• From: Starkville, Mississippi USA
  • Registered: 2006-03-04
  • Posts: 2,069

Topic: Recording/Editing Software

I need to learn about recording/editing software.  What are the pros & cons of the various free and for-purchase packages that are available?


I have an iMac so I'll probably go with Garageband (part of the whole iLife package), but I want to hear about other software options.  Also, I need to learn about microphones and other necessary hardware.


Any advice or observations would be most helpful . . . Thanks!

"That darn Pythagorean Comma thing keeps messing me up!"
[url]http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pythagorean_comma[/url]

James McCormick's Website

  • From: Bellevue, WA
  • Registered: 2006-06-15
  • Posts: 3,336

Re: Recording/Editing Software

Not so much recording or editiing, but I'm setting up a small in home studio right now.  I just yesterday bought an M-Audio USB-MIDI keyboard, and a small 1x1 MIDI interface to control my POD.  The whole thing plugs into my Mac, and I use Reason to set up loops and jam tracks.   The keyboard and MIDI interface cost me all of $130.   I'm not sure what the POD2 costs, as I got it second hand for $60.


WRT the computer.  Stuff it with as much memory as you can.

Someday we'll win this thing...

[url=http://www.aclosesecond.com]www.aclosesecond.com[/url]

jerome.oneil's Website

  • Altex
  • Altex
  • Senior Member
  • Offline
  • From: Goonellabah, NSW, Australia
  • Registered: 2006-12-13
  • Posts: 211

Re: Recording/Editing Software

If you are just recording an Acoustic part and a Vocal part a simple recording software product and a mixer will do the trick (I use Adobe Audition but i dont know if that'll work on a mac). If your guitar has a pickup you could plug it straight into the mixer and record directly onto your computer. With the microphone make sure its a good one. It doesn't have to be a condenser but if thats what you wanted than the Rode NT1A is pretty good and isnt as expensive as some others. You  could get one of those for about $400AU but i dont know how many pounds that is if you are from England. If you dont want a condenser than an industry standard SHURE will do the trick.

[url=http://www.myspace.com/rdxfunk]www.myspace.com/rdxfunk[/url]

Altex's Website

  • From: Starkville, Mississippi USA
  • Registered: 2006-03-04
  • Posts: 2,069

Re: Recording/Editing Software

Thanks for the information.  I think that I will download a copy of Audacity (free, open-source recording & editing software) and use the money I can scrape together for a decent microphone. 


I have alot to learn . . .

"That darn Pythagorean Comma thing keeps messing me up!"
[url]http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pythagorean_comma[/url]

James McCormick's Website

  • From: Bellevue, WA
  • Registered: 2006-06-15
  • Posts: 3,336

Re: Recording/Editing Software

I use Audacity to rip old vinyl records to MP3 on a USB turntable.   It works really well for that.


I've just started to use "Live" as well, and while I think it's a little more intuitive than Reason, I already own Reason, and don't want to shell out $400 for another software title.

Someday we'll win this thing...

[url=http://www.aclosesecond.com]www.aclosesecond.com[/url]

jerome.oneil's Website

  • Registered: 2006-08-15
  • Posts: 51

Re: Recording/Editing Software

Hey James,

GarageBand will get you far, but not extremely far.

If you have about 150 dollars to spend, you can get Logic Pro for your Mac.

Logic Pro is more or less Garageband, but more sophisticated and better.

But if thats not possible, then i cant really help.