just like starting over....

[hollywood_steve]

OK, I’ve been away and off the audio forums for over two years. I’m gonna guess that a lot has changed in the interim, and while I’m reading through two years of TapeOp and Mix subscriptions, there’s only so much I can pick up quickly that way. So I come here to the experts and ask for generous offerings of knowledge.

I’ll keep it as simple as possible. I’m pretty much all set on hardware (for my needs). I have no desire to experience more product obsolesence than is required, so I have made the big decision to go computer based, but ONLY for multi-track recording / storage. Mixing, all effects, etc will still be analog. (through existing hardware.)

I need a DAW that provides high quality recording and playback of between 8(min.) and 16 (would never use all 16) channels. No need for MIDI, plug-ins or any of the other swell stuff that DAW manufacturers use as selling points. Basically, you can think of it as I am replacing an analog 8 track recorder with a DAW, and I don’t need any new capabilities not found on the old tape deck. But instead of chasing new revisions to expensive dedicated digital recorders (that are quickly being abandoned by the industry), I’d rather chase after much less expensive new revisions to software. (not to mention all of the no longer available parts, accessories, drives, etc. for ‘dedicated digital recorders).

I was a 100% fan of dedicated digital recorders, especially as I was doing 75% location work back in 2001. But its 2007 and the numbers just add up differently today.

So, simple, bulletproof DAW, high quality, minimal bells and whistles, PC based. I’d like to leave the converters and I/O to another discussion; the DAW will come first, and I will acquire the converters and I/O to best support the DAW decision. Also, lets assume that I can purchase a brand new PC (or notebook) to best support the DAW. I’m really only interested in the software decsion right now.

Thanks!!!

ps. the website and email addresses in my sig are no longer online. must fix....

[bishopthomas]

You've been away for two years, huh? Don't even bother trying to catch up, just do what you do. You can save the other discussions for later, but eventually all of the puzzle pieces have to come together. I always find it easier to lay out all of the pieces, face up. It sounds like any ole DAW will do for you, if all you're doing is tracking and storing. If you want simple and basic you can download a free version of Audacity. I use Adobe Audition (previously was Cool Edit Pro by Syntrillium). There are a ton of programs out there, and they all do basically the same thing (on the surface, which is as far as you want to go it seems). Many interfaces come with some type of basic multitrack software of their own.

By the way, I just switched over my DAW to an HD24 system. 95% of my recording comes from location work. There is no such thing as a "bullet-proof" DAW.

[celticrogues]

IMHO, Pro Tools is the easiest DAW to use like a tape machine. It has a bunch of advanced features if you want, but the PT interface makes it very easy to simply ignore those features and get recording quickly. All of the other DAW programs I have tried force you to navigate through some of their advanced features in order to record; PRo Tools doesn't.
I would go with Pro Tools M-powered and a Profire lightbridge if I was you. That way you can have 16 channels of your choice of converters. Pro Tools M-powered is somewhat crippled compared to the HD version, but if you mix all analog and never use more than 16 tracks, that will not affect you at all.
Just my opinion though

Cheers!
-Mike

[kriSh]

maybe try to get an older version of magix samplitude. it's focussed and has its strong points in audio (even great quality fx built in) as opposed to midi and sequencing (which they try to catch up in the newer versions).
i use a version 7 on an old p3 866mhz thinkpad and i'm always surprised again about the trackload i can handle (just needs some fiddling with the buffer and trackspeed settings), well, using an RME multiface providing close to no CPU-load.

[jazzbutcher]

Hey, Welcome back, Hollywood Steve! Long time, no see.

Where did you go?

Are you still doing the DSD thing? Or are you replacing it with this new gear you are after?

best,

-dave

[mml]

Hey Steve!

Just ran across this looking you up. Where you been? Tried to get ahold of you a couple times. Anyway, shoot me a line sometime. Hope you've been OK.

matt@mysteriousmammal.com

[T.RayBullard]

samplitude..

[Remoteness]

Steve from Hollywood,

How's everything coming along?

All the best!