Keep It Simple Options

[gregaber]

Looking to record and burn CDs of myself playing grand piano, classical music. Want to have good results but not spend a fortune.

Piano is in my home. Just bought 12" Powerbook. Considering Griffin iMic or Powerwave. Thinking of Microphone to Mixer to iMic/Powerwave to Powerbook. Have CD Spin Doctor from Toast Titanium package.

Not a professional so don't need professional results but don't want to waste my time either getting crap results.

Any suggestions? Am I on the right track?

[rickenbacker]

I think the iMic might really annoy you after a short while. You can get a perfectly decent USB audio device from, say, Edirol or Tascam, for only a little more and the sound quality would be much improved. Otherwise, your set-up/approach seems adequate for what you want to do.

[Synthetic]

yeah... stay away form imic... seen too many people getting frustrated with them and ended up buying another interface instead

[gregaber]

Thanks for the good advice. Bought an Edirol UA20 at the Apple Store and am getting great results [from the equipment; now I need to practice for about 3 months!].

By the way, the box that the UA20 comes in only says it is compatible up to OS9; they have an OS X driver available on their website [Panther compliant as well].

[Synthetic]

good... glad to hear you got things going

I am sure that was just old packaging made before their OSX drivers were out

This post has been edited by Synthetic: Tue 23 Dec 2003, 00:57

[dmrkh]

Synthetic, where were you when I was wasting my money?

I've gone from imic to powerwave to revolution 7.1 to a Formac Studio TVR! I'll stay here since inputting video is inherent in my dream "job" (dj/vj). The rev will find its uses, but that Griffin crap with its everglowing bluelight in the basement motif is headed for my little bro.

[Synthetic]

Synthetic, where were you when I was wasting my money?

I've gone from imic to powerwave to revolution 7.1 to a Formac Studio TVR! I'll stay here since inputting video is inherent in my dream "job" (dj/vj). The rev will find its uses, but that Griffin crap with its everglowing bluelight in the basement motif is headed for my little bro.

umm.... let's see.... where was I? dunno but I am sure if I had seen a thread that said "imic - good or not" or similar I would have tried to advise against though

the idea of the VJ thing really interests me too since I am professional visual artist and music is just my hobby one of the coolest things I had ever seen was a 2 man multimedia band based in Califonia I think... it was a white haired older guy and younger man. They did some really wild live multimedia performances with really bizarre but interesting music in sync with 2 projectors that flashed words and imagery... was really entertaining and wish I could remember name of the band. I seen it on a music DVD featuring indie and less know artist. They said they were able to make enough off their music and shows to do their music full time which to me is just awesome

I would like to get a digital projector to run off my laptop and maybe use something like Arkos for doing a show with my own music but they start at about $2000 dollars though Maybe one year when I quit buying music gear, computger gear, and motorcycle equipment

[Synthetic]

in hindsight... I think I was kinda lucky with my music spending over the years. When I started... there were not near as many options available so I decided to use ProTools and get a Digi001 since I knew the first VAST album (great creative production) was done with ProTools and one man. I love that darn tihng (Digi001)... I bought a ESI 2.6 to use with my laptop but didn't like the RCA jacks... the USB connectors (sloppy) and idn't use it as much as I thought so I sold it after a fw months. A Korg Electribe, the ESI, and a EMU cheap sampler were my purchasing mistakes luckily I was able to sell them and maybe lost a little under $100 on each of the 3.

The EMU sampler agrivated me to no end because it wasn't mac friendly and time consuming to setup. It sounded actually fairly nice (full and punchy) sound. However this was not same case with the Korg Electribe... it was fun to play with and you create some amazing sounds using its fx and automation but sound was thin (12bit I think). I found myself using my CS6X synth more than Electribe for most work so I sold them. I almost wish I had kept Electribe though because I think if I could run it into my Presonous Blue Tube & Max... it would have sounded great but didn't have those processors at the time

sorry... I tend to ramble sometimes

This post has been edited by Synthetic: Thu 1 Jan 2004, 00:58

[dmrkh]

For years I simply didn't purchase anything cuz I thought I was already TOO ignorant in not knowing anything except how to play my bass. "Since the computer world has already passed me by I'll just stay out of it altogether."

Now that I've gotten over myself here i be, knowing that if Stephen Hawking can compute- I have NO excuse !

Anyhoo, if you've got a mid '70s vcr (let alone a betamax), run all the awesome visual stuff in the world via rca/s-video cables into the tvr thingie via firewire (be sure to incl. your turntable with stuff you don't even Want to download/look for online or anywhere but yer ancient lp collection); add liberal doses of FCP/Arkaos, sequence to your hearts content, rollover to Live365, simulcast the video over a seperate feed and send me a post so I can "Join in the Chant"!

mark