Is Garageband really enough?

[nicholaspaul]

Someone mentioned compatibility with hardware, and the fact that Pro Tools has that down...
Is hardware compatibility an issue?
Is my audiophile USB quality going to be an issue, if I were to get PT M-Powered?

[nicholaspaul]

And where in all this would Reaper fit? Anyone have experience with that? Is it better/worse than Garageband, or an entry level Cubase?

I just found out that there's an app between Garageband and Apple Logic, called Logic Express 8. Sounds ideal! Anyone? Anyone?

[heart attack joe]

I haven't been considering 8 input channels but now that you bring it up it would be good were some musicians all gathered at my place to record. My needs are mostly met by a couple of ins at a time, building tune ideas and such.

I was shocked last night. Before I crashed, when I was nodding out tired from working all day I plugged my new H4 Zoom into my Mac to dump off a new file I had recorded as a test. After doing that I got to looking at the i/o item in the menu. I switched over to that, to see if anything would happen. Opened up Garage Band (which I am not good at yet) and immediately wound up laying a trumpet track via the H4! Just hit the record button in GB and play into the H4.

I had expected to have to go into my computer's input preference panel and monkey around, then define this or that in the app's menus like I have to in Pro Tools. No, it just took right off and with surprisingly good results.

Its that hassle free nature of some gear that makes it worth gold when its conducive to creative flow not being interrupted. You get on a roll and don't have to think about the interface. Stay with the thought.

I stayed up three more hours.... damn.

Thanks for the tip. I see a studio in my future..

[geekag]

The only problem I have with GB is that I can't select an input channel. ie, I have an instrument plugged in to channel 4 of my audio interface, but there is no way that I have found to tell GB that it is on channel 4.

But that does not prevent me from recording multi-track recordings. And, yes, it comes with Mac OS X so you can't complain about the price.

[heart attack joe]

The price is good. I have just investigated the graphic EQ options that are almost laughable unless I am not seeing the 'real' stuff. I clicked on "Visual EQ" > manual. Do you know if that is a simplified view of a more useable EQ?

[uab9253]

Originally Posted by nicholaspaul

Someone mentioned compatibility with hardware, and the fact that Pro Tools has that down...
Is hardware compatibility an issue?
Is my audiophile USB quality going to be an issue, if I were to get PT M-Powered?

Yes and Yes. You have to go with Digidesign approved when using PT. I think the M box version opens things up a bit. Also, it limits to one flavor of plug ins, example no VST plugs or Direct X.

I use Cubase Studio and I really like it. It is the first PC based DAW I have used so I really have no basis for comparison.

[Shimmercore]

I'm currently using Garageband 08 and recording my own solo stuff is a breeze. However, I'm branching out and starting to record other bands and while I'm getting some great results with Garageband, I find that there are some limitations such as no punching in on tracks. I work around this by just recording on a separate track and then cutting and pasting that take into the original track. There is a take feature that seems cool but again, limiting. It's cool for what it is, but I'm upgrading to Logic Pro 8 to get better sounds and control.

[heart attack joe]

I use Cubase Studio and I really like it. It is the first PC based DAW I have used so I really have no basis for comparison.[/QUOTE]

Do you have any knowledge of Cubase LE 4? That is what shipped with my H4. I will explore it unless you warn me away saying that its so limited I should spring for Cubase Studio...

[nicholaspaul]

Originally Posted by uab9253

Yes and Yes. You have to go with Digidesign approved when using PT. I think the M box version opens things up a bit. Also, it limits to one flavor of plug ins, example no VST plugs or Direct X.

I use Cubase Studio and I really like it. It is the first PC based DAW I have used so I really have no basis for comparison.

M-Audio hardware is compatible with PT M-Powered:
Digidesign | Products | Pro Tools | Pro Tools LE & M-Powered | Pro Tools M-Powered | Pro Tools M-Powered

I was wondering if old hardware (ie my Audiophile USB) is going to incur quality issues, or if upgrading to better hardware is really worth it if I don't need more inputs (everything plugs into a mixer).

[uab9253]

Originally Posted by nicholaspaul

M-Audio hardware is compatible with PT M-Powered:
Digidesign | Products | Pro Tools | Pro Tools LE & M-Powered | Pro Tools M-Powered | Pro Tools M-Powered

I was wondering if old hardware (ie my Audiophile USB) is going to incur quality issues, or if upgrading to better hardware is really worth it if I don't need more inputs (everything plugs into a mixer).

I would say try it first and see what your ears tell you. If it sounds okay to you and doesn't limit you, keep it.