Opinions on Multi track recorders

[aus21]

Hi, I'm looking to start home recording and have been going over a few different programs but then I came across some pretty cool looking multi trackers, does anyone know any advantages to using one of these insteading of a computer program? Obviously I dont expect anything completely professional but just something to get a few songs together at a good quality.

Appreciate anyones help.

Thanks

[richiebee]

Standalones are less likely to crash since the OS is built for the hardware, but they are a lot less flexible, and unless you get one that can be connected to a monitor, editing can be a bitch. The good ones are perfectly valid ways to create a professional product - the majority of my band's album was recorded on one, though it was mixed in a DAW (Nuendo), and we tracked some of the vocals and all the horns in ProTools.

[aus21]

Thanks for your help.

I've also come across the term "VST" and "VST Input". Can anyone tell me what this means?

[richiebee]

VST = Virtual Studio Technology. Invented by Steinberg (or at least, initiated by them). It really applies to a kind of Virtual Instrument that is supported by Steinberg DAW's (Cubase, Nuendo) as well as those of some other manufacturers. It's the VI format with the largest following and the widest support.

A VI in this case can be a software instrument (Sampler, synthesizer etc), or a software effect (compressor, reverb etc). There are also that are basically utilities, but they are applied either as an instrument or effect.

[brandondrury]

I cover this in great depth in my home recording book. (Not sure when I'll get the damn thing finished. I was shooting for now, but that didn't happen!).

What are you wanting to do? What kind of music?

Brandon

[aus21]

I'm playing a heavy sort of rock along the lines of Incubus or maybe Rage against the machine. After some more research I'm now leaning towards going with something like Cubase. Does anyone know how easy it is to learn how to use Cubase well?

[brandondrury]

Does anyone know how easy it is to learn how to use Cubase well?

Cubase isn't bad. I could have you rocking with the basics in 2 hours or less if I sat down and showed you. The problem is that Cubase requires that you use the Getting Started manual thingy. If you do not, you will definitely take WAY longer to learn it.

Brandon

[Y.E.]

I wouldn't mess with them but they are good some of Scarfaces albums were recorded with one and look at his quality. I perfer digital tho it is more flexible than those

[brandondrury]

Scarfaces albums were recorded with one and look at his quality.

It's not an issue of quality. These days I'm of the opinion that the gear has little to do with the actual fidelity because even the cheapest stuff out sounds pretty damn good. With that said, going one route or another is about finding the features that work for you.

Brandon

[joebingo]

Originally Posted by brandondrury

The problem is that Cubase requires that you use the Getting Started manual thingy. If you do not, you will definitely take WAY longer to learn it.

Brandon

I can vouch for this... massively!