I m interested in some advice about what to buy for
editing software. I want to make collages of audio wave files, edit MIDI
files, and perhaps if possible, merge MIDI data with an audio file to make the
disklavier piano play along with a CD. I doubt that I would ever use more
than 4 tracks; most often just 2. I also want to use my VST piano software
for the piano audio that ends up on the CDs.
It is like learning a foreign language to figure
out what is out there, and I have spent at least 4 years trying to figure this
stuff out. I have failed miserably trying to use Cubase LE to either
record or edit. There always seems to by some little button or icon I am
clueless to find to make anything work! I have only had sucess in
recording with Cool Edit, but it seems to lack nondestructive editing or VST
capability. I have used Pro Audio 11 (pgmusic) to mixdown the MIDI piano
to the VST piano, but that program has limited scoring
capabilities.
I will buy a Mac if I need to. Since I am
only going to use 4 tracks at most, I am wondering if one of those Mac
Minis would be okay. They cost $500 - $800 depending upon the speed of the
processor and RAM. Otherwise one of those iMac all in one models with big
20" monitor for about $1200. For what I want to do, is it absolutely
necessary to have a $3-4000 G4 or G5 desk model?
I am primarily interersted in the editing features
for now, but I see that flash memory
recording is starting to be used in hand held models like the Sony PCM D50
Portable recorder that holds at least 4 hours of quality sound in wave
format. This thing costs about $500, has microphones attached and looks
like it might record a group singing (like in church). The little hole on
my digital camera produced a reasonable sound doing this, but I think this would
be way much better. The nice thing about flash memory is that you don't
have the mechanical hard drive working. Nowadays, some of this
software wants fire wire hard drives that do not use the FAT32
format. Does anyone think flash memory for recording may replace exteneral
hard drives soon?
I want software that is easy and intuitive to use
for editing both audio and MIDI files. I have seen Pro Tools used in the
studio, and I really like that you can see in one place all the editing you have
done with no destructive edits. The problem with Pro Tools is that you
must have one of their hardware devices connected to your computer to be able to
use the software. The have an MBox2Micro for $250 that looks like a thumb
drive that includes Pro Tools LE 7.4, but the computer requirements can be very,
very large. Do I really need all this computing power if I am only dealing
with 4 tracks at the most?
And what about MOTU Digital Performer? I know
this only runs on a Mac and costs about $500. What would be easier to use
for editing - Digital Performer or Pro Tools? I have also heard good
things about Native Instruments and Sonar(cakewalk). Any other
ideas?
Carol Beigel