[musictlk] home studios: Mac vs. PC and control surfaces?

Wed May 15 13:42:11 UTC 2013

Thanks, Guys!  I am  sort of  at  a  crisis point with this stuff, but   I'm  interested in setting  something up  that will work  well  and be more   or  less a   steady   solution for  a   while.

So, perhaps  a  MacBook, Reaper and some control surface?  Does anyone use Reaper with   a braille display?  JAWS and  I are ready   to  end  our  relationship forever I  think so maybe this is just the push I need to make it happen.

And yes, Tim, thanks, we have a  terrific  mic (a Yeti)  and I've got no  complaints with   it except how well it picks up the sounds  of the cats playing and  any  bad words anyone might utter  on an out-take.

Sheri
-----Original Message-----
From: musictlk [mailto:musictlk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Daniel Romero
Sent: Tuesday, May 14, 2013 9:12 PM
To: Music Talk Mailing List
Subject: Re: [musictlk] home studios: Mac vs. PC and control surfaces?

Interfaces are definitely important. However, if you can aford it, look at Focusrite stuff. One priced well is the focusrite scarlett 2i2 if you're going to invest into an interface. Timithy is right about Mac's and I won't take away what he said, however, having no knowledge about the opporating system will be a setback. I'm suggestion what I'm suggesting only because it seems like you're pressed for time as you need to get work done for your job.
Hope this helped. Take care.

P.S. I am a main PC user for my music, but I've use Mac and i love what I've  done so far with garageband so far.

On 5/14/13, Timothy Clark Music <timothyclarkmusic at me.com> wrote:
> trust me on this.
>  windows is not built for production work.
>  sure you can do it.
>  but it's easier, and faster to use garageband on the mac.
>  it's built in, it's free, and, it's easy to use.
>  i would be happy to work with you and get you up and running with it.
>  also, if you want to use a mic such as an XLR mic i would get the 
> fast track box from m-audio.
>  a good I/O box is key to a good mix.
>  also, with a mac verses a pc, usually if you're going to use the 
> internal mic 9 times out of 10 the mac will have a better mic.
>  let's look at sound cards.
>  the mac has an HD sound card and a processor that's built for productions.
> both audio and video.
>  again, important to choose your platform carefully and if you're 
> doing molti tracking the mac is the way to go.
>  that's not a mattor of opinion either it's a fact. look it up should 
> you not believe me.
>  i would be happy to help you. view my signiture below for means of 
> contacting me god bless  Timothy  Your friend in the music industry  
> bandcamp  http://www.timothyclark13.bandcamp.com
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>  phone
>  7244011224
>
>
>
>
>
>
> On May 14, 2013, at 5:00 PM, Daniel Romero wrote:
>
>> Hi Sheri! First off, will you send me some of the outtakes of your
>> work? I'd like to hear some of the swearing moments. Lol Just playing
>> with you.
>> It really all comes down to comfortability. So far what I've learned
>> is that you have more knowledge with PC's over Mac. This isn't to say
>> you couldn't or should learn Mac, but it would be a tedious process
>> due to the fact that you're only familiar with just audasity. Here's
>> what I'll recommend, unless someone has an lots of other choices for
>> you as far as a portastudio. Fix up your PC, and start diving into
>> things such as Reaper, or Cakewalk's sonar with the scripts from
>> dancing dots; CakeTalking. ProTools is great but takes a lot to learn
>> because you'd be learning another opporating system, and from what it
>> seems, you need to get  this equipment, semi quick, correct? So if you
>> need/want too, fix up your PC, and if you financially can't aford
>> sonar and the scripts right now, Reaper is out there for free and I
>> believe the full version costs $60 if I'm not mistaken. Now you're
>> looking for a control surface. I don't know much about this yet as I
>> haven't purchased one, but on the Reaper e-mail list, I was following
>> a conversation thread about the Behringer BCF2000. There is supposedly
>> a plugin for reaper that makes the control surface accessible. If/when
>> I can, I will find more information out for you. i hope I was some
>> sourt of helpful. Take care!
>> -Dan
>>
>> On 5/14/13, Sheri Beth Wells-Jensen <swellsj at bgsu.edu> wrote:
>>> Hi, Folks,
>>>
>>> I spent some time listening to the (really well done) podcasts from
>>> Dancing
>>> Dots about setting up home music mastering equipment.  As a result of
>>> this,
>>> I'm ready to upgrade and have questions of anyone who has a home studio
>>> and
>>> works with projects larger than 2 or 3 tracks.  I've been using Audacity
>>> which works... it works like driving a tank, but it works.  Hence, my
>>> excitement when I heard how easily things can go if you have the right
>>> equipment.
>>> I'm tired of hacking; I want this to be fun again.
>>>
>>> I'm not (and don't currently have) a keyboard player, so I'm not
>>> interested
>>> in a keyboard with a midi as such.  We need multiple tracks for things
>>> like
>>> banjo, bass, ukulele, sax, flute, guitar, vox and percussion, and I'm
>>> serious about doing the recording right and getting the effects the way
>>> I
>>> want them.  My day job as a linguist also requires me to make clear
>>> speech
>>> recordings and edit them well.  Again, I've been using audacity, but
>>> that
>>> causes me to swear bitterly and sometimes throw things... *smile*
>>>
>>> I'm simultaneously about ready to give this blasted old PC of mine the
>>> boot
>>> out the door (It has failed me for the last time!), and so I'm trying to
>>> figure out if my recording needs and my computer needs ought to unite.
>>> So,
>>> my questions:
>>>
>>> Do any of you use a stand alone piece of equipment like Portastudio?
>>> I ask because I'd really like to have a control surface: that sounds to
>>> me
>>> like the easiest way to manipulate things partly because, although I use
>>> VoiceOver on my phone and JAWS on my computer, I  really prefer to work
>>> as
>>> much as possible without voice.  I'd love to have braille access to all
>>> this, but I understand if that's just not workable.  Things go so much
>>> better if I have braille access!
>>>
>>> I'm quite willing to make the jump to a Mac Book if that's the best way
>>> to
>>> go... Anyone out there use a control surface with a Mac?  Or would I be
>>> better served by a PC that has better manners than mine does?
>>>
>>>
>>> Thanks in advance and my apologies for the combination of rant and
>>> questions.
>>>
>>> Peace,
>>> Sheri
>>>
>>>
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>>
>>
>> --
>> Daniel C. Romero
>> Bergen Community College '14
>> Host, imager, and producer, The Dan ShowLive
>> Cell: 973-842-1600
>> Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/djdan567
>> Twitter: @Djdan567
>>
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-- 
Daniel C. Romero
Bergen Community College '14
Host, imager, and producer, The Dan ShowLive
Cell: 973-842-1600
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/djdan567
Twitter: @Djdan567

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