The Logic Off Topic list

I am a songwriter expecting my new G5 to arrive shortly (hope hope).

Looking into Logic to do home-recording of acoustic instruments.

What do I need additionally? I already have a mixer and analog tape recorder. Will I still need these or will I record and mix on 
Logic? Other hardware/software interface? PCI card?

I know this seems very basic, but I am basically confused by all the product references, etc I see on the LUG.

Please help. Thanks in advance.

"rbender2002" <rodney.bender@...>  wrote:
>I am a songwriter expecting my new G5 to arrive shortly (hope hope).
>
>Looking into Logic to do home-recording of acoustic instruments.
>
>What do I need additionally? I already have a mixer and analog tape 
>recorder. Will I still need these or will I record and mix on 
>Logic? Other hardware/software interface? PCI card?

If you want audio quality above that offered by the built in audio in your
Mac you will need to find an audio interface that will be compatible with
the as yet unreleased G5 -- this could be PCI (PCI-X even) , Firewire or USB. 

I would definitely hold off on purchasing an interface until it is clear
what is and is not compatible with the new G5 which, going by recent
reports, will not support quite a number PCI based cards (eg Digidesign's
Digi 001, M-Audio Delta series) due to incompatible PCI specs (the gist is
simply that G5 Mac PCI slots are  3.3 Volt only and all 5 Volt PCI cards
are not compatible) . 

Some audio interface makers of good repute are RME, MOTU and Digidesign.
. 
http://www.motu.com/

http://www.rme-audio.de/english/index.htm

http://www.digidesign.com/


RME's recent Hammerfall DSP series are 3.3 Volt and if your budget will
cover them might be worth looking into. MOTU interfaces compatible with the
G5s will no doubt be available  soon enough. 

The signal chain for decent quality recording acoustic instruments into
Logic is usually something like this:

Microphone --> Mixer --> Audio interface inputs 

OR 

Microphone --> mic preamp --> [external mixer  -->] audio interface inputs.

If you have been plugging a microphone directly into your mixer it may have
adequate microphone preamps but more expensive outboard pre's will easily
beat most chip based mic pre's you will find in mixers like the Behringer
and Mackie products. 

If you are buying Logic Platinum you should get a pretty comprehensive set
of audio processing tools (reverb, delay, dynamics plugins etc) -- not the
very best available but they should get you started. 

Regards,
Murray

First you'll need an audio card or interface.   Personally i'd highly 
recommend investing in a MOTU 828 or 828 mkii (£800ish - I've found outboard gear to 
be more reliable and far less noisy than putting all the pressure on my mac).  
 This gives you 8 inputs/outputs, two of which have phantom power and mic 
preamps.   You can then record a live mix straight into logic just as you would a 
digital 8 track   (if possible you should partition your hard drive or 
install a second hard drive to store audio files but this isn't too important).   As 
long as you don't mind mixing in software this way you wouldn't need a mixing 
desk. 

If you're partial to hardware like myself, digital mixers are getting cheaper 
that are designed to work with programs like logic (some have built in audio 
interfaces too but I think they're still expensive), I invested in Logic 
control six months ago and find it's made me much faster and more productive when 
working with logic 6.

Of course you could still use your mixing desk if you wanted by connect it's 
outputs to the MOTU's inputs giving you the benefits of both worlds!

If you still want to use the analog tape recorder (i.e if you're feeling 
nostalgic! ;)   ) and it has smpte   you could sync it with logic but this kind of 
defeats the object..


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on 8/7/03 8:10 PM, rbender2002 at rodney.bender@... wrote:

What do I need additionally? I already have a mixer and analog tape
recorder. Will I still need these or will I record and mix on
Logic? Other hardware/software interface? PCI card?

Hi, 

I have MOTU 896 and it has built-in Mike Pres.
I am happu with it.
Check out some of the recordings that I made with it here;

http:yavuz.dhs.org

Then got music section and listen to "Halay" and "Lost in the City".
They are recorded straight into Logic thru MOTU 896.
Check out MOTU 896 here;

http://www.motu.com/english/motuaudio/896/body.html

Good Luck.


___________________
Yavuz AKYAZICI  
Guitar Player  
http://yavuz.dhs.org

____________________
Logic Setup  
____________________
Powerbook G4 1Ghz, 1G RAM
MOTU 896  
Logic Control  
MIDIMAN USB 2X2  
Logic Platinum  
EXS24  
EVB3  
EVP88  
EVD6  
Kontakt  
Sample Tank XL  
PSP 84 & 42  
CDXtracxt  



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