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Budget Audio Recording Computer
Mitsuhide
Registered User regular
Registered User regular
Hey, all.
I'm in the market for a first computer (I'm computer savvy, so no need to spell things out).
I 'll be going to college for Music, and I would like a computer for audio recording, obviously.
A Mac seems like the obvious choice, but I'm also interested in using Linux. Also, I'd ideally like something sub-1,000$, in Canada.
Mac Mini seems perfect but I just want to be aware of my options.
Any ideas? :P
I'm in the market for a first computer (I'm computer savvy, so no need to spell things out).
I 'll be going to college for Music, and I would like a computer for audio recording, obviously.
A Mac seems like the obvious choice, but I'm also interested in using Linux. Also, I'd ideally like something sub-1,000$, in Canada.
Mac Mini seems perfect but I just want to be aware of my options.
Any ideas? :P
Mitsuhide on
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If you're talking very basic shit, like plugging an aux cable into a mic port, ripping cds, editing/encoding/converting audio, etc. then you're fine with linux. However, my first instinct given what you've listed as options (and not knowing whether you're thinking laptop/netbook only or including desktops) would be to suggest going with the mac.
While you can usually get the job done with linux, you may end up running into some bug or whatever that eats up two or three hours of your time. Not often, but why risk it if you're in college and on deadlines all the time? I'm mostly thinking of video editing here, but I can only assume hi-end audio stuff might have similar problems.
Not to mention the fact that unless you're hanging around the IT department, most people around you and that you work with will probably be catering to PCs and Macs, and have a very "fuck linux, get a real OS" attitude.
But, I'm not an expert and haven't had to use linux for anything seriously hi-fi. It might work just fine, but since I don't know what you're talking about, the safe option is going with the Mac and being prepared to spend money.
2) When you're talking about recording you're talking about getting sound INTO the computer. How you do that is much more important than the computer you're using. Just about any newish computer will be able to handle anything but super-complex multitracking.
Do NOT just get an adaptor and plug a mic/instrument into the mic input on the front of your computer. It will sound horrible, and you have no gain controls, phantom power, etc. What I would recommend is getting an external interface that connects via firewire/USB.
Like so:
http://pro-audio.musiciansfriend.com/product/MAudio-FireWire-Solo-Mobile-Audio-Interface?sku=701364#new
http://pro-audio.musiciansfriend.com/product/MAudio-FireWire-410-Computer-Recording-Interface?sku=701385#new
Also, something like this as Firewire is becoming less and less common:
http://pro-audio.musiciansfriend.com/product/MAudio-Fast-Track-Pro-Mobile-USB-Audio-MIDI-Interface?sku=241710#new
Unless you're planning on recording a full band, having one or two channels is enough. Two is handy for doing stereo recordings. Having a MIDI input is also huge if you already have any sort of keyboard that has a MIDI output. The last one I listed looks pretty slick and has all of the above. I am not that familiar with the software it comes with (Ableton), but it would work with whatever you prefer.
Usually these come bundled with a light version of Cubase or another similar software, which will probably be sufficient.
If you want to go into recording as a profession or are looking at going beyond simple rehearsal recordings/ simple song composition, then you are looking at a significantly different purchase. If you're a music major, however,I would recommend any decent new computer and an audio interface like I linked above. You can get into this for less than $1000 easy.
3) As a final note, there is a false idea that you HAVE to have a Mac running Garageband, Logic, or Pro Tools do any sort of decent audio work. It's a bunch of crap. Save your money.
Robots Will Be Our Superiors (Blog)
http://michaelhermes.com
I won't be doing anything too high-end, just some guitar recording and composing using the tracks later in Cubase, etc.
I've seen a few ads for portable recording gizmos lately (i.e; Olympus LS-10).
Are these things any good, or should I go the old Mic'ed Cabinet route?
As for the computer thing, I was just wondering if there was a computer that was especially good for audio work in general. I guess it doesn't matter much.
I would not get a standalone portable recorder as your sole recording device. They're handy as all hell for location recording, sampling, scratchpads or recording quick jams but if it's all you've got it'll be limiting.
If you're going to school it is very likely they will be running Logic or Protools. I personally prefer Cubase, but that's how it is. You should try and get in touch with either the dean of music or one of their techs to find out what their running, and if they can offer any help.
Pretty awesome stuff.
There's also plenty of mastering tools, and drum machines (like Hydrogen).
Although, probably my own music isn't the best example it's one easily available to me (since I'm at work).
This was recorded completely in Ubuntu Linux using an old SBLive Platinum card and Ardour.
For relative ease you can just get Ubuntu Studio. It installs Ubuntu with all of the relevant settings and packages.
Haven't tried any of the stuff you linked, though, besides Hydrogen (which is honestly unimpressive compared to Reason or FL in my opinion, but then, it's free, so). I may have to try that stuff just for kicks some time.
Edit: Your song isn't bad, by the way. Reminds me of early/mid 90s stuff, in a way. :^:
64Studio is a debian based purpose-built distro, I've played with it a few times, and they've come a long way.
But really, one of those, a good DAW, microphone and instruments and a decent computer and you're pretty set. You won't be recording any drums or using any condenser mics, but that'll be next upgrade
And Linux is really more hassle than it's worth in this department. Music production is the only reason I still have a windows machine in the house.
If you don't need vocals or anything mic-related and just want a good guitar sound (albeit pretty good), look into the higher-than-low-end Guitar Pods.
Another route, since you're getting a new computer for it, is getting an interface that's a regular PCI-e card. It'll have a lot of inputs - XLR, jack and midi, usually a couple of each. This will lag a lot less (even, as previously mentioned, the Fast Track didn't lag for me even when using soft effects on it) and sometimes they can even handle effects, thus taking pressure off of the CPU.
Check it out:
Also note that if you're going M-audio there's a good chance you get a card support by Pro Tools M-powered, so you can run Pro Tools on your much cheaper hardware. Nothing impresses music nerds like Pro Tools. And you'd probably like a controller as well, but that is another story as you can do fine without.
Now Jack starts up automagically with all of the correct settings when you run a program like Ardour that uses it. Two years ago I was booting into Windows to do recording because I just couldn't stand doing it in Linux, but now it's the exact opposite. It's a completely different experience than it used to be.
When it comes to drum loops I actually prefer Hydrogen, but I can agree that FLStudio is better suited to other types of loops (with synth, etc).
On the song: Thanks!
You can get Ardour with VST support.
Of course Ubuntu Studio has a meta package for a ton of LADSPA plugins (which covers a multitude of compressors, delays, distortions, etc).
https://wiki.ubuntu.com/UbuntuStudio/PackageList
Edit: the reason you don't see VST support usually (and not out of the box most of the time) is because VST requires a non-free software license. Since the software is free there's no one to pay for the license.
Compiling Ardour with VST support is pretty quick and painless, but I just don't bother since I'm not married to any plugins in particular.
Regarding Ardour: It still doesn't have a sequencer (I know use jack blah, blah, blah), making it functionally on par with ProTools 4. There's no good excuse for this app to NOT have a sequencer in it, especially considering that other linux audio projects like Rosegarden DO have one. And, like Visti, I NEED to be able to use my VST's 100% when I'm working on music.
http://digidesign.com/index.cfm?langid=100&navid=54&itemid=23876
I personally recommend a nice Mac, a little two channel input device like the Presonus one and Logic Studio at academic pricing.
I'd second this, but be warned that academic pricing for Logic Studio can vary GREATLY. At the uni I go to during the year the academic discount only gets me $50 off ($450 instead of $500), but I just bought a copy through the school I'm taking summer courses at for $150.
Going the Linux route would be great if you were totally into tinkering and were teaching yourself about audio recording -- but using it for school, you'd always be on the outside looking in; you'd never have the advantage of the techniques everyone's sharing, the auxiliary tools and things that help you get better at production, and of course your projects wouldn't be portable to lab equipment (they might be "technically portable" but I highly doubt Ardour's going to do a perfect job of converting between proprietary formats).
If you don't have anything invested so far, I would say just get a Mac. Granted, Windows isn't as bad as it once was... but while it's been gradually improving, OS X has been going by leaps and bounds. You will save yourself some headaches at some point if you get a Mac, and of course if they're teaching Logic, you kind of have to have one.
PSN:RevDrGalactus/NN:RevDrGalactus/Steam
Yea but you would be teaching yourself Linux AND recording at the same time... learning to compile drivers to get one part to work while breaking another because you don't quite understand what's going on then on top of that you get to learn about latency and you won't be able to track it down to a software thing or a hard ware thing etc.
If you're learning one thing, it's best to get rock solid platform that you can learn on.
Remember macs aren't foolproof either though. I'm about to rebuild three of them because my qmaster won't load
Erm...
Ubuntu Studio
Install and go. Seriously, it just works.
Ardour is complex it's true, but not so complex that you can't learn basic recording in a day, and more advanced things in a few weeks.
Honestly though if you were just starting learning ANY recording, I'd recommend one of only a few tools:
Linux:
Jokosher
Mac:
Garageband
Windows:
Acid/FLStudio combo
They'll all let you jump in without much overhead. Other programs are complete DAW, which can be used for both mixing and mastering if you are so inclined, are set up to work with hundreds of inputs from different sources, and can be tweaked endlessly. The above are all simple "press record and be done" programs. Audacity is like that as well (and is available for all platforms), but the fact that plugins aren't non-destructive (and not real time) kills it for me.
Oh, BTW Ardour is also available for OSX. Not Windows though. Though to be honest I never really liked the way Windows seemed to process sound. I always felt like it boosted the upper frequencies too much. Linux and OSX seem to have more "warmth", and yes that's using the same audio hardware and recording equipment.
I see. Perhaps the 1's and 0's in Windows are using a serif font while OSX and Linux are using a sans serif font? That might the cause of the problem.
Robots Will Be Our Superiors (Blog)
http://michaelhermes.com
And man, it's been ages since I've seen anybody recommend Fruityloops..
http://www.reaper.fm/
Windows only.
Actually, I guess there is a Mac beta, but word on the street is it's just not there yet nor will it be for awhile.
PSN:RevDrGalactus/NN:RevDrGalactus/Steam