Pro Home Recording

Throughout my music & audio adventures I have always been on the search for the perfect home recording solution. My friend C Low and I have experimented with many light versions from almost all the big name companies like Pro tools, Sonor, Cubase, Bias, Apple, etc.  They all have their pros/cons and for the most part you can get the job done.  

So say you want to step up to the next level and take your recording or producing a bit more serious and actually try to record a band’s new CD. If you know what you are doing and have a knack for sound engineering you will quickly discover that these light or LE versions aren’t up par. Problems like thinness of the sound, limited track count, no consistency, poor mixing capabilities, limited editing power, will show through your final mixes.  The solution… invest a little money and upgrade our software.

Ok, great. What software and how much will it cost me? Well everyone one will tell you Pro Tools is the best, It’s what all the major studios use. Ok, Kool. how much? $25,000 for Pro Tools HD rig. Whoa! what? I am just a poor artist man. Well… you can buy Pro Tool LE with an M-Box for $500. And now you back to square one. Producing mixes without that Pro label sound.

The solution: PowerMac G5, Logic Studio, Apogee Ensemble. And for a Christmas present to yourself next year check out this control surface out: Euphonix

Assuming you already have a G5 like me. For an investment of $2,500, You could buy the Logic Studio, Apogee Ensemble and instantly have every bit the editing power, composing power, and sound quality that the $25,000 PT HD rigs have. The And for a bonus, You’ll get surround mixing capabilities, the ability to copy protect clients valuable work on CD, the notation programs, 192k/24bit resolution, 255 track count, and the virtual instruments and amp modelling programs!!! 

The Ensemble features 36 channels of simultaneous audio, including 8 channels of Apogee’s legendary A/D and D/A conversion, 4 transparent, digitally controlled 75db mic preamps, 8 channels of ADAT I/O, 2 channels of S/PDIF coax and optical I/O, and FireWire connectivity to and from the computer. And more.

Conclusion: Even if you don’t own a G5 you can find them for Under 3k which will still keep you way below a Pro Tools setup. Although Pro Tools is a very powerful program it’s not that practically for the poor freelance audio engineer. Logic has more than enough power & features to produce top quality recordings from your basement. It’s also easier to learn, use, and produce with. Your productivity level increase greatly and you will be doing what you love best instead of trying to troubleshoot your problems.  In the end it comes down to finding a setup that works best for your situation while not breaking the bank.