the bells and whistles. I pretty much set up mics and direct ins for live recording with two monitor mixes. Once I have the tracks, I mix down so I can hear each instrument in its space. To accomplish that, I pan things to create a stereo space, apply EQ, reverbs and compression here and there as needed, and balance the levels into sub-mixes and a final stereo mix.

Unless we're trying to get something of the highest quality, all the instruments are live in the room. As such, one of the monitor mixes is the set of vocal mics fed to the practice PA directly from the Firestudio. The other mix goes through the full signal chain, which is set up based upon previous mix-down work, and feeds directly to a CD writer for a live-to-stereo recording. That provides a decent version with very low hassle that members can walk away with to go over arrangements and performances.

Anyone have any opinions or advice?

-bob

cje · « **Reply #1 on:** February 11, 2011, 01:47:37 PM »

I'm Mac-based, and have a pretty decent side-career doing location recording in and around NYC. When I'm recording to my computer (say, up to an 8-channel recording), I use an Apogee Ensemble as the audio interface (with some extra mic pres), but the secret sauce is BoomRecorder (http://www.vosgames.nl/products/BoomRecorder/). I LOVE THIS SOFTWARE - it is a field recorder for the Mac. It pretty much mimics a standard field recorder (think Sound Devices 744 or 788), plus adds some extra routing and file saving abilities. You can record up to 128 simultaneous tracks of audio.

The real beauty, though, is that it does ONE thing - you press record and it records your audio. It's one of those apps that you launch, press record and forget it. You don't have to set up any sessions, obsess over your preferences, etc... It's no nonsense, and that is why it works so well (as a field recorder).

Once the audio is captured, I'll bring the files into a more production-type environment, but for me, the most important thing is to GET THE PERFORMANCE (live concert recording, you know)! I love it.

crobbins · « **Reply #2 on:** February 11, 2011, 04:19:44 PM »

I use Digital Performer on a Mac.

mike1762 · « **Reply #3 on:** February 11, 2011, 05:20:46 PM »

I've tried them all, but I always go back to Sonar. It sounds like you don't need a lot of functionality (is that a word?); therefore, you should check out Reaper (http://www.reaper.fm/).

crobbins · « **Reply #4 on:** February 11, 2011, 06:05:48 PM »

There was just a good interview with the creator of Reaper in the last issue of Tape-Op magazine..

bsee · « **Reply #5 on:** February 11, 2011, 08:47:24 PM »

Thanks for the thoughts so far. I will look into Reaper if Studio One doesn't hit the spot.

I am hoping two things. First, that all DAWs are roughly equal in basic functionality (yes, I think it is a word) and the one coming from the same company as my hardware interface is most likely to work well with it. Second, that once you have some experience with one DAW, becoming productive with another one shouldn't take too long. Especially for someone who is using the most basic subset of features.

If I were paying cash for something, I think Reaper would be near the top of the list for $60. Of course, if there were something smarter and easier to use with equal or higher quality for a couple hundred, it wouldn't be out of the question. Cubase isn't awful, but the management of ins and outs is a bit tedious since Cubase seems to forget what interface I have connected and zero them out every time I start a session. Since I am getting Studio One as a free upgrade, I will give it a look before I think about spending money.

As far as features, I really don't use a lot. I record 14-16 simultaneous tracks at 88.2 KHz / 24 bit. I need to be able to save and recall a template with a set of base levels and plug-ins as a part of getting to those monitor mixes quickly. Other than that, I think I covered the rest of the features I use in the first post.

-bob

mike1762 · « **Reply #6 on:** February 12, 2011, 04:39:32 AM »

Hey Bob, I have the StudioLive... it's a great product. I drive people crazy when I try to teach them how to use Sonar... I've been using it for so long (different versions of course) that it's just second nature to me. But newbies get lost pretty quickly as soon as you deviate from the basic functions. I suspect Studio One will work fine for you. My only piece of advise: READ THE MANUAL!!! As soon as you get comfortable with your DAW: enter the realm of plug-ins!!! They're not all created equal. I use Waves (made here in good-old Knoxville)... expensive, but there's nothing better.

glocke · « **Reply #7 on:** February 12, 2011, 05:00:39 AM »

Apogee duet for an interface and logic pro on an imac.

Not that I do that much recording these days aside from recording bass lines i come up with a dont want to forget...I mainly wanted the Apogee to drive my studio monitors i have hooked up to my imac...The Apogee sounds great, but is expensive new. Frankly too expensive to justify for my needs but I traded a bunch of gear at GC wasnt using and was having trouble selling for it.

gtrguy · « **Reply #8 on:** February 12, 2011, 01:21:14 PM »

I also use Sonar 8 (on Windows 7, no less). It seems that any software that has been around a few years has been revised with more features and tricks. There was a steep learning curve and I still only use a fraction of what it does. I bought it for the visual way it interfaces with midi drums (I use a SPD-S sampling pad). However, I am happy with it.

I think the interface and hardware is perhaps more importnat then the software? I suscribe to the 'get a good signal chain first' way of doing things on each instrument I record.

Oh, and the stupid aftermarket book (Sonar 8 Power) has 550 pages and the rest of it is online! Something I did nor know when I bought it.

Good luck,
Dave

bsee · « **Reply #9 on:** February 12, 2011, 07:08:21 PM »

I downloaded the Studio One demo today and this stuff seems awfully easy to use, especially with a Presonus interface. I haven't run it for tracking yet, but I did set up a template and import in some tracks I created using Cubase. It didn't take long at all to set up the sub-mixes and get a decent sounding track. I'm sure it could use a few more sessions of critical listening and tweaking, but I'm pretty happy with the initial results.

I may end up springing for the upgrade to the full package if it works this well during a session.

edwin · « **Reply #10 on:** February 12, 2011, 08:42:35 PM »

I'm a mac guy. I use Metric Halo hardware and their software for record capture (I do mostly location recording). It's rock solid and the ULN-8 preamps and converters are among the best out there. It also has great DSP with 80 bit summing, so there's essentially a digital mixing console built into the hardware that can mix 18 channels per box from my DAW plus 16 external channels per box. The DSP includes really good good EQ, compression, reverb and a transient controller. To my mind they are the Alembic of interfaces. Their customer service is also great. I once had an issue an hour before a gig in Colorado and emailed the company. I got an email back with the solution within a half hour from the president of the company at 9pm on a Saturday night, his time. You won't get that from MOTU, Avid, Apogee or any other company.

For mixing and editing I go between Pro Tools (now that it's free from the Avid/digi hardware requirement shackles) which I think is the most intuitive design for someone like me who came up editing with a razor blade, and Logic, which is reasonably good. I also use Digital Performer at times, especially as a live mixer when using multiple boxes as it will do its own aggregation with low latency (I use it in my in ear rig for my drummer, who controls it with an Alphaport while I make my mix in the Metric Halo Console.).

For Windows, I'm not sure what to offer. I've heard great things about Nuendo, Sequoia and others.

Reaper does seem like an intriguing solution. I tried it but found it less than intuitive for my workstyle and I don't think it's worth my time to learn yet another paradigm, but I don't hesitate to suggest that everyone check it out. I think their method of development and community involvement is very cool!

pauldo · « **Reply #11 on:** February 13, 2011, 04:35:34 PM »

Edwin -
Your ear monitors were a mix coming from your Mac power book and that mix can be customized without effecting the recording?

I really want to do more personal recording but am often overwhelmed by the 'in and outs' of it all. I have tried Mac's at the i-store and find them to be very intuitive.

edwin · « **Reply #12 on:** February 13, 2011, 04:48:00 PM »

It's a little more complicated than that. The mac controls my hardware. www.mhlabs.com shows the ULN-8, which is the heart of the system. I record each channel separately, so it's getting recorded before any mixing happens (although I could just as easily record a mix at the same time). This is accomplished because I bring a splitter with me and have each mic and line coming into the system separately from the PA. So, it's a fair bit of extra work and gear, but it's so worth it while playing! I can generate probably 10 stereo mixes.

pauldo · « **Reply #13 on:** February 13, 2011, 04:51:27 PM »

ohhh - Do you then have the ability to handle each track seperatly after the show and adjust levels if needed?

edwin · « **Reply #14 on:** February 13, 2011, 05:23:27 PM »

Absolutely! My rig is primarily a portable recording studio (and is earning its keep this weekend by recording a group of marimba students). After I started gigging a lot, I figured I might as well bring it out with me and get a great monitor mix every night rather than always being the 5th guy in a room with 4 monitors. Plus, in ears if used properly are very much like ear plugs with vastly improved fidelity.