Frustrated and ready to give up, :(

[professir]

Good morning. I have been slaving away at my system for over a year, and have yet to produce anything of merit. My system is a Compaq lap top, CakeWalk home studio 4, a Beringer mixer, nice sure mic. My delima revolves around the software. I am more of a musician then a "geek" and this software is kicking my butt. I also have a Maudio keyboard. I want to be able to lay down drums, a bass guitar, some backround sounds and then layer on my accustic guitar, mandolin and banjo with the mic, but so far, getting the MIDI to work has been hit and miss. I have sat down at a Mac and used garage band to come up with pretty much of what I want in 5 mins, but cant get this PC system to do the same. I really dont want to spurge and lay down the $1200.00 for a Mac system, when I have this much invested into the PC.

I guess my question is....is there a software for this PC that is as easy to select instruments, add and record as Garageband is?

I have tried to visit my local Guitar Center, only to come away with mixed recomendations, and the suggestion to lay down $2000.00 to do what the Mac does for $1200.00.

Any information, suggesions or even prayers would be welcome.

the frustrated professir

professir@yahoo.com

[MR.BYTCH KILLA]

Dont give up Professir!!!Keep at like me never give up!Giving up is for pussies .Straight up man!R.R.com is here to help you with anything.

Just do us a favor man and keep at it.Im new to this recording buy ill never give up because this was alwayz one of my dreams as a kid to have my own studio.Man u got all king of options if u own a studio....Trust me I know this man!!....im outty!!

[brandondrury]

I've never used Garageband first hand (although some bands have given me tracks to include in songs we were recording).

From what I hear, Garageband is not the most powerful program in the world but a great first step. Most of the people I know who were very serious about Garageband ended up upgrading when they found out how easy various tasks where in Cubase SX3.

You do not have to switch to Mac. In fact, that's going to open a whole new can of worms that you may or may not be ready for. There are zillions of satisfied musicians using Windows.

I can't speak for Cakewalk, but I think that Cubase SX3 (which has recently been discontinued and replaced with Cubase 4) is one of the most brilliant pieces of software I've ever used. It can do essentially anything I can think of.

I'm concerned about the "geek" statement. I prefer "nerd", but this forum is not about political correctness. With that said, when you say "geek" it almost implies (and only implies at this point) that you see it as derrogatory to actually learn the software.

So this brings me your issues with Cakewalk.
#1 Is the issue that you simply have not taken the time to properly burst through the learning curve? As I'm sure you are aware of, any program with any degree of power is going to take time to get used to. Notice I said "burst". When I learned Cubase SX3 (not considered a "simple" program) I was gung ho about blasting through the learning curve. I was going to completely conquer it and do it fast. The alternative is to tinker and never really grasp the concepts needed to record music effectively (where you don't have to think about the software and just create music).

#2 Are you problems a result of the program being unstable or unreliably. We can help with that, too. Let me know if you want to pursue that path.

My gut says that you will outgrow Garageband fairly quickly (but maybe not). My gut also says that learning a more aggressive program pays off big dividends in the end. I could crank out a song way faster in Cubase SX3 (now) than I would if someone handed me a Mac and Garageband.

You may want to read The Problem With Simple Recording Software

Brandon

[professir]

First, please allow me to clarify my "geek" comment. Not only is it NOT a derrogotory comment, but just the opposite, I ENVY those that are computer compatent. I, am a much better musician then "nerd" as you used.

My trouble is most likely not bursting through that learning curve. I suspect this program will do what I really want, I just havnt figured that out. One of the highlights of Garageband is, the bus instrument is simply changed by a click of the mouse, and a choice from a list provided. With Home studio, the same change requires you to pick a MIDI interface, a bank of choices, and then adjust whatever settings to make the chosen instrument make noise. I have not gotten past the choice of bank and settings to actualy make it work yet.

As to the reliability of the software, to date, my largest problem has been "latency", or so I have been told. When I record a guitar part, then attempt to listen to the first tract while recording a mandolin tract, the timing is off. The mandolin seems to have a lag between whan I play and when it sounds on the recording.

Thank you for the links, I have been (much to my boss's construnation) reading them all afternoon. Your advise so far and questioned my intent of buying the Mac simpifly for the Garageband program.

[DT Chris]

Just so you know, I haven't produced anything of merit lately either. The technology is in the way... Just keep at it and learn how to use the tools as I will have to, and one day we'll all be back to making music on command.

You're not the only one struggling through technology that is blocking the creative process. Hang in there and it will come.

[brandondrury]

One of the highlights of Garageband is, the bus instrument is simply changed by a click of the mouse, and a choice from a list provided.

This is interesting. In Cubase SX3, a "complicated" program, it takes one click to switch from using one synth to another. Of course, I had to load up that synth in my VST instruments window ahead of time.

As long as you know you have to load your instruments ahead of time (they do this because it conserves LOTS of CPU power), the two programs seam to use the same methodology.

As to the reliability of the software, to date, my largest problem has been "latency", or so I have been told. When I record a guitar part, then attempt to listen to the first tract while recording a mandolin tract, the timing is off. The mandolin seems to have a lag between whan I play and when it sounds on the recording.

Do you not have a real audio interface designed for recording? This is HUGE deal! Even if you are only using synths, I'd spend $150 and get a real audio interface. Check out the Home Recording Soundcard Wizard in my signature.

I haven't produced anything of merit lately either. The technology is in the way...

For non-geek/nerd types, I see a lot of people who get super frustrated and shut off their brains when things don't work correctly. There are instructions for just about everything. You just have to keep calm, keep your brain functioning, and follow the directions.

This may sound elementary, but I've scene some really smart people get really stupid really quickly on a computer. It doesn't have to be complicated. (Although sometimes it is).

Brandon

[ENW]

I got into MIDI & spent a month before I even got my first sound out of it. It was VERY frustrating (using a DIGI 002, Protools & a MAC). Things are starting to sound good now.

Don't give up. It can be done. I had a Grammy Winner mastering engineer ask how long it took before I felt like I could play the guitar well. I said about 20 years. He used that as his example to show that it would take time to learn the recording art.

Recording Review & EQ magazine have lots of informative articles. I started out by going to the Guitar Center (with undependable reults). A friend recommended Sweetwater. They train their sales techs better than most places. I've received a lot of good advice there.

Read the manuals. Trust your ears. Crtically listen to good souding recordings.

Good luck.

ENW

[brandondrury]

I got into MIDI & spent a month before I even got my first sound out of it. It was VERY frustrating (using a DIGI 002, Protools & a MAC). Things are starting to sound good now.

As much as I'd love to compare hooking up cables and guitar playing, I don't think the two go hand in hand. Guitar playing could be compared to audio engineering or producing. That is a 20 year quest!!

If it took a month to get sound out of a MIDI thing, either the system is dramatically unreliable, the information wasn't conveyed properly in the manual, or I didn't try aggressively enough to solve the problem (didn't read the manual, didn't contact support, or didn't ask the right questions in the forums).

Read the manuals. Trust your ears. Crtically listen to good souding recordings.

That sounds like great advice!


Brandon

[professir]

Well, I have decided to buy a new computer alltogether. I think it will be an HP 5600 and I will get the new drivers from homestudio and keep at it. I almost got the mac, but the cost to get something comparable to the HP was HUGE! SO, onward!

Thank you all for the suggestions and the guidance, and no, learning to record isnt like learning guitar to me. But, its doable.

prof

[brandondrury]

I almost got the mac, but the cost to get something comparable to the HP was HUGE! SO, onward!

Macs aren't cheap. That's why I don't recommend them.

Brandon