I'm going to change the strings on my Precision Bass, since I didn't get a chance to, then I'll have to work out on the elliptical machine, since it's absolute crap weather outside, with icy rain and some snow. I don't think it's going to stick, though.

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Messing with new plugins that don’t want to play nice. I might have even lost some with my work arounds and it’s not over. Without a guide it’s a calculated guessing game. #%($&?. If things work it’ll be worth it. If not . . . Meanwhile, I just got some home made chocolate and coconut baking dropped off. That makes it a whole lot better.
FSB

Technology is a fine thing but it sure wastes a lot of time too.

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Hello, big guitar. Meet my little fingers.

Trying to figure out how to change my Sample Rate in Pro Tools First. It's set at 48kHz and, when PTF is running, it cuts out all my other audio. I think I need it to be at 44.1kHz to make everything happy. I'm looking at my audio interface now to try a new approach.

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Marky

Remember the music is not in the guitar

Just came back from my walk and I'm planning on watching "The Walking Dead." I'll be plunking around on the Precision while I do that, as well.

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I hear you, Marky. Have you considered your drivers for Pro Tools First? You probably have; but, on the chance you haven’t and if you haven’t tried ASIO4ALL you might want to give that a go. Supplied drivers aren’t always bug free. ASIO4ALL solved some problems I had some time back and it never uninstalls or repairs other drivers temporarily or otherwise.

I wouldn’t fret too much over the sampling rate because, even though the high sampling rate has it’s advantages, it has been argued that there can be artifacts at higher sampling rates; although, doubtful it is audible, there is a slight chance of errors when reducing the high rate in the process . . . well, it’s complicated; but, you have the idea. Playback is a different story.

I’m in Ableton and finally got my new freebie plugins to install only to find out unexpected additional ones were only demos. But, they are now installed. Whoo Hoo.

Now I can no longer retrieve others that I need. For some reason Ableton will not search throughout the hard drive and install the original supplementary plugins anymore. Even though they exist, the new plugins have kept the others out of the Ableton plugins folder as if they don’t exist. Boo Hoo.
I might have to uninstall and reinstall the former plugins; but, with Security PITA, these require jumping through hoops with licensing steps. The problem being that earlier recordings require the older plugins. That’ll teach me to add something new. I wish I had a snapshot of all the plugins that used to be installed.

Here’s where hardware usually trumps software. Less chance of losing pre-post and post production before mastering. The problem is it requires Big m-o-n-e-y to purchase and maintain compared to the software versions. Therefore, I am.
FSB

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Hello, big guitar. Meet my little fingers.

Thanks FSB. I just downloaded ASIO4ALL but don't have time to install it right now. I'll let you know how it goes.
I have Ableton Live 9 Lite, and like it, but Pro Tools seems to be a de facto standard so I thought I would give their free-version a try. Yes, software can be a major PITA but hardware is way out of my budget too. I have a short list of hardware that I'm looking at for my mini home studio. I'll post it later to see what you think, if you don't mind. I'm late for a lunch date. Gotta go.

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Marky

Remember the music is not in the guitar

Hey there, Marky. Although I don’t have a copy, I kinda like the features of Pro Tools also. I have a light version of Cubase too. The learning curves are pretty intense on those two for sure.

I find Ableton pretty quick to navigate, and were if it were not for the old school appearance it may have gathered more followers; but, sometimes less is more for smoother operation.

For repairing and dubbing old recordings I simply use Sony’s Sound Forge Audio Studio which I’ve had for ages, and it is pretty useful for that purpose. I’ve tried most other DAWs and they all have their uniqueness.

Although. I tend to like Ableton, and the fact that a lot of DAWs seem optimized for keyboards which, like many here, I use but (because time is my enemy) I do not intend to in a full blown way, my final decision for the concentrated DAW will probably come with my next hardware upgrade.

One caution is to consider what the software won’t do. All too often surprises come when that important project is held up because of quirks. Also, pro gear and software may work in pro situations where budgets and other considerations come into play - not so much at home sometimes.

As with others, I came across some Pro Tools disadvantages; but, I don’t recall what they were, and everyone’s needs are different. It’s good to search out these downsides though. AVID was one of the popular tools when I worked, and Pro Tools is a direct relationship so that’s a pretty good reference. Again some of that comes down to multiple workstations.

Just to show how professional choice can work. and how choice can present an unexpected surprise:

Some years ago a movie was worked on in a Hollywood editing suite. Some mastering of the video was to be completed across town. Reportedly, those doing the final product ran into a problem and when complaints to the originators asked why (using the same equipment that had been calibrated) there was a colour matching that was next to impossible. It was found that the colours in all related monitors were not true and they were emulated from the millions bragged about by the well known manufacturer. So when it became time to mix and match everything was in a turmoil. What a Job. After a rework, those similar monitors at the store were still scooped up by the unaware public. Probably okay for the home user though. There are plenty of cases like this. With digital standard acceptance still being immature, the door is open for a variety of possibilities.

When something is seen to be common in the industry sometimes deal makers are involved. Here in Canada Sony was the big audio/video player while at the same time Panasonic had a similar industrial following in the States. Things change, however.

There is no perfect to be sure, and I am probably going to the extreme; but, if it’s used in the industry you can be sure the fixes, upgrades, and developments are just around the corner. With that can come relative expense. YMMV At times dedicated products are also great, and at other times not so good. I guess that speaks for the advantage of using more than one DAW.

It truly is a personal choice, and who knows what evil lurks in this studio of fun. Only the Shadow knows.
FSB

Just a heads up. There are problems reported that your favourite plugins may still be installed but some or all may not show in your DAW. I know because it happened to me.

After a night and morning of late hours I read that several plugin updates or new installs may move files into an area of the computer that varies from the original placement. Also, older Dlls will be left behind and your DAW will be confused searching them out.

Consequently, you can have a mess of missing plugins. For me, the fix is yet to be addressed.

Now ya know.

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Hello, big guitar. Meet my little fingers.

Thank you, FSB for your advice and sharing of your experiences. My choice is between Ableton and Pro Tools, however, PreSonus Studio One 3 Artist DAW comes free with the purchase of the audio interface that's on my list. So what do you think of my hardware list? Do you, or anyone else, have any suggestions? I have nice headphones so I don't need any.

On-Stage Stands ASVS6B Pop Blocker
6" Pop Filter with Gooseneck and Clothespin-style Shaft Clip
Sale: $19.95

D'Addario Planet Waves PW-CMIC-25 Classic Series Microphone Cable - 25' XLR-XLR
Audio Cable, XLR Male-XLR Female, 25' Long
Sale: $18.99

On-Stage Stands MS7701TB Telescoping Euro Boom Mic Stand
Sale: $29.95

Samson C01
Large-diaphragm Condenser Microphone
Sale: $79.99

PreSonus AudioBox USB 96
2-channel 24-bit/96kHz USB 2.0 Audio Recording Interface with 2 Instrument/Microphone Preamps, Low-latency Monitoring, and PreSonus Studio One 3 Artist DAW Software (Mac/PC) and Bonus Content
Sale: $99.95

List Subtotal: $248.83

I think this is enough to get me started for cheap.

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Marky

Remember the music is not in the guitar

I think so too.
FSB

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Hello, big guitar. Meet my little fingers.

Just listening to music. Testing the portable speaker I bought last weekend.

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toyo tires

FSB, thank you so much for your detailed reply. With your background and experience, having your stamp of approval means a lot to me. I think my headset will be ok. It is a closed and uncolored audio-technica that cost $150 at the time. It does not have a removable cable because the set that did was $50 more and the only difference was the cable, so I cheaped out. Good suggestion on the cable length. I don't think I really need 25' because I'd probably trip over it. I would not have thought of that.
I'll check the headroom on the interface. From what I understand, I wouldn't want to push it over 75-80% of its max.
Thanks again, FSB. You are a fountain of knowledge and your willingness to share it is greatly appreciated.

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Marky

Remember the music is not in the guitar

You’re welcome, Marky. There are others here in the Forum that I bow down to for experience and sound advice (sic) as it is available to be shared, and sometimes different paths lead to the same or similar ending,

That said, I’m glad to be of assistance for the things I can help out with. I’m a bit of a dinosaur, but even with my embracing newer technology, old bones can sometimes be a highlight in new discoveries.

Audio Technica headsets will do the trick just fine. IMHO. And just like the player can make a guitar of any kind sound sweet, so too is the final hardware/software production in the right hands and mind of the operator and/or producer where technique, knowledge and experience can move that recording to a higher level. On that, just like learning over 2000 chords, you can never stop learning. There’s satisfaction in knowing there will always be somebody better and somebody worse than you.
Now get that studio up and running. Learn from your mistakes and gather those gems you’ll find even amongst mistakes at times. Most of all, have fun and remember, “It all starts with a great song.”

I’m having lunch this week with an audio operator that worked for me in the mid 70s and 80s. He has long passed my background and still works on concerts and more, and yet with my experience we both have a mutual admiration for it all.

Pause for thought:

I once heard it said that, “When video tape was invented . . . it was the beginning of the end of live television’s art form.”

Let’s hope the recording of music doesn’t make live music suffer the same fate.
FSB

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Hello, big guitar. Meet my little fingers.

Checking email and going to do some jamming later. The flats are doing nicely on the Precision Bass, although they do have to break in a little bit. Once that happens, that will be perfect.

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I’m contemplating purchasing new or replacement PA speakers since my existing used ones have one of two working. I grabbed some lesser speakers from a stereo and they won’t do the job. They’re just for in house so not a big deal, and I managed to do a Rube Goldberg that will work until down the road.

The funny thing is that one seldom, if ever, has both speakers pack it in at the same time. Unless all of your speakers are similar it is not uncommon to have several speakers out of commission.
FSB

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Hello, big guitar. Meet my little fingers.

Listening to music and I'm going to pick up the bass, myself. I tweaked the action on the Precision a bit, because I noticed it was a bit high after I put the flats on it for some reason. It seems to be fine now.

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