Recording software

[infrared72]

I've been using Ableton Live 6 for a period of time and I really like it. I am having some timing problems though - I can't record loops off my drum machine and have the kick drum hit right on the beat. It always seems to be a few milliseconds off. I've gone through their tutorial, and setting up the latency adjustments and such, but none of it seems to help.

What software are all of you using out there to record stuff? I've heard Pro Tools is good, but I really don't want to dump the Gina 3g 24 bit sound card I purchased. I was thinking of trying Sonar, but it looks kinda deep so I'm not sure. I really like the simplicity of Ableton though - once you get the hang of it, it is super simple to use.

-PT

 

[Virtual Kevorkian]

Re: Recording software

I'm personally not a big fan of Ableton - it's more of a loop based program than a DAW, though.

It sounds to me like you have an error with getting things right because you're not sequencing through the DAW... program the midi track, send it out to your drum machine, and then record that while it's playing, if anything.

Pro Tools is way overrated IMO.

Unfortunately, that Gina 3g sound card sounds like a consumer card, not a recording card. I've never even heard of it .

Sonar is a really, really cool program, and has the best stock plug-ins of any recording software I've found. It's also not too deep.

I'd recommend trying as many as you can, and going with what feels most natural.

 

[infrared72]

Re: Recording software

The Gina 3g is made by echo audio. It's 24bit, ASIO2 compatible and has been working out really good for me. I think ableton is kinda designed with using a lot of VST's in mind since the timing for audio stuff isn't really that tight. I was over on the ableton live forum, and there's a lot of griping about latency problems on there as well from folks that have all different kinds of sound cards. I am looking at sonar, so hopefully I can use that. I still haven't found anything on a pc that's a simple, straight forward, sketchpad like my old yamaha 4 track. Extremely simple, but with limitations that force you to think about the best way to combine signals and use your "real estate" (tape tracks) effectively. Hopefully sonar will be that.

-PT

 

[innerdreamrecords.co]

Re: Recording software

Hi,

You can record into Live as you are but the way to get a tight drum part is to record it first into Live and use an "external" audio editor to trim your loop to the very first sample. Once you have trimmed your loop open it in Live and set the warp markers to the beats and you should be good to go. Other than that get yourself a sampler or use Live's sampler and record individual drum hits from your drum machine and build a drum patch. You will still need to edit the drum hits in an audio editor like Wavelab etc.

And, imo you should always bounce things to audio files including all midi tracks and trim your audio files in an editor to the first sample. It's how to get tight tracks as midi timing does have problems.

Hope that helps.

 

[RW James]

Re: Recording software

I use Sonar (graduated up from Cakewalk Music Creator - through upgrades to Home Studio)

It works really well for me, but I think it has a really steep learning curve. I've been using it for quite a few years now and still don't have all the bells and whistles down.

I was talking with a friend last night who insisted Garage Band was the way to go. I don't know...

 

[devastone]

Re: Recording software

I really like Mackie Tracktion, they just released 3, I'm still using 2. I've also used Logic when they had a Windoze version, but I like Tracktion better for 1/4 the price and it's much, much easier to use.

 

[innerdreamrecords.co]

Re: Recording software

I use Sonar (graduated up from Cakewalk Music Creator - through upgrades to Home Studio)

It works really well for me, but I think it has a really steep learning curve. I've been using it for quite a few years now and still don't have all the bells and whistles down.

I was talking with a friend last night who insisted Garage Band was the way to go. I don't know...

Sonar is an excellent app far better than Garageband.

 

[Virtual Kevorkian]

Re: Recording software

Sonar is an excellent app far better than Garageband.

+1, and the Sonitus suite of plugins it comes with are absolutely phenomenal.

 

[RW James]

Re: Recording software

Sonar is an excellent app far better than Garageband.

Well, that's what I've read but since I never tried Garageband I didn't want to argue with him about it... besides you know how those Mac users can be so defensive :grumble:

 

[innerdreamrecords.co]

Re: Recording software

Well, that's what I've read but since I never tried Garageband I didn't want to argue with him about it... besides you know how those Mac users can be so defensive :grumble:

I use Mac and PC daily and I dislike them equally! :firing: