About To Switch To Mac...general Questions, Multitrack recording & mastering on Mac Options

[EletrikGutar182]

I currently am, and have been, a PC user. I am making the switch to Mac this week. I am ordering a 14" iBook G4 (933 MHz, 40 Gig HDD, etc...)

I currently have a pretty basic setup involving a digital 8-track recorder that I record onto and then connect to my PC for mastering (SoundForge). I am thinking of downloading ProTools free to start off with, after I buy either the iMic or the Mobile Pre.

Will ProTools FREE work with OS X?

Would Garage Band be a good idea?

Will I be able to use the USB interface (probably the Griffin iMic...) easily with ProTools or any other software?

Does anybody have any other reccomendations besides ProTools?

As a fallback option, If I wanted to do mastering on the Mac as I did with soundforge, what is a good freeware or inexpensive mastering program I should use?

P.S., I am not a newbie when it comes to music and recording, so if there are any suggestions of good programs that aren't necessarily meant for beginners, That is fine.

Thanks in advance,
Alex

[lepetitmartien]

Welcome

forget PT free in OSX, there is no version for OSX yet, and we don't know if there will be one one day…

Comments on GB are still in the make up… the few comments I've read at the moment are yes it's ok but what a CPU hog. Now it's a bit too soon to be definitive, it'll clear in the next weeks.

You can use the iMic but be aware it's the entry level (can't be lower) and if you can (make a search on imic in the forum to get the general idea…) something a little more expensive would be better. definetly. (quality and latency issues)

You can use other USB interfaces. Now on the PT/other than Digi interfaces issue i've got to make some reading…

Now i've got to go to sleep so others will follow else I'll start writing stupidities

[Synthetic]

no "free" mastering software exists from what I know other than maybe some mastering type plugins for apps like Cubase and Logic in VST format.

imic... save your money ofr a nicer audio interface... imic is worthless and seen many who bought one later decide it wasn't good enough and just ended up buying another interface to replace it.

As far as I know... you can't use PT software without Digidesign hardware either Mbox, Digi001, Digi002 or the TDM systems. The reason PT apps will not work without hardware is they look for the Digidesign hardware for audio output and cannot use the built-in sound manager or ASIO like some other interfaces.

If you see people selling ProTools LE without any hardware... you can probably bet they made a copy when they bought a Mbox or Digi001 or Digi002 and are just trying to get some cash back. Basically with exception to ProTools Free... PT is useless without Digidesign hardware to make it work

But on the other hand... you can use other apps with Digidesign hardware though... for example... I use Logic with my Digi001 interface.

This post has been edited by Synthetic: Mon 26 Jan 2004, 18:20

[dmrkh]

Well then for that matter...,

Yeah/nay, should I be able to purchase a Digi 002, load DP 4, and, as MOTU advertises, use DP as my "front end"?

[Synthetic]

well... I can't say for certain but it should work

but... if DP is the app you really want to use most then maybe consider just getting a MOTU 828mkii instead of the Digi002. I am a true believer that while yes you can use different apps on different interfaces (except PT)... you will most likely find that interfaces and apps made by same company will tend to work together best. So unless you must have ProTools then just consider a 828mkii instead

[jamester]

Hey! I am also a recent Mac convert. My old system was Acid, S.Forge, and Cakewalk Pro Audio 9.

First thing I discovered upon switching is that I needed to drop serious $$$ on all new stuff. aaargh...

I also used to use an 8trk, and mixdown & master into the PC with S.Forge. From what I can tell, Bias' Peak 4 is S.Forge's Mac-equivelant. I have not tried it, but it seems to be about the same. Far from free, though.

Personally, I am ditching my stand-alone 8trk and moving it all into my PowerBook. Cut out the middle-man! The MOTU 828mkII or 896 gives you what you want plus a lot more, and Audio Desk 2 ($150 upgrade) is a VERY full featured software program with lots of built in FX. Not as much as S.Forge, but enough to get you going for a good while! The MOTU website is very good for info.

Hope this helps - Good Luck!
JAMES

This post has been edited by jamester: Tue 27 Jan 2004, 19:58

[dmrkh]

Motu 828mkii, 896, what-have-you,
that still leaves the question of a literal/physical "front end."

Personal POV, "mousing" it ain't cutting it.

Juss mine,

http://www.macmusic.org/agora/forums/style...s/11/icon14.gif

[Synthetic]

Motu 828mkii, 896, what-have-you,
that still leaves the question of a literal/physical "front end."

Personal POV, "mousing" it ain't cutting it.

Juss mine,

http://www.macmusic.org/agora/forums/style...s/11/icon14.gif

ohh... i see.... you want more control thus the Digi002?

I would have a look at the new Tascam firewire interface as a comparable unit to Digi002... it has control surface maybe with more control than Digi002 though I can't say if quality is better. A recent discussion on the device can be found here somewhere if you do a search... i recall a couple of members who had gotten one and were quite happy with it and I had thought about it too only my thoughts were dreams since its not in my budget

[dmrkh]

Oh I'm still dreaming, but with my eyes open, and focused.
Makes cost synonymous with investment, no?

[dmrkh]

Would this cause the thread to be split, or would proposing the notion of having a die-hard mechtech, such as DixieChicken, and an avid DPhead, (fill in the blank), brew up a Motucentric daw/hui that was NOT crossplatformed from the ground up seem profitable?

[jamester]

The way I see it, a midi controller board can always be added later for "in house" use. Meanwhile, save some money in the short-run.

The beauty of having a notebook daw is portability. When recording on location I want to travel as light as possible. Bag for the 'book and misc. stuff, 4 or 6 space rack, and some mics/hardware.

Keep the big clumsy controller and reference monitors at home; headphones and a mouse for the road!

[EletrikGutar182]

The way I see it, a midi controller board can always be added later for "in house" use. Meanwhile, save some money in the short-run.

The beauty of having a notebook daw is portability. When recording on location I want to travel as light as possible. Bag for the 'book and misc. stuff, 4 or 6 space rack, and some mics/hardware.

Keep the big clumsy controller and reference monitors at home; headphones and a mouse for the road!

Just out of curiosity, what mic/usb interface are you using?

[dmrkh]

Mhm, insightful question.
But what I want to appreciate 1st is jamester's pov, footloose and light. Whereas mine has been that of homebase

I personally have passed on the 25-key combowombos with usb's infamous latency in favor of a 61-key MIDI board. Now that I'm seeking better inputs than that imic crap I took dry&unlubed, I'm inclined to acknowledge that you do get what you pay for.

So if my audio capture device can equally accomadate MIDI over firewire, then hi-end may be nece$$ary.

[jamester]

well, I'm also still in the dreaming stage, but I will wake and join reality hopefully next month.

I am torn down the middle between the MOTU 896 and 828. One thing I don't like about the 896 is it only has XLR analog outs, so I can't patch it into home stereo systems. (well, maybe with a stereo 1/4-to-rca from the headphone out?)

I actually don't have reference monitors (yet), always used my good ol' Bose. I realize an external mixer would solve the problem, but that's one more thing to buy and take up space - and an outlet!

I record bands for demos often at their location, so it's cool to be able to go into their stereo system for listening back without headphones.

BUT, the 896 has 8 XLR's, and that's tha shiz for live band recording. The 828 and a couple stereo preamps would give you 6 XLR's for about the same $$$$.

OH, the CHOICES!!!!