Recording software

[Bobby G]

Could anyone recommend a software package for home recording on a PC? I know very little about such things, so cost information would be useful too. I'd like to be able to produce sounds both electronically (say, somehow generated from within the computer) as well as acoustically (getting the sax and acoustic guitar in there). I have the necessary microphone, so it's basically some kind of PC-based 'Portastudio' I'm after, plus the ability to produce sounds like drums and synths maybe.

As I say, I know nothing....

 

[Bobby G]

Oh yeah, easy to use would be a big plus!

 

[davidbeard]

Cubase 4 (or the ones just before it) are great programs for the PC and will give you plenty of tracks for your Sax and Guitar. I would have said Logic too but their upgrades have only been made for mac users. You can pick up 'Cubase 4' for about ?480 and a smaller version 'Cubase Studio 4' for around ?250
What soundcard do you have installed? Some of the cheaper 'Sound-blaster' type have great MIDI instruments for your drums and synths.
There are some great VST instruments out there to use within the PC for less than ?200 which would do a much better job than the MIDI sounds and work great within Cubase - I just bought the new 'The Elements - Sample Logic' from Dolphin Music for ?169 and the sounds on there are mind-blowing and user-friendly.
What are your PC specs? There are some minimum requirements:
Cubase's are listed as follows:-
Windows XP Home or XP Professional (both with Service Pack 1 installed)
Pentium/Athlon 1.4 GHz
512 MB RAM
Windows DirectX compatible audio hardware (ASIO compatible audio hardware recommended for low latency performance)
Display resolution 1024x768
DVD-ROM drive required for installation
USB port required for Steinberg Key (copy protection device)*
Internet connection required for license activation

All the best Bobby,
David Beard

 

[Bobby G]

Thanks for the info David. Is there anything simpler, say a PC-based 'Portastudio' type of thing, which functions only as a multi-tracking device where all sound sources were external i.e. mic-based or plugin such as drum machines, keyboards etc?

 

[Linky Lee]

A good free bit of software is audacity. just a recorder and wav file editor but very good, easy to use and free.
If you had some basic sequencing software you could record in audacity and import the audio files into the sequencer and then use the sequencer for the other sounds.

I like cubase SX3, though recently I've been using Sonar a lot and is very good and cheaper. Very good for loops and sampling too.

On the other hand, my ideal set-up would be a decent macbook pro and logic 8... I can only wish.

 

[Mikec]

You could also try "Reaper" at www.cockos.com
You can download a fully-functioned demo version and then pay a small charge if you like it.
Another possibility is n-Track
or Anvil Studio

These are all fairly easy to use, but there is always a learning curve!

If you should come across a second-hand version of Cubase, all versions are good; make sure you get a "dongle" with it (a small "key" that plugs in to a USB port). Beware of pirated copies.

There are quite a few free/shareware software synthesizers available, try www.hitsquad.com/smm/cat/SOFTWARE_SYNTHESIZERS/

If you want " real" instruments, try Bandstand.

It's great fun!

 

[Bobby G]

Thanks people, the idea of trying something for free before buying appeals to me. I know what you mean about the learning curve, I had a go on a mate's PC about 5 years ago, and I suspect he may have had a 'naughty' copy as a) it kept doind odd things and b) I couldn't get the hang of it at all.

My expertise used to extend to bouncing between two cassette decks via a mini-mixer and overdubbing as I went; providing you record stuff in the right order e.g. put the bass on last for clarity, the results can be quite pleasing. If I knew how to do it, I'd put a track up somewhere for public consumption....

 

[Mikec]

It's possible to use all of the software mentioned just like a multi-tracker and ignore all the other features. They might all require some setting-up, though that would only be a one-off. The big names (Cubase, Reaper, Cakewalk) all have good support forums.

Download a demo or two and give it a go, I'd certainly like to hear your playing.