Best software for editing, mixing and mastering on a mac?

[bardo]

I want to edit, mix down and master high quality (96k) acoustic audio tracks on the mac. What's the most effective, no frill, piece of pro software out there?

Thank You Slutz!

[lamacchiacosta]

It's up to you and all the people you've got around.
If you want to excange sessions with your friends and studios in your area ask them what are they using, that's the one.
In case nobody us around you can consider the following:

Ardour
Cubase
Logic
ProTools

[Roland]

Not so easy these days, unfortunately not so many third party people support Mac so choices become a little limited. Pro-tools, of course is the industry standard, but they have dropped the mastering tools and editing is basic. Logic Audio is favoured by many, but editing is clunky to say the least and for mastering it just isn't up to the job.

You say accoustic music, are you talking classical? If that's the case I would suggest Sequioa (I believe that is available for mac) or possibly even better Pyramix running under bootcamp, both have good editing facilities and the ability to produce CD masters. Soundblade is also available for Mac, however this has limited track count and IMHO is lagging behind things like Pyramix, Sadie and Sequioa.

If you can post a little more specific information as to what type of work you need it for, track counts, type of mastering I can help a little more.


Regards


Roland

[ghellquist]

Sorry no Seqioa on Macs, Windows only. Otherwise a very good choice. Most of the functions are in the various flavours of Samplitude (same program, slightly different feature set. The source-destination feature in Sequioa has to be seen to be understood but can be worth the whole money). Could perhaps be run on Mac hardware running Windows but that is of course a different question.

// Gunnar

[bardo]

Thank you all. Roland I am looking to edit and mix down up to 8 tracks to stereo. I make my recordings on a Nagra VI, which is an outstanding device with the highest quality sound. I'd like to edit down using an audio engine where I won't lose the hi-fi sound quality. The music ranges from ambient sounds with subtle acoustic instruments to a small folk/jazz roots quartet.

[mixedupsteve]

Logic Express is only $199.00 and it's great on Mac.
For 8 channels you might even try Garage Band which comes free with Macs.

[Adebar]

Originally Posted by bardo

Thank you all. Roland I am looking to edit and mix down up to 8 tracks to stereo. I make my recordings on a Nagra VI, which is an outstanding device with the highest quality sound. I'd like to edit down using an audio engine where I won't lose the hi-fi sound quality. The music ranges from ambient sounds with subtle acoustic instruments to a small folk/jazz roots quartet.

For 8 channels only I would take a look at Soundblade with 8-channel option. It is a great tool for editing and the 8 channel version supports source destination editing. In fact Sonic Solutions was the inventor of source-destination editing.

SB supports all sample rates and the audio engine is known to be one of the best. Together with the Sonic 8-channel interface it avoids core audio.

If you need more channels than I would prefer Pyramix over Sequoia. But up to 8 channels my choice would be Soundblade.

[Ozpeter]

I think the Mac version of Reaper is still technically beta and still therefore free? You'd have to check their site to be sure. Certainly in its Windows incarnation it is a very capable multitrack audio post production environment, and can do stuff like three and four point edits if you string together the built in functions.

The chances of any audio program with serious functionality being likely to noticeably degrade your audio of itself is close to zero. (If you use it incorrectly of course all bets are off!)

[videoteque]

Originally Posted by Ozpeter

The chances of any audio program with serious functionality being likely to noticeably degrade your audio of itself is close to zero.

+1thumbsup

[siriusbliss]

Originally Posted by ghellquist

Sorry no Seqioa on Macs, Windows only. Otherwise a very good choice. Most of the functions are in the various flavours of Samplitude (same program, slightly different feature set. The source-destination feature in Sequioa has to be seen to be understood but can be worth the whole money). Could perhaps be run on Mac hardware running Windows but that is of course a different question.

// Gunnar

Samplitude and Sequoia DO run under bootcamp.

Greg

[Roland]

As I mentioned above, options are a little bit limited on Mac these days. For straight forward in the box mixing, Logic is good, but editing is pretty "pants". I myself have Pro Tools and Pyramix, but I am using both on PC. Running Sequioa or Pyramix native under bootcamp may be your best option, reaper if you can get it free might be worth a play with, but like anything often you get what you pay for. Good luck!

Regards


Roland

[mrickaby]

I would personally go with Pro Tools for editing on a Mac. It'll be more than adequate for what you need to do, although Logic is an equally good option to consider if you're ever likely to use the DAW for the more 'creative' side of music production.

For added functionality, expanding the software by adding a controller for mixing is a good idea - maybe the 003 Factory for Pro Tools or the Euphonix Artist Series would be great for Logic. I know that's above and beyond what you've asked for, but they really do help with the whole mixing side of things.

As for mastering, I guess it depends on which DAW you go for. Logic Studio comes with WaveBurner which will quite happily burn Red Book standard CD audio. If you go for Pro Tools, I always used to use BIAS Peak. Opinion will most likely be divided on that piece of software, but it never let me down and had a wealth of features!

Mark

[MR4791]

Originally Posted by Roland

For straight forward in the box mixing, Logic is good, but editing is pretty "pants".

What don't you like about it? just curious...

[Roland]

Originally Posted by MR4791

What don't you like about it? just curious...

I am a little spoilt in that the editing (with it's fade editor) in Pyramix is extremely comprehensive and I can do quite silly things with it. With Logic it's a much more basic cut and paste operation, which for a lot of the jazz/classical/rock things I do isn't accurate or quick enough. As with so many things you have to decide what you need to achieve what you (and your clients) want. Basically thats why I am working on PC, as the programs I use are both available for this platform. I'm not for a second arguing one platform as against another, that's another personal choice, if the software I need for my work was only available on Mac I'd have a Mac.

Obviously you will get a lot of differing advice from people depending on their personal preferences, I can only say that I operate as a comercial recording engineer and my tools are chosen on the basis of being able to do what my customers require me to do as quickly and efficiently as possible. YMMV

Regards


Roland

[mdrfue24]

How about Audacity? The later versions (1.3 possibly still called beta) seem very usable in my very non-professional way.