Any recording artists out there?

[Renton]

OK I'm a musician and im trying to record a prog rock opus. Here's my home recording setup:

-Sonar 7.0 for recording/arrangement

-Reason 4.0 for synths/effects

-various refills for Reason

-Alesis I/O 26 firewire interface box

-Line 6 POD pro rack mounted guitar/bass fx processor

-Crappy 100$ 61 key keyboard that i used simply as a midi controller for Reason

-several guitars, basses, banjo, mandolin, violin, etc.

-BFD2 acoustic drum sampler



My plan is to do all of my composing/recording at home and use BFD and reason for my drums. My roommate is a capable drummer, but we don't have the facilities to record (or play) drums, so my plan is to sample them first and then have him replace the samples eventually with his drums.

I'm having a lot of problems, particularly with Sonar and BFD2, and I have no idea how to use Reason so i'm kinda shooting in the dark there.

Basically what i wonder is if any of you are familiar with how to use any of these programs, and can you help me understand them. Also if you recommend other recording interfaces over Sonar, then I'd like to know that too.

thanks

[Jibalob]

I have never used Sonar so I have no idea how it will compare but I find Sonic Foundry - Acid Pro to be one of the easiest to use.

Have a look on their website and see if it's what you're after.

[vqc]

I hear Pro Tools is the shit.

The last time i recorded something I did it super ghetto style and used (the now defunct) Cool Edit Pro, so I cant really help you.

Will the opus be better than a dream theater song? =)

[Halv]

I've been using Cubase for my unballin recordings. Haven't been doing anything fancy though, basically just been programming drums/bass and recording guitar stuff on top.

[Jack Sawyer]

NI Battery (Maybe prog rock does not use drums, so probably scratch that), Kore & Komplete

Reason is very nice, but also very tough to use (if you don't use it like daily)

Also, get yourself an X-FI Elite Pro

[Jack Sawyer]

I hear Pro Tools is the shit.

The last time i recorded something I did it super ghetto style and used (the now defunct) Cool Edit Pro, so I cant really help you.

Will the opus be better than a dream theater song? =)

Cool Edit Pro is not defunct, Adobe purchased it and rebranded it. Its now called Adobe Audition (current version = CS3)

[kevster]

I've not used Sonar before, only Cubase/Pro Tools.

A decent sound card is essential and if you want vocals/acoustic guitar etc. a decent condensor mic is too (I bought a Seinhesser 2/3 years ago for £100 and it was ace). A decent compressor is almost essential (v. cheap second hand) - I've not seen software that can efficiently replicate the hardware. I should add that I've not actively done anything in the last couple of years so this may not be an issue anymore.

[euphoricism]

Send it to me and i'll do percussion tracks. I play everyone percussive instrument you can name and most you can't.

[mixchange]

I do professional audio software design for a living. I work for Antares, making VST/AU/RTAS/TDM plug-ins for various host applications. I have to know all the hosts -- Sonar, Digital Performer, Logic, Cubase, Pro Tools, etc. Basically I get paid to be an expert in the software you speak of. I also know all the propellerhead guys.

I've done some of my own music and played shows, its more in aphex twin/autechre type of music.

Sonar 7 is MUCH better than older versions, a lot due to their VST support.

On the drum samples, I would not bother recording your roomate for samples if you have BFD. Their samples will beat the pants off anything you record with him, unless you have at least 4 mics and know how to record. The only thing I would consider is recording him for loops or larger sections of playing. BFD will beat any "one off" samples you record.

On the host, I much prefer Cubase or Nuendo to Sonar. Cubase will work better with almost any VST plug-in, such as reason. It also, imo, has a much more intuitive user interface...I'm also familiar with almost all its functions, where I know less on Sonar if you want to use me as a reference.

I've used almost every single piece of commercial audio software made, I'm an expert in Reaktor, excellent with Battery and other NI products. Before my current job I ran my own musical instrument/pro audio retail company over the internet.

Battery and BFD accomplish 2 different things, imo. Battery is better for making your own custom drum kits, often from non-drum sources. BFD is the best sampled kit of drums built into a VSTi. If you want professional sounding samples in a vst instrument, stick with BFD.

I'd imagine most of your problems have to do with understanding how the host application interacts with the VSTi, and getting around inside it.

Kevster, on the topic of compression you will find that the cheap hardware boxes are now worse than the software compressors of the same price. You will need to spend over $1000US to get to the point where the hardware compressors have some obviously superior aspects, and this has to do mostly with tubes and transitors that are in them that generate a pleasing "color" to the sound. For just compressing audio without coloration, software can easily equal hardware.

anyone that has questions can IM me on AIM, snuffprawn

[dick_pump]

nope not me,im just a rhoadie.

[dick_pump]

so.. when you need someone to haul your stuff to & fro im the one for you

[Jack Sawyer]

I do professional audio software design for a living. I work for Antares, making VST/AU/RTAS/TDM plug-ins for various host applications. I have to know all the hosts -- Sonar, Digital Performer, Logic, Cubase, Pro Tools, etc. Basically I get paid to be an expert in the software you speak of. I also know all the propellerhead guys.

I've done some of my own music and played shows, its more in aphex twin/autechre type of music.

Sonar 7 is MUCH better than older versions, a lot due to their VST support.

On the drum samples, I would not bother recording your roomate for samples if you have BFD. Their samples will beat the pants off anything you record with him, unless you have at least 4 mics and know how to record. The only thing I would consider is recording him for loops or larger sections of playing. BFD will beat any "one off" samples you record.

On the host, I much prefer Cubase or Nuendo to Sonar. Cubase will work better with almost any VST plug-in, such as reason. It also, imo, has a much more intuitive user interface...I'm also familiar with almost all its functions, where I know less on Sonar if you want to use me as a reference.

I've used almost every single piece of commercial audio software made, I'm an expert in Reaktor, excellent with Battery and other NI products. Before my current job I ran my own musical instrument/pro audio retail company over the internet.

Battery and BFD accomplish 2 different things, imo. Battery is better for making your own custom drum kits, often from non-drum sources. BFD is the best sampled kit of drums built into a VSTi. If you want professional sounding samples in a vst instrument, stick with BFD.

I'd imagine most of your problems have to do with understanding how the host application interacts with the VSTi, and getting around inside it.

Kevster, on the topic of compression you will find that the cheap hardware boxes are now worse than the software compressors of the same price. You will need to spend over $1000US to get to the point where the hardware compressors have some obviously superior aspects, and this has to do mostly with tubes and transitors that are in them that generate a pleasing "color" to the sound. For just compressing audio without coloration, software can easily equal hardware.

anyone that has questions can IM me on AIM, snuffprawn

nh


what do you think of MOTU DP? Or Cubase pwns all?
also, how old are you?