Yamaha DTXpress/DTXplorer/DTXtreme

Scott,

This is an enormously complicated area, I suggest you get hold of a  
recent copy of Computer Music magazine, which might help enormously.  
The URL is

http://www.computermusic.co.uk/

good luck,

Simon

--- In DTXpress@y..., "tom_snoot" <tom_snoot@y...> wrote:
> Scott,
> You can record guitars, voice etc only as audio. The DTXpress, most 
> keyboards and various other devices can be recorded as audio or as 
> MIDI (and then converted to audio for mixing). If you just want 
> straight audio, you could consider a stand-lone unit like the 
Roland 
> VS2480 or a Yamaha AW 4416. Initially expensive, but they do a lot 
> with one box, so easy to set up and keep going. What they don't 
> really do is MIDI. Assuming you want to do some MIDI recording (I 
use 
> my DTXpress a MIDI controller in the "studio" a lot) then you need 
> the power and flexibility of a computer based recording setup. This 
> makes editing and managing your setup far easier, and is able to be 
> configured to suit you.It can be cheaper to set up initially as 
well. 
> The down side is that it can be a pain to get the system tweaked 
and 
> working well and to keep it like that (no letting kids install that 
> lastest cracked game on the Digital Audio Workstation!). You can, 
of 
> course, use a Mac or PC as a DAW (I know nothing about Macs, 
though). 
> Whichever you choose, get the fastest processor you can afford (not 
> necessarily the fastest on the market - bang for the buck is 
> important). More processor power = more audio tracks and more FX. 
> Currently the Athlons are generally seen as better value for audio 
> than Pentium IVs, but in six months? Choose a motherboard that 
siuts 
> your CPU AND soundcard (some cards eg Creamware stuff has problmes 
> with SOME Via chipsets). You'll need to research this. Then get as 
> much DDR memory as you can stuff into the machine.
> OK, software. I'm a Logic Audio user, but its not for everyone. Try 
> to get a demo from magazines or off the sites of the main 
companies. 
> Each company usually has a range of products from beginer to pro 
> (with prices to match, say $100 - $700, but check a big store web 
> site or catalogue for actual prices). Each program has its fans, 
but 
> they all do fairly similar things, though in different ways, so its 
> up to you to see what suits you. If you are serious though, none of 
> the programs will be mastered overnight. RTFM!
> Soundcards - the going standard is now really 24-bit (44.1 or 
48kHz -
> 96kHz is too much outside a pro studio). There are new cards every 
> month. How many inputs and outputs do you need? Depends on whether 
> you intend to have a whole band record at once, or just one 
> instrument. Also, how many external FX you want to run. More 
> instruments or FX at once = more I/O. I work alone and find stereo 
> I/O is usually sufficient. The Hoontech cards have good reports,  I 
> have a Creamware Luna which I like, but avoid Soundblaster and 
> clones - look to spending $300-400 up on a good card.
> Lastly, if you have more than one MIDI device, get a MIDI interface 
> (AMT8 from Emagic?), then get a mixing desk, then a patch bay, 
> cables, software plug-ins, soft synths, a sampler, a bigger 
computer, 
> a new house, new neighbours....
> Welcome to home reccing!
> cheers
> tomr
> --- In DTXpress@y..., "scott_klassen" <sklassen@u...> wrote:
> > Thanks Tom!   
> >    It's really hard for me to say how much I want to spend.  
Since 
> I 
> > don't know the equipment I'll need and their associated prices.  
> I'd 
> > like to get some equipment that would be good enough to lay 
demo's 
> > down.  I'm not looking to build the next great recording studio.  
I 
> > would just something better than the low end, but not too 
> expensive, 
> > somewhere in the middle.
> > From reading your email, the main components are the (correct me 
if 
> > I'm wrong):  The sequencer (software?), the soundcard and the 
midi 
> > interface?  I've got all the outboard gear I'll probably need: 
> > microphones, bass, guitar, oh and the DTXPRESS (don't wanna 
forget 
> > that! :) )  Hope I gave you some more info to work with.  Thanks 
a 
> > bunch!!
> > 
> > -Scott