I'd like to get started "tape style" editing on my Mac, but so far haven't found much software for this kind of thing.
By editing I'm thinking about the same sort of thing people back in the days used to do with reel-to-reel recordings, splicing tape, repeating small bits and pieces etc. You'd often hear it in 80s "Freestyle" music.

Anyway, I've understood that what I need is software that allows you to divide the song file into sections, or a grid, so as to easier divide the sections you want to edit.
I've found one application which does this called Wave editor, but it costs US$ 250 and seems very advanced and complex, so I was wondering if there is other software available which will do the same sort of thing?

I'm also considering buying Logic express, for multi-track recording my own music, but I suppose it doesn't handle the above kind of editing as well, does it?

This post has been edited by keybie: Tue 20 Mar 2007, 15:45

If you need only audio editing at a low price you can't beat Audacity, it's free. If you want something more uptight while very easy to use and the tape op in mind, I'd look into the Pro tools direction, but you need to buy either an M-audio interface with the M-powered version of pro tools, or eying the entry level M-box to access PT LE. There's also Ardour which is free.

Have a look here for audio only and here for audio and MIDI (includes links to the above mentionned), there may be other choices I'm not aware of now

If you're planning to buy Logic anyway, rest assured that it can do all of the audio editing you need and then some. However, if you're not so interested in working with midi and softsynths you'll probably get on better with protools.

If you have a Mac why not try Garageband, it does all the things you mention.

I think there's been some misunderstanding in what I'm looking for.

My aim is to edit in a similar fashion to the "machine gun" style tape-editing that The Latin Rascals, Omar Santana, Chep Nunez etc became famous for in the 80s.
They edited songs with surgical precision by cutting a splicing bits of tape from various sections of a song, the end result a masterpiece without missing a beat.

Here's an example MP3 sound-clip. It's a little extreme as there's nothing but edits in there, but at least you'll get the idea what it's all about

PC owners do the same with Zero-X Beatcreator, Sony Soundforge, Sony acid pro and similar software. Unfortunately I haven't met anyone into this kind of editing on a Mac, but what I do know is that I need some sort of "grid" division where I can shift small sections around. The "grid" is of a way of dividing the song in relation to the beat.
Audacity and other "normal" audio editors aren't made for this sort of editing where you do everything in relation to the beat, unless someone can prove me wrong.

Any idea for a suitable tool on the Mac platform to do this?

This post has been edited by keybie: Thu 12 Apr 2007, 21:01

Keybie

Take a look at PEAK PRO. It will do what you describe. So will the edit window of most DAWs like ProTools, Logic and Digital Performer.

DANO10

Any of the packages mentioned can do what you want once you learn to use them.

Peak pro seems a little expensive.
As for Logic I'm contemplating getting Logic Express as I need a DAW package for recording my own music. I'm currently playing around with the demo and tried to figure out if there were any suitable tools for edit-mixing there. Couldn't find anything special.
Are you referring to Logic Pro?

What tools/options (in the editing applications) specifically should I be looking for to edit this way?

This post has been edited by keybie: Sat 14 Apr 2007, 14:54

Hello Kebie,

Actually I use Digital Performer. Here's what you do. In the EDIT window of your DAW; (1) select a short piece of audio; (2) go to the edit pull down menu thats on that same EDIT window and hit COPY; (3) that short piece of audio has been copied into your copy buffer. Now, where ever you put your cursor and you hit paste from the edit menue, that short piece of audio will be pasted (copied) to an audo track. To get the "stuttering effect" paste several copies one after the other. Check out COPY AND PASTE in yout manual.

If money is problem, that a look at METRO from Sagan and TRACKTION from Mackie - both very good programs.

Hope this helps,

DANO10

Yeah any of the software mentioned here can do what you are referring to it's just learning the way to do it. Most of them have a "grid" function that is at the tempo of the song you're recording but you can cut, copy or paste anywhere you need to outside of the "grid" just the same way they cut, copied and pasted tape loops. What is a helpful function in pro tools is something called "tab to transient" which moves your cusor to the beginning of a transient or beat like a kick or snare. From there it's really easy to cut a piece and paste it on a transient where you want your copied piece to be.