MOTM

> I would like to do home multi-track recording of my MOTM synth,
> nothing really elaborate.

IMHO, you really need to sink some serious cash into a computer rig to get a
good sound (unless you think M-Audio or MBox sounds good... but even the
MBox is pricey for what it is), while a tape-based solution (like a 4-track
reel-to-reel or a Portastudio) is much more forgiving with a smaller
investment. Is there a reason you want to go digital? There are definitely
advantages, but if you just want to record and don't need non-linear format,
maybe an analog solution would suit you better. It's easier for capturing a
moment too -- Without having benchmarked it, I have to imagine that boot
time on a Mini is slower than on a tape recorder.

Another alternative you might want to consider is picking up an old E-mu
Darwin. I use one for live backing tracks, and the converters are really
warm and musical. I just sold one (I had two) not too long ago for... I
can't remember, maybe $175? That's dirt cheap compared to a Mini plus an
audio interface (the Mini doesn't have an audio input), plus a monitor...
and depending on the audio interface you buy, it could very well sound
better too. It won't run Digital Performer though; it's a digital box, but
it's audio only (clocks to MIDI though).

More food for thought: I have to keep multiple copies of my digital
projects, because there's a rather limited life expectancy for a CDR, DVD,
or hard drive. Meanwhile, I've been careful about storing all my old tapes
(everything from 2" reels to  consumer cassettes) and they play as well
today as they did the day I recorded on them.

Fwiw & ymmv, one of the best sounding home-produced projects that any of my
friends came up with recently was done on a Portastudio. And the
worst-sounding was done in Cubase.

Anyway, maybe you're commited to a digital rig for very good reasons (I am!)
I just wanted to throw some conflicting ideas out there in case you had
simply bought into all the marketing hype that would suggest that digital is
better. It ain't -- it's just different.

> now, if you could run macos 9 on it.... [fx: dodges flying garbage]

Or 7.6.1!!!  ;-))

best,
- Scott
____________
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http://www.strawberryplanet.org