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Mbox with ProTools LE for casual amateur recording or something else?
- Thread starter phrancpharmD
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The emagic gold production bundle is excelent value. For about 630 you get software and hardware that separately would cost more that 1500
You get Logic Gold, the 6|2 usb interface and three virtual instruments
Even if you don't like the 6|2 usb interface, you can easily sell it and get maybe a M-Audio 410 fireware...
hmmm.... this is worring... can anyone else confirm it? Does it happen on the latest hardware and software? It's difficult to believe of such a professional software...
You get Logic Gold, the 6|2 usb interface and three virtual instruments
Even if you don't like the 6|2 usb interface, you can easily sell it and get maybe a M-Audio 410 fireware...
hmmm.... this is worring... can anyone else confirm it? Does it happen on the latest hardware and software? It's difficult to believe of such a professional software...
HA!
Thanks for defending my bank account zimv20! Seriously, glad to see the discussion heat back up again.
Thanks for your suggestion amiteswamp, but I agree with zimv20 that production is inherently integral to recording. I will be new to actually doing the recording but know enough about recording and production that your suggestion, while potentially easy and cost effective, is not really the direction I want to go. Also, carrying around a mixing board could potentially limit my portability.
And Dan thanks for the heads up on Nuendo; please keep us posted as you get more into it!
We have tested multitrack timing coherence on many systems as part of the Music Tech degree work, it's an assignment for the students to test phase coherence in stereo and multiple file inputs.
ProTools and Logic come out even with phase locked audio, there is no measurable movement in stereo or multiple sources, although USB hardware does have some issues.
Cubase wanders a little occasionally, and seems to be a function of how much work the DSP has to do on the input and what kind of processing power is avaliable.
Incedentally, output from multiple tracks is almost never a problem, outputting sine waves from a 2/6 into a 5.1 rig yields cycle accuracy, as does ProTools hardware from the 001 up.
I agree that the M-box mic amps suffer from a lack of power, but who wants to use the baby Focusrites anyway, they suck, you'd be much better off with a good stereo pre-amp and come in line-level.
The 001 is not a particularly musical interface, and the TDM 888 isn't a market leader by any means, but the new 196 interface on the HD range is very nice in both the digital and analog version, as is the 8 way mic pre, although I'm a big fan of Rupert Neve's work for Amek.
Sure the HD rigs are expensive, but they effectively replace an entire recording studio if need be, there is no longer the need to use a large format desk for recording, as long as the input stage and the monitoring are up to scratch, you can record/mix from the rig itself.
None of this helps the original poster, except to say that ProTools is still a force to be reckoned with in audio and post pro, but in the end you pays your money and you takes your choice.
I have an M-box LE system on my PowerBook for editing and remote tracking, and use HD1 or HD3 for heavier recording needs and mixing to stereo or surround formats.
I'm an enginner from the old school who genuinly venerates Neve, Harrison, Studer and 3M etc, but I really like the flexibility and functionality of ProTools.
If I was more MIDI orientated, I'd use Logic, which I think is probably the most complete production package. ProTools MIDI imp is not as good, but is still very usable.
Logic currently has problems on the G5, but they are under consideration, as is the 001 problem.
I'd recomend the Big Box Logic package, and live with the steep learning curve.
ProTools and Logic come out even with phase locked audio, there is no measurable movement in stereo or multiple sources, although USB hardware does have some issues.
Cubase wanders a little occasionally, and seems to be a function of how much work the DSP has to do on the input and what kind of processing power is avaliable.
Incedentally, output from multiple tracks is almost never a problem, outputting sine waves from a 2/6 into a 5.1 rig yields cycle accuracy, as does ProTools hardware from the 001 up.
I agree that the M-box mic amps suffer from a lack of power, but who wants to use the baby Focusrites anyway, they suck, you'd be much better off with a good stereo pre-amp and come in line-level.
The 001 is not a particularly musical interface, and the TDM 888 isn't a market leader by any means, but the new 196 interface on the HD range is very nice in both the digital and analog version, as is the 8 way mic pre, although I'm a big fan of Rupert Neve's work for Amek.
Sure the HD rigs are expensive, but they effectively replace an entire recording studio if need be, there is no longer the need to use a large format desk for recording, as long as the input stage and the monitoring are up to scratch, you can record/mix from the rig itself.
None of this helps the original poster, except to say that ProTools is still a force to be reckoned with in audio and post pro, but in the end you pays your money and you takes your choice.
I have an M-box LE system on my PowerBook for editing and remote tracking, and use HD1 or HD3 for heavier recording needs and mixing to stereo or surround formats.
I'm an enginner from the old school who genuinly venerates Neve, Harrison, Studer and 3M etc, but I really like the flexibility and functionality of ProTools.
If I was more MIDI orientated, I'd use Logic, which I think is probably the most complete production package. ProTools MIDI imp is not as good, but is still very usable.
Logic currently has problems on the G5, but they are under consideration, as is the 001 problem.
I'd recomend the Big Box Logic package, and live with the steep learning curve.
This is the case as far as we know, currently there are no advertised plans to release an updated card, although candidly Digi are thinking about it.
At the mo, getting a cheap 002 rack is a bit of a pain, but it is a MUCH better product, and if you can afford it, moving to HD is a must.
I'm glad to see the HD cards are supported, and the M-box obviously is, bring USB.
Incidentally, the new Accel PCI cards for the HD2 and 3 systems are going to be excellent, they carry over twice the DSP power of the originals.
At the mo, getting a cheap 002 rack is a bit of a pain, but it is a MUCH better product, and if you can afford it, moving to HD is a must.
I'm glad to see the HD cards are supported, and the M-box obviously is, bring USB.
Incidentally, the new Accel PCI cards for the HD2 and 3 systems are going to be excellent, they carry over twice the DSP power of the originals.
Thanks,
that is a relief...Is there much difference between Logic Audio and Logic Gold? (The Big Box comes with Logic Audio, the weakest of the three)
If he needs an audio interface, the price of the big box plus an interface is going to get very close to the Gold Production Kit...
I do need an interface, but I had already thought of going with the Big Box and the 6/2 separately but the price really is close to the Production Kit once you do that. Although I think the Big Box comes with even more instruments than the Production Kit does, which isn't really a compelling reason for me to go with the Big Box. I've been checking eBay periodically and the prices for the 6/2 alone and the Production Kit usually butt right up to (e)retail. . .
Originally posted by zimv20
can't afford it. i'd rather spend my $$ on nicer mics, pre's, and a few outboard bits. maybe even a nicer a/d converter, some day.
haven't used TDM; how much better is it than LE? LE does pretty much everything i need it to. i think
The real differences lie in the DSP power and the ability to mix directly to surround from the screen rather than via a desk.
DSP power is the secret to the ProTools experience, having the power to run as many Bomb Factory 1176's and Oxford EQ's as needed is unmissable, plus using convoluting 5.1 reverbs like Altiverb sucks power and HD lets you use them along with other stuff without having to bounce tracks to audio.
LE is a great package, but lacks the real grunt for full on mixdown, adding something like the TC electronic firewire powercore rack really helps the deal, LE becomes a real flier under the extra capacity.
I use LE for pre-mixing and remote tracking plus arranging and editing, as well as foley and sound design against video.
maka:
The main difference is track count in the audio and midi sections, the cheaper the system, the less tracks you get. All the plug-ins etc work with all the systems. There are some sync issues as well I think, but it really only applies to 9=pin operation with video tape machines.
I record most things stereo, and usually use 50 to 100 tracks just of background vocals, kinda like Enya.
Examples are here:
http://www.geniesongs.com/products/closeups/geniesongs.html
I use digital performer mostly. Sometimes Pro Tools but Digidesign annoys me.
Real Steinway B, (on some recordings it's an O).
Nowdays it's a B with a Lawson L47 on the low strings and a Blueberry on the high strings. Blueberry through a Martech Mss10 pre and the l47 through a Voxbox. Both into a Waves L2 A/D convertor.
Some of the vocals on the Wildflowers CD were through the Voxbox. Nowdays I record the voice directly from the L47 into the Martech Mss-10 mic pre and then into the A/D. I used to used a Manley Variable-Mu compressor but I am expreimenting with using no compression.
Oh- the Steinway O was rented, but the Steinway B (7') is now mine. Or my bank's, for a few years, I should say.
It actually uses a proprietry format from TC themselves, the plug-ins that come with the unit are awesome, and most other manufacturers are providing versions of their plugs that'll work in the PowerCore.
Still, it's worth the price for the internal plug-ins.