Good "home studio" software?

Brandon Roper · Post by **Brandon Roper** » 28 Mar 2002 7:42 am

Just wanted to check w/ you guys for suggestions on decent recording software for a home computer. I dont need anything extravagant just something that will allow me to lay down multiple tracks and put them on a CD. It will be mostly used to make demo's, experamenting w/ different licks & effects and just kinda for fun in genneral. I would like to be able to layer a good # of tracks on top of each other. Will most of these programs require me to run through my PA?
-Thanks, Brandon

Matt Steindl · Post by **Matt Steindl** » 28 Mar 2002 8:29 am

If you have a stock soundblaster card, and little experience w/ HD recording, I would recomend Cool Edit by Syntrilium software. You can download a free demo, and fool w/ it, then if it works for you, get the full deal. I have Cakewalk, full Cubase, acid, fruity loops, but they are all too involved for what I am doing. Cool Edit is set up so if you can use an analog 4 track, there should not be too huge of a learning curve. It has deeper programing options, but I dont use em. I just record, and then use the directX effects to master.

Good luck!

------------------
Mattman in "The Big Sleazy"-:
S-10 Dekley, Suitcase Fender Rhodes, B-bender Les Paul

Susan Alcorn (deceased) · Post by **Susan Alcorn (deceased)** » 28 Mar 2002 9:14 am

You might want to try the free download version of ProTools.

seldomfed · Post by **seldomfed** » 28 Mar 2002 1:58 pm

One of these would work for you 1) Cool Edit 2000 with the Studio plug in. The basic version is pretty cheap $100. I think it's limited to only 4 tracks however. You may need additional CD burner software. If that's the case - I'd recommend Adaptec (Roxio) Easy CD Creator $100(it may already be on your PC if you have a fairly new one). http://www.syntrillium.com/ http://www.roxio.com/

2)Power Tracks Pro ($29) The Band In A Box folks have a nice audio editing program too. http://www.pgmusic.com/powertracks.htm

3)The Cakewalk products are good for starters too - the Guitar Tracks Pro program is $150 and is targeted to exactly what you want to do. 32 tracks and effects etc. I'd recommend these products! Good upgrade path to more complex capability. http://www.cakewalk.com/Products/GP/GP-tune.html

Food for thought..., I run a recording studio and use SAWPRO to record, SONAR for audio/midi, SoundForge and CD Architect to burn. But for simple recording I never go out there! Unless your PC is in your music room - you might consider one of the new hardware hard disc recorders with a built in CD burner. For simple audio recording - the PC route is sometimes a pain. PC isn't portable - ie. record a jam or show, it's usually optimized for office/internet vs. audio (unless you buy a PC built specially for audio like I did), it's expensive, and the interface issues are troublesome at times. However, they are infinately flexible and nothing beats a computer for audio+MIDI integration. Both have upgrade issues. So you choose. Personally I'm ready to jump to a Roland VS2480 or something like that. But some of the less expensive Yamaha and Tascam boxes are incredible and will do what you need I think.
cheers,
chris

------------------
Chris Kennison
Ft. Collins, Colorado
"We can't afford to let Nature Run Wild" - govt. offical - Alaska

<FONT SIZE=1 COLOR="#8e236b"><p align=CENTER>[This message was edited by seldomfed on 28 March 2002 at 02:10 PM.]</p></FONT>

John O Keeffe · Post by **John O Keeffe** » 4 Apr 2002 2:54 pm

I've tried quite a few and I have found N-Track Studio the best.It's simple and easy to use and I believe the end results are quite professional.I haven't got that far yet!
It also has a add in compressor which you would need if you want your songs to be of a similar loudness to regular audio CD's.
http://www.fasoft.com/

Check it out out of 6 trials I tried I found this the best...........JOHN

chas smith R.I.P. · Post by **chas smith R.I.P.** » 4 Apr 2002 11:50 pm

I had a session this evening and the person I was working with kept suggesting that I should look into Performer.

erik · Post by **erik** » 5 Apr 2002 3:49 am

Performer was originally a Mac platform. They may have Windows now - but still, it's Mac first.

Don Benoit · Post by **Don Benoit** » 5 Apr 2002 9:01 am

I was thinking of buying "Omni studio" for hardware because after much research, it seems to be the best for the money. Low noise, two nice mike pre-amps, a breakout box with pro connectors etc. I already have CuBase and Cakewalk. I don't like the sound blaster card because they have small connectors, are noisy and awkward to plug into the back of the computer. I am building a dedicated computer for recording at home with an Intel P3 650MHz which will be enough to get me started to record my own stuff,

------------------
dben@shaw.ca
http://members.shaw.ca/dben/psg.htm