Decent Home Recording - What Equipment Do I Need? - Page 2

I_got_a_mohawk · 10th January 2008, 11:20 AM

XP is more likely to have some compatability issues, but its easy to overcome with the use of hardware profiles.

and im not sure, i've seen cracked versions of OSX which apparently work on PC, but, i dont know of anything official tho (but there very well could be)

Thee Alex · 10th January 2008, 11:53 AM

The Apple EUA prohibits use of their OS on non Apple hardware. There are hacked versions out there though, and it's become a little bit easier to run a 'Hackintosh' since Macs went Intel.

The main difference between Apple machines and other computers is that Apple design their hardware specifically for the software, and visa versa - the two are utterly integral. PCs are slapped together out of various bits and pieces and then lumbered with an OS that is bloated, slow, full of errors and bugs, and ugly as hell.

Macs are just nicer to use than PCs IMO.

BulletHell · 14th January 2008, 04:12 PM

I have to agree with Alex's suggestion of Mac/Mbox/Decent Mics & Ableton Live.

That's exactly what we have been using for our first demos.

It's pretty decent. While I do slant towards Macs for everyday computer use, A decent PC will suffice and be a bit cheaper.

An Apple is a bit of a luxury

humndislocation · 14th January 2008, 06:44 PM

In my opinion, you should either use a PC or a Mac as-is. Running MacOS on a PC sounds like a pretty bad idea to me. As far as I am aware, it wasn't designed to run on PCs, and it most likely wasn't tested on the PC either, so anything that goes wrong is pretty much your fault.

I don't know how different Intel Mac hardware is from the PC, but I think Thee Alex is right when he says that the software and hardware for Apple systems are designed for each other.

ubermensch · 14th January 2008, 06:58 PM

Until recently, I vehemently opposed Macs because I'm a staunch, stubborn bastard. Having recently experienced two different PCs crashing while doing audio stuff, it's almost tempting me to convert.

What's a decent mac for audio goodness? I know nothing about them.

Thee Alex · 14th January 2008, 07:05 PM

Even an entry level Mac Mini would do the job pretty well. I went for the middle MacBook and upped the RAM. The newer ones come with more RAM and faster processors for the same price.

My Mac hasn't crashed fully (like, the whole OS packing up) at all in over a year.

Afro Joe · 14th January 2008, 07:59 PM

Agree with Alex about the Macbook, I've been using the 2.2ghz one with 1gb ram and both Ableton (Lite version unfortunately) and Protools work a treat. I'd suggest upping the ram to 2gb but wouldn't say it was entirely essential. That's if you're going for a laptop. If not, I'd also say go for a Mac Mini. If money is not an issue, get a G4. We use them at uni and they're the shit.

As far as audio interfaces go, I blew a lot of what I earned at Christmas on a Digidesign Mbox2 and haven't had any problems at all with it - Cheers Dan! At £300 it is quite expensive compared to others but the software you get with it (Protools LE, Ableton Lite, Reason Lite, Amplitube LE, bombfactory compressor and tons of others) is all really good too. Logic would be a good idea too, will hopefully be getting that in a few weeks time.

Dashingmajor · 14th January 2008, 08:35 PM

I'm thinking of getting a better interface.

It's for a laptop, and £200 is about my budget.
These caught my eye.

Edirol FA-66

M-Audio FireWire 410

Emu 1616

Any thoughts?

Any other options.

Preferably firewire.

ubermensch · 14th January 2008, 09:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dashingmajor

I'm thinking of getting a better interface.

It's for a laptop, and £200 is about my budget.
These caught my eye.

Edirol FA-66

M-Audio FireWire 410

Emu 1616

Any thoughts?

Any other options.

Preferably firewire.

Completely out of your price range brand new, but I've seen these go on ebay second hand for (shockingly) £150-200. Might be worth keeping an eye out for. 'Tis what I'm intending to get quite soon.

Focusrite Saffire PRO 10 I/O | Dolphin Music

humndislocation · 14th January 2008, 09:59 PM

I just got the Edirol FA-66 today (SONAR power studio). I'm pretty happy with it so far, but I'm a beginner to this home recording thing, so my opinion probably isn't worth much.

daniel_goldbloom · 14th January 2008, 10:09 PM

I have an FA-66 also, and it is easy to use and the sound quality is tip-top. I use it with a macbook and i've had no problems.

I_got_a_mohawk · 15th January 2008, 06:47 PM

Im quite a fan of Presonus gear, the Firebox falls into your budget

Afro Joe · 16th January 2008, 07:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Afro Joe

Agree with Alex about the Macbook, I've been using the 2.2ghz one with 1gb ram

which decided to pack in today. ace! on the phone to apple for an hour to figure out what the fuck happened and just in the process of reinstalling leopard. it all went tits up after i ran a software update earlier today. pure pish man. probably my own fault for trying to fiddle around with bootcamp and not really knowing exactly what i was doing but nevermind.

14th January 2008, 06:44 PM	#19 (permalink)
humndislocation Hardcore is serious guys Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Dundee Posts: 5,893 Band: Blasphemous Necrorapist	In my opinion, you should either use a PC or a Mac as-is. Running MacOS on a PC sounds like a pretty bad idea to me. As far as I am aware, it wasn't designed to run on PCs, and it most likely wasn't tested on the PC either, so anything that goes wrong is pretty much your fault. I don't know how different Intel Mac hardware is from the PC, but I think Thee Alex is right when he says that the software and hardware for Apple systems are designed for each other. Last edited by humndislocation : 14th January 2008 at 06:47 PM.

14th January 2008, 07:59 PM	#22 (permalink)
Afro Joe Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Glasgow Posts: 7,272	Agree with Alex about the Macbook, I've been using the 2.2ghz one with 1gb ram and both Ableton (Lite version unfortunately) and Protools work a treat. I'd suggest upping the ram to 2gb but wouldn't say it was entirely essential. That's if you're going for a laptop. If not, I'd also say go for a Mac Mini. If money is not an issue, get a G4. We use them at uni and they're the shit. As far as audio interfaces go, I blew a lot of what I earned at Christmas on a Digidesign Mbox2 and haven't had any problems at all with it - Cheers Dan! At £300 it is quite expensive compared to others but the software you get with it (Protools LE, Ableton Lite, Reason Lite, Amplitube LE, bombfactory compressor and tons of others) is all really good too. Logic would be a good idea too, will hopefully be getting that in a few weeks time. Last edited by Afro Joe : 14th January 2008 at 08:05 PM.

14th January 2008, 08:35 PM	#23 (permalink)
Dashingmajor Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Cupar Posts: 1,727 Band: Myvatn	I'm thinking of getting a better interface. It's for a laptop, and £200 is about my budget. These caught my eye. Edirol FA-66 M-Audio FireWire 410 Emu 1616 Any thoughts? Any other options. Preferably firewire. __________________ -.-- --- ..- \| .- .-. . \| .- \| -.-. ..- -. -

10th January 2008, 11:20 AM	#16 (permalink)
I_got_a_mohawk Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Blairgowrie Posts: 4,756 Band: Spengler	XP is more likely to have some compatability issues, but its easy to overcome with the use of hardware profiles. and im not sure, i've seen cracked versions of OSX which apparently work on PC, but, i dont know of anything official tho (but there very well could be)

10th January 2008, 11:53 AM	#17 (permalink)
Thee Alex UGS Assassin Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Solihull, West Midlands Posts: 4,113 Band: Wülfstabber, Catface, DJ Wrong Homer, Wings & Claws, Señor Citizen, WRRRMS	The Apple EUA prohibits use of their OS on non Apple hardware. There are hacked versions out there though, and it's become a little bit easier to run a 'Hackintosh' since Macs went Intel. The main difference between Apple machines and other computers is that Apple design their hardware specifically for the software, and visa versa - the two are utterly integral. PCs are slapped together out of various bits and pieces and then lumbered with an OS that is bloated, slow, full of errors and bugs, and ugly as hell. Macs are just nicer to use than PCs IMO.

14th January 2008, 04:12 PM	#18 (permalink)
BulletHell Registered User Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 5 Band: - Bullet Hell. Esperi. jon. JON. Laeto. Iain Macaulay Band.	I have to agree with Alex's suggestion of Mac/Mbox/Decent Mics & Ableton Live. That's exactly what we have been using for our first demos. It's pretty decent. While I do slant towards Macs for everyday computer use, A decent PC will suffice and be a bit cheaper. An Apple is a bit of a luxury

14th January 2008, 06:58 PM	#20 (permalink)
ubermensch Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Pat Sharp's basement. Posts: 654 Band: Juliet Kilo	Until recently, I vehemently opposed Macs because I'm a staunch, stubborn bastard. Having recently experienced two different PCs crashing while doing audio stuff, it's almost tempting me to convert. What's a decent mac for audio goodness? I know nothing about them.

14th January 2008, 07:05 PM	#21 (permalink)
Thee Alex UGS Assassin Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Solihull, West Midlands Posts: 4,113 Band: Wülfstabber, Catface, DJ Wrong Homer, Wings & Claws, Señor Citizen, WRRRMS	Even an entry level Mac Mini would do the job pretty well. I went for the middle MacBook and upped the RAM. The newer ones come with more RAM and faster processors for the same price. My Mac hasn't crashed fully (like, the whole OS packing up) at all in over a year.

14th January 2008, 09:59 PM	#25 (permalink)
humndislocation Hardcore is serious guys Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Dundee Posts: 5,893 Band: Blasphemous Necrorapist	I just got the Edirol FA-66 today (SONAR power studio). I'm pretty happy with it so far, but I'm a beginner to this home recording thing, so my opinion probably isn't worth much.

14th January 2008, 10:09 PM	#26 (permalink)
daniel_goldbloom Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Foodieash Posts: 2,302	I have an FA-66 also, and it is easy to use and the sound quality is tip-top. I use it with a macbook and i've had no problems.

15th January 2008, 06:47 PM	#27 (permalink)
I_got_a_mohawk Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Blairgowrie Posts: 4,756 Band: Spengler	Im quite a fan of Presonus gear, the Firebox falls into your budget