Classical Location Recording Software for Apple

[gobblefisher]

I'm looking for a piece of Mac software that will, like Samplitude, record, edit, and burn a disc all in the same place. Does anybody have any suggestions? So you know, I would just install windows and run Samplitude, but my audio interface (Apogee) limits me to just Mac.

Thanks!

[Angus]

AFAIK both of these programs support CD creation:

cheap solutions: Reaper

expensive solution: Soundblade

I've not used either myself but if my hardware precluded use of Samp-via-Bootcamp that's where I would look.

Angus

[Don S]

I'm not sure that there is one program that will do that. It may be worth it to go with Bootcamp/samp.
I use Jam. I simply send the 24 bit stereo file to it, normalize, top and tail with a couple index markers. It's a little clumsy because you use only your ears and numbers. But I record mostly classical concerts were I only need a couple most of the time and it's just a run off for the conductor.

[John Willett]

Samplitude on Bootcamp.

[JonesH]

I've used WaveBurner sometimes. I usually use Pro Tools when mixing is required, but my new strategy is this; buy a Metric Halo interface and record with Record Panel, take the files into samplitude in bootcamp for editing and mix through the MH unit.

[RichS]

GarageBand. (Yes, I'm serious.)

Sounds like you're just basically documenting a performance and don't need anything fancy. It should do the job nicely.

[Dr Bob]

Originally Posted by RichS

GarageBand. (Yes, I'm serious.)

Sounds like you're just basically documenting a performance and don't need anything fancy. It should do the job nicely.

I hadn't considered this before but this is a great solution for simple recording.

At a fancier level if you only need two channels on a Mac Bias Peak will do all those things and it gives you easier control over the finished cd than GarageBand/iTunes will. (Time between tracks, that sort of PQ list stuff.) And they have a free 14 day trial--check the Bias web site.

[tysonviolin]

I've used Garage Band for many classical recordings. Works like a charm.

[Petrus]

I also have the newest version of Reaper on both Mac and PC laptop. Looks and feels great, even disregarding the cheap price. I even rather use those instead of Pyramix which cost 15 x more (native). It also seems that Reaper makes cleaner downconversions than most high end DAWs.

But: why does Reaper (or somebody else) not make a record only version which would be 1) absolutelly stable*, 2) easy to use as the sole purpose would be putting tracks to HD. Basically just a levels setting & rec/stop buttons.

This Reaper Recorder Lite could be bundled with the Big Editor.

*) not that Reaper isn't stable, but smaller/simpler would always be safer.

Maybe somebody makes this already but I am not aware of it?

[Dr Bob]

Originally Posted by Petrus

I also have the newest version of Reaper on both Mac and PC laptop. Looks and feels great, even disregarding the cheap price. I even rather use those instead of Pyramix which cost 15 x more (native). It also seems that Reaper makes cleaner downconversions than most high end DAWs.

But: why does Reaper (or somebody else) not make a record only version which would be 1) absolutelly stable*, 2) easy to use as the sole purpose would be putting tracks to HD. Basically just a levels setting & rec/stop buttons.

This Reaper Recorder Lite could be bundled with the Big Editor.

*) not that Reaper isn't stable, but smaller/simpler would always be safer.

Maybe somebody makes this already but I am not aware of it?

Metric Halo "Record Panel" does exactly this but only with the Metric Halo interfaces. It simply records tracks and from my limited experience with it (I have used it about a year) it is rock solid stable.

[remoteng]

For software that just records, although I haven't used it I plan on using Boom Recorder. Boom Recorder is aimed at video production or location recording for video production, but is written to simply record and had convenient features like a ring buffer that is always recording. You hit record and automatically get the last minute as well. I've also looked at Metacorder for the same idea, but it's so much more expensive for what looks like a similar feature set. I have no vested interest in either one, and if anyone else has a better rock solid software suggestion I haven't heard about I'd be all ears.

my 2¢
-Andrew

[James Lehmann]

Originally Posted by JonesH

buy a Metric Halo interface and record with Record Panel

+1 on that!

You'd need some sort of dither algorithm to be able to burn a 16-bit CD directly out of that though as MIO software always records 24-bit. If the CD isn't 'mission critical' though just throw it into iTunes and burn.

[James Lehmann]

Originally Posted by tysonviolin

I've used Garage Band for many classical recordings. Works like a charm.

There used to be issues with max recording time in Garage Band though - are these resolved with the newer versions?

What's the max recording time in GB now and is there anything you need to do to set this?

[Petrus]

There is no more Boom Recorder!!!!

See the site at VOSGAMES

Download is still available, but I guess it stops working after 30 days.

[JonesH]

IF you're going to use GarageBand, please do set the tempo to 40 and the beat to 7/4. It's limited to 998 measures, and in the original 50 bpm@4/4 that'll only get you 35 minutes. Happened to me once, in fact when I was running it as backup.

I've also looked at soundBlade but it seems expensive. Fourpoint edit and crossfade editor though...

[mh_bj]

Originally Posted by James Lehmann

+1 on that!

You'd need some sort of dither algorithm to be able to burn a 16-bit CD directly out of that though as MIO software always records 24-bit. If the CD isn't 'mission critical' though just throw it into iTunes and burn.

Actually, that is not true with current software and the Expanded boxes. You can insert dither before the Firewire sends, and the record panel allows you to record 16-bit files (or route dithered audio to a standalone recorder via AES/SPDIF).

[James Lehmann]

Originally Posted by mh_bj

Actually, that is not true with current software and the Expanded boxes.

I was referring to a 'vanilla' box. Happy to stand corrected on Expanded boxes with +DSP.

[James Lehmann]

Originally Posted by JonesH

IF you're going to use GarageBand, please do set the tempo to 40 and the beat to 7/4. It's limited to 998 measures, and in the original 50 bpm@4/4 that'll only get you 35 minutes.

So what does that effectively make the maximum time continuous recording in Garage Band?

Seems to me for Classical recording anything less than at least an hour is going to look a bit limiting.

[mh_bj]

Originally Posted by James Lehmann

I was referring to a 'vanilla' box. Happy to stand corrected on Expanded boxes with +DSP.

It doesn't require +DSP. Just the vanilla box that we sell today. If you have a legacy box without the 2d Card and without +DSP, then you are correct -- you can't dither on record. But anything that has been sold (new) since 2008 has this capability.

Best regards,

B.J. Buchalter

[fafalio]

there is nothing as sadie or sequoia on mac. perhaps sonic solution, but a lot say it is not on the same level.
i was on digital performer on mac, i sold all for samplitude on pc.also if i hate pc.

[Adebar]

The initial question was the
search for a piece of Mac software that will, like Samplitude, record, edit, and burn a disc all in the same place.

This is difficult on a Mac.

The record panel on the Metric Halo interface is relyable and there are reports for recordings with more than 48 channel. But you can´t edit ar burn a CD with it.

Soundblade is great and it can do all that, but until now it is limited to 16 channels. The upcoming version 2 will probably be the right solutions. There are good reasons that it will support 24 channels - or even more. But it is not available yet.

So far I don´t see a real solution for Mac like Pyramix or Sequioia on the PC. I hope Soundblade will soon fill the gap. Of all applications mentioned here it has the best editing tools, sounds really good (best?), the fades are great too and it supports all steps after editing with summing up to CD mastering perfectly. But up to now we have only 16 channels.

Until Soundblade may support more channles with version 2 I would work with the MH Interfaces and record either with the very simple Boom Recorder or the really complete recording panel of the Sonic or MH Console with flexible input and output routing and great monitoring.

[tsvisser]

Originally Posted by Petrus

There is no more Boom Recorder!!!!

See the site at VOSGAMES

Download is still available, but I guess it stops working after 30 days.

Take Vos has stopped selling Boom Recorder due to incompatibility issues with Snow Leopard. He will sell you Boom Recorder now if you contact him directly and confirm that you are going to use an older operating system. He is working on version 9.0 which will incorporate some new features and has also opened up an online ticket system for suggestions...
boomrecorder – Trac

[Ken K]

Digital Performer can do all of that and the new Studio One from Presonus is supposed to be able to Master and burn CDs as well.

[videoteque]

Originally Posted by Adebar

The initial question was the
search for a piece of Mac software that will, like Samplitude, record, edit, and burn a disc all in the same place.

This is difficult on a Mac.

Sometimes I feel people dedicates a lot of effort to find problems where they don't exist. Wonderful records were made with equipement that today either makes you lust (nice vintage Neumanns) or laugh. Editing was made with a razor and the razor didn't have an UNDO function. Now if you want to complain, it's your choice.

You can record/edit perfect records with Logic Express and burn your CDs with iTunes or Toast if you prefer it.

Am I the only one who feels limited in many other things, but not on tools power???

[just.sounds]

Reaper does it all but the 4 point edit. If that was added i would be a happy camper!

[tankfield]

Originally Posted by JonesH

IF you're going to use GarageBand, please do set the tempo to 40 and the beat to 7/4. It's limited to 998 measures, and in the original 50 bpm@4/4 that'll only get you 35 minutes.

998 measures was the limit for Garageband 1 & 2. Garageband 08 gives you 9999 measures.

That's enough for 5.5 hours recording time at the default 120bpm 4/4.

[Audiop]

Reaper does it all and I'm happy with Reaper on a MBP13" for classical and opera. I have not used the CD burner in Reaper though.


/Peter

[huub]

Pay attention with reaper if you record long performances (more than 2 hours) by default it starts a new file per track every GB or so. I once recorded to an external disk, and the first parts were fine, after 1 GB it started new files, these all started at random start times and had messed up timestamps because the disk wasn't fast enough..
Just a little warning; it's best to set reaper to starting a new file after 4 GB or something...

huub

[Audiop]

In Reaper you can chose to have all files switching to new ones simultaneously or spread out. The latter option reduces the load on the computer and serves no problem if you save the recording as a project.

Needless to say the switching is gapless.


/Peter

[DannyL]

I cut tracks in Nuendo or Cubase and burn 2 track discs with TC Electronic's
Spark XL 2.81. It is no longer made but can be found. I also have Bias Peak, but have never been very happy with the GUI or the way it handles plug-ins.

Spark XL also has a Batch convert section that works pretty well. If I need to do serious batch conversion I generally do it through Convert Files in Nuendo.

I should do some A/B comparisons. And report the results. Sigh....not much time for that sort of thing these days.

Danny