New Mac-Based Rig - Ground Up - Recommendations?

[Chris Bauer]

Okay gang, it was inevitable... the moment I sold off the last of my recording gear, I immediately began to get requests to start doing overdub sessions at home again.

So, I'm looking for recommendations on both hardware and software. What I need and want are...

Needs:

Mac-based
Great sound quality (of course...)
Ease of use w/o an engineer
Ease of use for a complete techno-nincompoop like myself
Ability to do stereo or multiple mic tracking is preferable (but not multiple instruments at once)
Plays well with multiple file formats

Wants:

Bonus points for recording gear that can be easily linked to physical knobs, buttons, and sliders rather than multiple layers of software menus.

Recommendations? Bring 'em on. Thanks!

[Bob Hoffnar]

You may already have garage band in your Mac. Simple and very good recording software. To get into the computer there are a zillion interfaces. Apogee duet is about as good as it gets. I used a Focusrite for years with pro level results. After that you get into mics and outboard gear. You already know the routine with that stuff.

Give up on the buttons and sliders if you want simple and quality at the same time.

[Rick Schacter]

Here's something that would give you knobs and faders and would connect to you Mac using firewire.
This also comes with a software called "Capture" as well as the Artist version of Studio One which is Presonus' basic version of their DAW software.

http://www.presonus.com/products/StudioLive-16.0.2


They also have a 32 channel version of this board if you need that many inputs.

[Rick Campbell]

Don't be confused about the Presonus StudioLive mixer. It's a mixer, not an interface. So, you can't record 16 tracks at once with it.

You said you only need to do one track at a time. I'd recommend the Presonus Audiobox, Studio One, and by all means..... Faderport. That makes a great setup.

I love my Mac!!!

RC

[Rick Schacter]

Don't be confused about the Presonus StudioLive mixer. It's a mixer, not an interface. So, you can't record 16 tracks at once with it.

RC

I think you can record with the Presonus board by using the Capture software first.
Then you transfer the tracks from Capture into Studio One to polish them.
At least that's what I understand from reading this from the a Presonus web site:

"Recording made easy with Captureâ„¢.
Check out our competition, and you’ll discover that their “recording” capabilities amount to stereo-only or just four channels — or require expensive add-ons.
With the StudioLive 16.0.2, if you have a laptop, you have a multitrack digital recorder instantly ready to capture your gig, church service, or presentation.
Just two mouse clicks engages Capture recording software. When you install it on your laptop, it automatically “maps” to the outputs of the 16.0.2 to automatically record all 16 input channels".


Did I misunderstand something?

ps- I really want to get a Mac someday. Hopefully soon.

[Rick Campbell]

Rick, you could be right about that. I'm not sure if it records all 16 tracks, or just a two track output. I hope you're right. Before I spent the money, I'd talk to Sweetwater or Presonus and get it straight. I'm wrong more often than I'm right. I have found that with S1 and a Faderport, using the mixing automation is about as good as I'll every want it to be. Ii can do 8 tracks at once with my Audiobox 1818. Actually, I never do more than two at a time and that's just when I want to play bass or something and do a vocal part at the same time. I really love to tinker with this stuff!

RC

[Rick Schacter]

Hi Rick,
Using the Studiolive board as an interface is discussed around 4:30 into this video:

http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Rt-k2412VcU

Using the Studiolive for mix down is discussed in this video:

http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=JRBfPFiD4yo

I have the Audiobox 44VSL and use it with Studio One Professional.
I really like the Presonus stuff.

To be honest, the Studiolive board is completely overkill for my needs...I want one anyway. Lol

BTW, you have a great first name.

[mtulbert]

Just to jump in here. You absolutely can do multitrack recording with this board.

I have a 24.4.2 and it with the firewire hookup and into pro tools I get 24 tracks.

However; the only way you can control the levels to protools is with the input gain controls at the top of the board. The faders do NOTHING at this stage of recording. They do work when you return the output of Pro Tools back into the mixer.

Even with that limitation it is a great interface. You also have the option of recording with your eq and compression if you want to. Really nice design IMHO

Mark

[Rick Campbell]

I did a little research. The Studiolive is just a mixer, not a control surface. It will allow you to multi-track record. You can do 16 simultaneous inputs to the DAW, and as a front end it you can add effects, etc....before it enters the DAW. As for mixing, etc.... It will not control the faders in Studio One, automation won't make them move. Unless you really need that many inputs, I think you should stay with one of the Audiobox interfaces. It's a cool looking mixer. If I were not using a DAW, I'd have one.

RC

[Rick Schacter]

It will not control the faders in Studio One, automation won't make them move.

RC

Rick,
Go to around 1:30 into the second video that I posted.
Am I misunderstanding something? It sounds to me as though you can assign each track to a channel on the mixer at mix down time and use the faders on the board to do your mix.
Do you mean that it doesn't have automation?

I agree that the Audiobox units are a very good way to go.
If you do want a DAW controller for not much money, this is one that I've been tempted to try out:

http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/nanoKON2bk

Rick

[Rick Campbell]

Again you are correct in what you are saying, but my point is that it the board doesn't control all the features in studio one, like automation of mixes, transport, etc... etc.... I was all wrong about it not being able to interface, and it's good to have the outboard effects too because. It will certainly do that very well. I have the software version of Studiolive. It came with my Audiobox. It's got the fat channels, etc.... But I didn't care for it. I run without using it. I'm running on a Mac Pro 8 core with 16 gigs of ram, so I rarely run out of processed power if I'm running in slow to avoid latency. I like the box you found on Sweetwater.....looks cool. Actually I like my Faderport very well.

[Rick Schacter]

I get what you're saying now, and I should have gotten it earlier if I would have actually read what you said here:

.
automation won't make them move.

RC

Geez, and I even copied it too. That's embarrassing.

Rick

**That Faderport looks pretty slick. Another option for myself to consider getting.

[mtulbert]

Here is something that I do occasionally. If I need automation I do it in Pro Tools on whichever channel is needed. I also have a fader port and it works great for automation and as a transport for Pro Tools.

If you set the level on the Presonus board and leave it there all the automation moves will come into the Presonus and viola!! you have an automated channel coming in. The Presonus faders do NOT move for automation. You just achieve it in the DAW software.

M

[Rick Campbell]

Yep, the Faderport is really nice.. Get yourself one. You won't regret it. You can do the read/write automation selection, arm the track for recording, pan, levels, transport markers, undo and redo, activate punch, and all kinds of stuff. There's arrows that switch from one track to another. If your recording, it really speeds up the workflow by not having to fumble with the mouse with a handful of guitar necks, picks on fingers, etc.....

RC