Recording software for the complete idiot

[brammy]

Well, just in case anyone is listening to my saga.... I got my new Sonar 6 XL software loaded. Wow, it's a whole different world than the the very easy Sessions. I sure wish I had someone by my side to get me jump-started on Sonar. Anyone volunteer?

The difference between the two are kinda like flying a Piper Cub or strapping yourself into a Learjet. (Piper Cub Sessions = easy --- Learjet Sonar = not so easy)

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I'm not saying that Sonar is as complex as the Space Shuttle, but you get the point (I hope).

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I'll stick with it and hopefully get better but firing up the Sonar screen for the first time was a bit daunting. Something a bit more dummy-proof would have been more my style.

[lyle_from_minneapolis]

This is where the rubber meets the road, innit?

You want to jump right in and do some fun Right Brain recording...but no, you need to slog through a long, boring, Left Brain learning curve. Sometimes just looking at the tutorials puts me in a blank frame of mind.

Sorry I don't know Sonar at all.

Looking back I read that Audacity gives no latency problem. It does for me--can't multitrack live without latency, no matter how low I set it in the preferences. Maybe it's my ancient 21st century Pentium 4 processor. All I can use it for is messing with already recorded material, or cleaning up and synching old 4-track cassette tunes.

My every step is dogged.

[tmossman]

Hi Kent,

I use Sonar 6 XL. It is very easy to use once you figure out what you want it to do. Feel free to contact me for help here or directly via the email address in my profile.

I have Amplitube 2.0, Ampeg SVX, T-Racks, EZDrummer with Vintage Sticks , and Garritan Personal Orchestra installed as well.

[brammy]

thanks... I'll do that. Kinda busy right now but I'll get to it. It'll be fun once I get going.

[brammy]

"SESSION" question:

I have that loaded and it runs fine with the M-Audio micro USB that the software came with. I bought an M-Audio Fast Track but the software wont run with that USB. In fact the software will not even start if the micro is not plugged in.

--- Yes, I plugged the Fast Track into the back of the computer as M-Audio warns that it may not be recognized if plugged into one of the handy front ports.

--- Yes, I changed the "Audio Hardware" setting to the Fast Track, but still no luck.

When I run Session with the micro all is ok.... when I plug in Fast Track the commands ("Play" and so forth) to not work at all. I've submitted an online help request to M-Audio but so far no feedback.

Any ideas?

[brammy]

MANY MANY thanks to Todd Mossholder who went out of his way to work with me in getting Sonar's settings and drivers etc to work.

Now I'm launching into Sonar and leaving Session altogether. Yippeeee!

[whojamfan]

Cool, I've got Sonar and am having a problem getting my laptop(with Vista) and an Alesis IO/26 to all come together properly. I will be on the phone to alesis for a while tommorrow and hopefully can get this sorted out, but if not, I will be posting for help.

[freshmattyp]

I have a Tascam 2488 that I use as my main console and send tracks to my PC for mixdown in Cubase. I just picked up a Presonus Firepod last week to use with my laptop and I'm pretty impressed with it. It was $150 out the door at GC, and I was up and recording on it inside of 30 minutes. Very nice addition for my setup, and a good starter unit for someone just getting into PC recording. Mine came bundled with a ton of free VST plugins and Cubase LE.