learn?
We're talking learning curve here.
I'm really not a software guy but, it may be time to "begin" looking at other options.

I'm I gonna mix with a mouse hell NO...

in my opinion, it's a pretty relative thing. i think protools is the easiest. but that's what i learned on. others think it's the worst.

so my prediction is that you'll find that the first software you sit down and learn is the easiest.

extremly un-helpful.

Probably Tracktion. Or, if you arent doing midi, Cakewalk guitar tracks maybe.

I thought N-track was simple compared to Cubase, but I like them both. I use Wavelab when I'm recording solo instruments in stereo and it's very simple.

Getting down to rediculously simple, Multitrackstudio is surprisingly good I think. It's freeware for a 16 bit version, and a hundred or so I think for the regular version. It can handle both DX and VST plugins.

http://www.multitrackstudio.com/

I tried it out when I was helping someone set up an old win95 laptop as a modest recording rig. The app is so simple it even works on vintage operating systems.

Tim

I've played around with a few programs and Cubase seems fairly user-friendly, as does Adobe Audition. But I especially like the quite inexpensive Power Tracks and would tend to recommend it for someone who wants to try the software approach without investing a lot. And it finally supports ASIO which was its primary drawback formerly.

quote:

Originally posted by erosconpollo:
I've played around with a few programs and Cubase seems fairly user-friendly, as does Adobe Audition. But I especially like the quite inexpensive Power Tracks and would tend to recommend it for someone who wants to try the software approach without investing a lot. And it finally supports ASIO which was its primary drawback

formerly.

Power Tracks is Sonar 2.0, licensed to Digitech for distribution with their products. If you can buy it seperately now, thats cool, but it still is a version of Sonar. This may not be as simple as the others mentioned.

Get some free stuff (kristal, audacity) and demo versions of others (pro tools, nuendo etc). See what features you like and what you don't and pick your product.

Or just get one and learn to use it.

Those are basically the choices you have. FWIW- my prefs are Nuendo (2.0, after that Nuendo has changed drastically into a more multimedia kind of editor) for straight music recording and Ableton Live (4.0) if you want to play around with loops and samples.

quote:

Power Tracks is Sonar 2.0, licensed to Digitech for distribution with their products. If you can buy it seperately now, thats cool, but it still is a version of Sonar. This may not be as simple as the others mentioned.

Are you thinking of Pro Tracks? Power Tracks has been offered by PG Music for a very long time and is related to their popular Band in a Box.

You're right!!! I have never seen power tracks before!

ummuh dummy

Thanks peeps, not really worried about the cost as I'm in this for the long hall.
I'm 2480 right now but I'll need to think of upgrading in the next two years ( lets say 2006)

I use midi but I'l most likely do all that with the mv8000.

A few years back I demo'd Logic, Cubase, Samplitude, and Vegas & to me Vegas was hands down the easiest to use & the best graphical interface. There have been new versions released for all of these, though & things might have changed. I think it's very subjective, based on your own experience with software & audio & which one matches how you like to work. I work in both Vegas & Audition right now. Audition drives me crazy every time because things that would be quick, easy, & non destructive in Vegas, in Audition are a pain in the butt & change the original wave file. Plus the color scheme in Audition to me makes it harder to work. Spend some time demoing 3 or 4 apps before you buy.

I have been a Vegas user since version 1. If you don't require midi, its what I recommend. It has some serious shortcomings (all programs do) but Vegas's editing power and speed blows the doors off anything else. . . by far! If you do lots of editing: slipping, sliding, splicing, dicing, surgical kinds of things, duplicating tracks, crossfading, etc., Vegas makes PT, Cubase, Nuendo, and Sonar seem like they're wallowing in mud. I agree with coplinger tho, download a bunch of demos and see what works for you.

drbam

quote:

Audition drives me crazy every time because things that would be quick, easy, & non destructive in Vegas, in Audition are a pain in the butt & change the original wave file.

Hmm. I would hazard a guess that you're not utilizing the effects rack? - because Audition is well-equipped to do everything non-destructively.

Anyway... yep, this is one of those situations where everyone thinks the one they learned first is the easiest. Also, I think it also largely depends on whether you had a history of working with consoles, etc.. *before* coming to software.

Personally, I think Audition is waaay more intuitive (for me) than any other software (guess what I learned on?) But who knows?

One I could never get my mind around was Cakewalk. That program just made no sense to me at all.

Chris

Well I should sa I'm by far not a software guy. I came from the days of razor blade and taking 7 hours through the night to get the 90 second radio spot ready days that was fun back then.


So I like faders and knobs very much.
I know once and if I do this I'll hvae to get a nice digi mixer , such as the O2R96 or...

I think the best situation would be the RADAR24 ot the MX24 and use one of those software to do the editing.

quote:

Originally posted by bandini:
Hmm. I would hazard a guess that you're not utilizing the effects rack? - because Audition is well-equipped to do everything non-destructively.

I was referring more to editing than effects here. I haven't spent a ton of time in Audition, though. A friend of mine has it & that's what we work in at his house. I find it more difficult to work in, but then I don't have the hours in that I do with Vegas.

quote:

Originally posted by dahjah:
I think the best situation would be the RADAR24 ot the MX24 and use one of those software to do the editing.

Depends on the kind of editing required. Radar actually has quite a bit of editing on board, though it's not done with a mouse and can be somewhat time consuming until you learn the key strokes. There's apparently a number of large rooms that track to Radar to take advantage of the conversion, then fly the tracks out to some DAW for all the fancy schmancy editing that everyone seems to need these days.

As for mixing, I do it all without a mouse on an analog board and whatever minimal editing I need on the Radar (not a pipe dream for me anyways). I've tried the mouse thing and it drove me freakin' crazy. I guess it's like anything else - you tend to stick with what you're most comfortable with.

"Unless there's more to the story I'd say that that is, maybe, wishful thinking. Those are all very basic moves."

Of course they're "basic moves". I'm referring to power and speed with which Vegas can accomplish these tasks compared to the others. I've had some PT, Cubase, Logic and DP users who were unfamilar with Vegas (frankly had never heard of it), watch me to a few quick edits with Vegas and each reaction was basically the same: generally jaw dropping, "I can't believe it!!", "let me see that again!" types of responses. I've had the similar kind of response while watching PT users except it goes more like: "my gawd! you have to go through all of that to accomplish (fill in the blank).??!!" So for me, my comments are anything but wishful thinking. I'm not trying to sell Vegas because frankly I am very disappointed in the direction that Sony has taken the app. Nevertheless, if mixing and editing is primarily one's goal, then its certain worth a considering. It simply comes down to using what works for you.

drbam

"drbam --- Cool. But remember I said "unless there's more to the story"

What's the rest of the story there? Saying that 'jaws dropped' doesn't tell anyone what these specific moves are. So how are we to know the ways it "far" surpasses what we're on?

How about giving a few examples of these jaw dropping moves. The steps you take to accomplish them. That way we can compare it to what we'd do."

I'm not gonna "bite" on this one surfboy. I've read some of your other threads where this kind of discussion just ends in an exercise in futility and frustration. Its quite clear to me that unless you checked it out for yourself, you are not about to take my word for it anyway so I won't waste my time and energy in a needless detailed description. So if you are truely interested or curious, download Vegas and check it out for yourself. . . or better yet, if you're ever in Prescott, AZ, drop by and I'll be happy to show you.

Peace,

drbam

"Vegas's editing power and speed blows the doors off anything else. . . by far!"
What are we supposed to say to that claim...?"

Its not about what you're "supposed to say" – that's pretty obvious. Since I can't "prove" or validate or demonstrate it to you or anyone else in this forum discussion context, especially if you aren't familiar with Vegas, then your only rational recourse (if you are truly interested) is to check it out for yourself. I'm not attached to whether you do so or not or whether you believe my anecdotal reports or not. I really could care less. Someone else was inquiring about "simple" easy to use software and I shared my experience.

Hope you enjoy Logic . . .

drbam

"Awesome --- yet you gave no info as to how. Maybe not the most helpful report..."

Oops sorry kid-surf, I mistakenly assumed that someone with your background and experience would know how to find Sony's download site. Anyway here it is:
http://www.sonymediasoftware.com/download/step2.asp?DID=583

As for ProFools. . . thanks but I'll pass. . . been there done that and definitely don't want it or need it.

drbam