The Song Fight Bulletin Board

Finally getting fed up with it, mostly because of the destructive EQ (and other effects). Also, MIDI would be nice.

Suggestions on what to replace it with?

Emphasis on cheapness. I am not exactly a starving artists, but the budget I am willing to allot to music relative to other things in my life is very very small.

Reaper

This is right-priced option that's fairly full of features. MIDI included. I've used it a few times and have been fairly impressed. Created by the dude who created Winamp, I believe.

Reaper looks pretty good and the price looks great if it works good.
I'm new to the computer recording game, and not much of a computer guy. But I've been using Cubase because it was recommended by a couple people I know in the music biz. The only problems I've had are the limitations of my computer and my imagination. Bottom line, I love Cubase.

That Reaper software looks a lot like Acid.

Cubase.

Even one of the limited versions would be a great step up and would give you the foundation if you ever wanted to jump into the full version.

Ken

ken wrote:Cubase.

Even one of the limited versions would be a great step up and would give you the foundation if you ever wanted to jump into the full version.

Ken

Is there a chart that compares the features of the different Cubase editions, side by side? Kind of like this one for Winamp?

try this:

http://www.audiofactory.pl/shared/porownanie.pdf

I just downloaded Reaper since it's a free trial and I will probably mess with it a while. Maybe use it for an entry.

The demo song that comes with it is by Brad Sucks. A Songfighter (well mostly a SomeSongs-er). Neato.

Cubase is awesome. I love it. I can't not use it, which is why I haven't really given Reaper a proper howyadoin'. I'm dongle-whipped.

ken wrote:try this:

http://www.audiofactory.pl/shared/porownanie.pdf

That's out of date. try this instead.

I have tried Reaper and it is pretty nice; I still use it sometimes.

What do you use now bzl?
I'm really hoping to hear the pros and cons on Pro Tools and Cubase.

Cubase SX3 is what I've been using for work, and I also use Audacity to check the accuracy of my loops, because Audacity is one of the few programs I've found that will give you a true perfect loop, so you can identify any pops, delay, etc. that you wouldn't be able to find in Cubase. Audacity is completely useless beyond that.

As far as 'cheap' goes, you have the internet. I know you're not supposed to talk about this stuff on ubb, so let's just say things can be gotten.

Are you not using an interface? Every interface on the market comes bundled with an LE version of Cubase, Ableton, Sonar, etc. If you don't have an interface, you need to get one. Two birds, etc. Something simple like the M-Audio MobilePre USB comes bundled, and I think they're down around $150 new nowadays. I need to upgrade my screw-around setup anyway, so maybe I'll sell you mine for half that.

For the pros and cons of Cubase and similar programs, it's pretty clear cut:

PROS:
They rock.
They tend to be very good about immediately recognizing and auto-configuring interfaces and controllers when you plug them in, and they can communicate with virtually any interface ever made (with the exception of Protools and their proprietary DIGI hardware)
These higher-end programs generally support more stuff, like higher bitrate recording, meaning better overall sound, advanced multiple-monitor support, separate master mixes for simultaneous recording/mixing/playback for live shows and stuff
They also tend to have fewer arbitrary limitations, like track length, number of tracks, number of fx loops, etc.
They usually come bundled with some good quality plugins and effects
Much much more

CONS:
The initial learning curve is pretty steep. You're going to want someone who knows a little about the program right there with you, or at least hang out in the songfight irc (assuming people get on there anymore). Learning an advanced program alone from scratch sucks, let me tell you.
Cost.. if you're into that.

So there you go. Getting a nice program like Cubase or Protools and then becoming very familiar with it will let you quickly produce kickass tracks.

I've been messing around with Reaper, but I've noticed that compared to Audacity there appears to be more latency in the recording process.

Which is weird, because Reaper has an "auto adjust for recording latency" selection which is already turned on, while Audacity is known to not do any automatic compensation.

I have not yet messed with Reaper's manual latency setting, but I assume that would be the next step.

I am mainly curious to know why it only happens in Reaper.

The Sober Irishman wrote:Cubase SX3 is what I've been using for work, and I also use Audacity to check the accuracy of my loops, because Audacity is one of the few programs I've found that will give you a true perfect loop, so you can identify any pops, delay, etc. that you wouldn't be able to find in Cubase. Audacity is completely useless beyond that.

This may be different, but I've just found out how best to use the "close gap" function on Cubase. Of course you have to be pretty damn close to start with, but you can hit "select all" and hit "close gaps" after you finish your arrangement. I haven't had to use it yet for "select all" but it sounds like a good option. I think the close gap feature might be stretching tracks to close the gaps. Does this hurt the sound quality?

Audacity and Cubase are two different programs for very different functions. Very few sequencing/multi-track systems have good audio editing capabilities (and Logic is about the worse).

I figure Audacity is in the tool kit of anybody who does a lot of audio editing (especially loop editing) and wants a great, free program that's also cross-platform.

But Audacity has nothing on Cubase, Logic, etc. for track management, mixing, arranging, etc. Not to say some folks don't do amazing things with it, but that's just not what the tool was designed to do and other programs rock at it.

I really liked Cubase when I had it years ago. Acid came with my Prosonus Inspire, so I'm gonna give that a try next.

the reaper guy did a couple songfights.

jb

jb wrote:the reaper guy did a couple songfights.

jb

Grim? ....I bet he friend flooded.

you know what? he did. admits it even. look for his blog.

I highly recommend Mackie's Tracktion line of recording software. It's cheap. And pretty fantastic. I'm amazed no one else uses this. (You can download a demo version here.)

i have it.. but i don't use it very often. it is very neat, though.

-craig