Changing music platform...
Discussion
I've (relatively) recently started a new job in a studio in Germany specialising in Audiobooks. Most of these books have a theme song and filler between chapters that we currently outsource. I'm perfectly capable of doing these sort of things myself and the boss wouldn't mind saving a little money by letting me do it.
Unfortunately the studio currently isn't kitted out for music production (even though it only needs to be small scale), and though I'd usually spec the new equipment we need to buy - the studio is currently built around a PC. Personally I've grown up an Apple man and I'd have just bought Logic and a master keyboard and been done with it. This is as the songs and music don't need to be chart-topping quality and Logic literally has everything you need in the one box (synths, sampler and sequencer mainly).
Is there any PC software that's comparable? I've been out of touch with PC's for a long time now so don't know if Cubase now comes with sound-banks etc. I've heard of Ableton but don't know much about it, and Reason wouldn't work as you can't work with audio unless you rewire it as far as I know?
We have all the mic's etc literally all we'll need is a keyboard and software. The keyboard I can find myself (though if anyone has a particular recommendation for a non-weighted full-size it can't hurt) so I just want a Logic-esque 'solution in a box'.
any ideas?
Cheers
Unfortunately the studio currently isn't kitted out for music production (even though it only needs to be small scale), and though I'd usually spec the new equipment we need to buy - the studio is currently built around a PC. Personally I've grown up an Apple man and I'd have just bought Logic and a master keyboard and been done with it. This is as the songs and music don't need to be chart-topping quality and Logic literally has everything you need in the one box (synths, sampler and sequencer mainly).
Is there any PC software that's comparable? I've been out of touch with PC's for a long time now so don't know if Cubase now comes with sound-banks etc. I've heard of Ableton but don't know much about it, and Reason wouldn't work as you can't work with audio unless you rewire it as far as I know?
We have all the mic's etc literally all we'll need is a keyboard and software. The keyboard I can find myself (though if anyone has a particular recommendation for a non-weighted full-size it can't hurt) so I just want a Logic-esque 'solution in a box'.
any ideas?
Cheers
I'm not a music man myself but I have "tried out" a lot of software and Ableton Live does seem to be a nice piece of software (includes everything you say and can record audio). It has a very nice interface and is very easy to just mess around with the arrangement or just jam ad hoc (a lot of top DJs use this for live sets and prep work too)
There is a ton of info about it on the net. Cubase, Sonar and Sequel are other options but it seems that Ableton is moving things forwards quicker than most. Best thing to do is try the demos as you may have certain ways of working if you are experienced already.
There is a ton of info about it on the net. Cubase, Sonar and Sequel are other options but it seems that Ableton is moving things forwards quicker than most. Best thing to do is try the demos as you may have certain ways of working if you are experienced already.
Stop being silly and buy or lease a mac.
If you must I have heard good things about Sonar and Reaper on the pc.
I use Live sometimes when messing around but always forget how to use it in between the 3 or 4 months I get to do that.
There is a lot of production based functions that have been added to Pro-Tools recently that may cover your needs.
If you must I have heard good things about Sonar and Reaper on the pc.
I use Live sometimes when messing around but always forget how to use it in between the 3 or 4 months I get to do that.
There is a lot of production based functions that have been added to Pro-Tools recently that may cover your needs.
Problem with Pro tools is the hardware...
We've got an old Yamaha 02R here going digitally into the PC - where would an inexpensive digidesign/M-Audio interface sit in?
I'll have a look into it though, as if I could use Pro-tools it'd be sweet.
I'd love the place to buy a Mac, but we're a small company and justifying to the boss why he should throw out a perfectly good PC (if there is such a thing) and then spend money on mac + software... I could probably do it but not necassarily in good conscience!
Never even heard of Sonar or Reaper and so far Live seems like a good bet. I just hate going somewhere I know little about and know I'm gonna spend the whole time wishing I had Logic!! lol
Keep the ideas/experiences coming guys
We've got an old Yamaha 02R here going digitally into the PC - where would an inexpensive digidesign/M-Audio interface sit in?
I'll have a look into it though, as if I could use Pro-tools it'd be sweet.
I'd love the place to buy a Mac, but we're a small company and justifying to the boss why he should throw out a perfectly good PC (if there is such a thing) and then spend money on mac + software... I could probably do it but not necassarily in good conscience!
Never even heard of Sonar or Reaper and so far Live seems like a good bet. I just hate going somewhere I know little about and know I'm gonna spend the whole time wishing I had Logic!! lol
Keep the ideas/experiences coming guys
The 002R is the digi hardware (the R is for rack version).
never thought of the obvious, that you might think I had typo'd. Sorry.
It would give you 16 (possibly 18) inputs into PT.
8 digital, 8 analogue (with S/PDIF possible for 2 more).
You could also use the 02R as a controller I think, utilising HUI emulation (NOT sure of this).
The dig unit could also send to the 02R for additional FX or sends.
I am not really aware of all the other options out there. I only really deal with Pro - Tools and usually TDM HD systems at that.
You can use M-Audio hardware with PT now but I have no first hand experience of it.
never thought of the obvious, that you might think I had typo'd. Sorry.
It would give you 16 (possibly 18) inputs into PT.
8 digital, 8 analogue (with S/PDIF possible for 2 more).
You could also use the 02R as a controller I think, utilising HUI emulation (NOT sure of this).
The dig unit could also send to the 02R for additional FX or sends.
I am not really aware of all the other options out there. I only really deal with Pro - Tools and usually TDM HD systems at that.
You can use M-Audio hardware with PT now but I have no first hand experience of it.
If you already own the licences for the Mac software you want then buying the hardware probably isn't that much more than buying the software for PC.
Pretty sure the licences for most of the things you're talking about are £300 a pop.
Then you've got the downtime while you figure out how to use it too.
2 licences at £300 each, training course at around £500 and 2 lost days at c. £200 each comes to £1500.
Is not buying the Mac really the cheap option?!
Pretty sure the licences for most of the things you're talking about are £300 a pop.
Then you've got the downtime while you figure out how to use it too.
2 licences at £300 each, training course at around £500 and 2 lost days at c. £200 each comes to £1500.
Is not buying the Mac really the cheap option?!
BigAlinEmbra said:
If you already own the licences for the Mac software you want then buying the hardware probably isn't that much more than buying the software for PC.
Pretty sure the licences for most of the things you're talking about are £300 a pop.
Then you've got the downtime while you figure out how to use it too.
2 licences at £300 each, training course at around £500 and 2 lost days at c. £200 each comes to £1500.
Is not buying the Mac really the cheap option?!
I went from PC to Mac about this time last year. All the licenses I had (and also subsequent purchases) for the software synths were dual-platform, so I didn't need to buy new ones, nor go on any training courses to use it. The only one I needed to buy was an upgrade from an earlier version of Logic (which I found much easier to use than Cubase).Pretty sure the licences for most of the things you're talking about are £300 a pop.
Then you've got the downtime while you figure out how to use it too.
2 licences at £300 each, training course at around £500 and 2 lost days at c. £200 each comes to £1500.
Is not buying the Mac really the cheap option?!
Update:
I've since been to 'The Music Store' in Koln and asked one of the guys there for a recommendation on software similar to Logic - but for PC. I mentioned that I'd looked at Sonar and Ableton (cheers for the suggestions guys) but was told that Cubase is definitely the most similar to Logic. After I said I was looking for a 'solution in a box' he replied that for the same money as ableton/Sonar you could just buy a massive sampler soundbank and add it to Cubase. Therefore right now the cost of this software would be 1200 euros (Cubase studio + Eastwest colossus).
Since the 002 (sorry about the misunderstanding KB) is more than that minus the expansive sound library it's unfortunately out - even if all the plug-ins out of the box are bound to better than Cubase. I must admit I've never used PT for sequencing before either so that'd still mean learning new software, even if it's a platform that I'm comfortable and familiar with.
This however certainly also puts Apple out of the frame, as the cheapest MacPro is around 2000 euros (couldn't use an iMac as I've got too used to two monitors for that), minus software of course. Add in Logic and its double the price of the Cubase setup.
Guess I'm going to have to learn new software and continue working on PC which is a bugger. I shall still put the Apple proposal to the boss, but unfortunately he's so clueless about the production of music he'll say "do what you thik's best". Cue:
"get a mac"
"you know that's a little unfair to take advantage don't you..."
Thanks again for your input though, and if anyone can justify to me why getting the mac would be much better so I can buy one in good conscience I'd be very greatful. Does anyone have any objections to me getting Cubase (through experience or otherwise)?
Oh and one final question. I don't even know the spec of the PC I'm working on, but can't find the 'about this PC' function in the top left corner. Anyone know how I find this out on XP?
I've since been to 'The Music Store' in Koln and asked one of the guys there for a recommendation on software similar to Logic - but for PC. I mentioned that I'd looked at Sonar and Ableton (cheers for the suggestions guys) but was told that Cubase is definitely the most similar to Logic. After I said I was looking for a 'solution in a box' he replied that for the same money as ableton/Sonar you could just buy a massive sampler soundbank and add it to Cubase. Therefore right now the cost of this software would be 1200 euros (Cubase studio + Eastwest colossus).
Since the 002 (sorry about the misunderstanding KB) is more than that minus the expansive sound library it's unfortunately out - even if all the plug-ins out of the box are bound to better than Cubase. I must admit I've never used PT for sequencing before either so that'd still mean learning new software, even if it's a platform that I'm comfortable and familiar with.
This however certainly also puts Apple out of the frame, as the cheapest MacPro is around 2000 euros (couldn't use an iMac as I've got too used to two monitors for that), minus software of course. Add in Logic and its double the price of the Cubase setup.
Guess I'm going to have to learn new software and continue working on PC which is a bugger. I shall still put the Apple proposal to the boss, but unfortunately he's so clueless about the production of music he'll say "do what you thik's best". Cue:
"get a mac" "you know that's a little unfair to take advantage don't you..."Thanks again for your input though, and if anyone can justify to me why getting the mac would be much better so I can buy one in good conscience I'd be very greatful. Does anyone have any objections to me getting Cubase (through experience or otherwise)?
Oh and one final question. I don't even know the spec of the PC I'm working on, but can't find the 'about this PC' function in the top left corner. Anyone know how I find this out on XP?
Uh huh, they have a 2nd monitor output port on them. On older iMacs this was just for a mirrored display (not much use) but on newer ones its a proper second output. To quote from the Apple site:
[i]Support for external display in extended desktop mode
Digital resolutions up to 1920 by 1200
Analog resolutions up to 2048 by 1536[/i]
May need an inexpensive adapter cable to make use of it depending which type of screen you decide to use, but thats no biggy.
P,
[i]Support for external display in extended desktop mode
Digital resolutions up to 1920 by 1200
Analog resolutions up to 2048 by 1536[/i]
May need an inexpensive adapter cable to make use of it depending which type of screen you decide to use, but thats no biggy.
P,
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