General Music Chat

Chris.
I'll have Linux running what I want it to run in about a Month, At the end of the day its about producing something in line with what is out there right? (Music/Sound/Mastering).

I'm pretty proud I've taken this route because I hear so much about Freedom yet I love that idea and it costs a whole lot less too. Perhaps others here have the cash? I'm sure they do and as you say PRO tools isn't user friendly, CUBASE is but thats another matter.

The learning curve between Pro Tools and something like UBuntu Studio or 64Studio or actually a number of upcoming distros is this.

If you are going to have pain? Then have pain freely and don't pay for it.

No worries S.
I do agree. It's like using QUICKBOOKS for taxes. Everyone uses it therefore it must be better but I think we both know the actual truth in this don't we?

It's all in what you want to accomplish Chip.

If you have no need, and never will, to exchange session files with a pro mixer or mastering engineer, you don't need Pro Tools.

Even if you are using other softwares though, you still don't necessarily need to exchange PT files. Sending them separated wave files may get the job done just as well.

I'm not defending Pro Tools or Digidesign. Just trying to help anyone thinking of getting into PT be a little more aware of what it requires. In most cases, it is simply NOT worth it.

Having been there and done that myself, I totally understand the frustration so may experience with it. If only they knew how in frequently anyone really needs it, maybe it'll save others from going through the same headaches unnecessarily.

Again, unless you foresee charging people to use your studio, and working with other pros, it isn't worth it.

If you are planning to work with professionals, in a pro studio capacity, you ought to seriously consider getting over the humps. Most pros don't work with anything else.

Well they (PT) will probably win in any case so its no matter of what I think really.
As regards file transport. There may be 'an app for that" LOL!

So in essence.
Folks need PT files so they can edit them? I don't understand?

If you've written a track that you can play again there would be no need right? You'd just turn up and play. If you were a MIDI genius equally you'd bring your stock VST's?

Again I don't understand the problem.

Hey Sentient. I don't understand anything so I'm going to get a beer ]
Keep well yeah man.

I hear ya Chip!

I'm NOT saying PT is necessarily better than anything else. Only that the industry seems to think so, and that if you want to "work" with the pros, you pretty much need to use it. If you're a composer or musician, and just want to be able to send audio track files for a pro to work with, you really DON'T need PT. Sending "sep" files is usually good enough.

*Pro Tools requires a LOT of storage space, and sessions should never be stored on your primary hard drive. Make sure you have a fast external drive, or at least a second hard drive.
*Pro Tools needs a very fast processor, and PLENTY of memory! If you think two Gigs of memory is enough, think again. I recommend a minimum of four.
*Pro Tools is HIGHLY PROPRIETARY!!!! It only works on certain computers, and certain processors (for example, if your computer runs an Athlon XP processor, Pro Tools 7 will work, Pro Tools 8 will NOT even launch). Check your system VERY CAREFULLY against Digidesign's spec pages posted right on their site. DO YOUR HOMEWORK! Due diligence is a MUST when checking whether PT will run, and run PROPERLY on your computer, with your peripherals.
*Unless you have very specific reasons to run Pro Tools M-Powered, avoid M-Powered at all costs. If you don't know what reasons you would want to use it, DON'T GO THERE! M-Powered Pro Tools ONLY works with certain M-Audio brand audio interfaces. It does NOT work with all M-Audio interfaces. If you don't have an approved M-Audio interface, the program will not even launch.
*Too many people buy Pro Tools thinking it will be a simple "Plug and Play" experience like many other mixing softwares. IT ISN'T! It is extremely hardware specific! Do not buy it unless you are POSITIVE it will work on your system, OR, if you are prepared to spend some extra bucks getting the right hardware to make it work. [/list]

Be prepared to (possibly):
[list]
*Buy a new computer (plan on at least a grand! Make sure your processor is as FAST as you can afford!)
*Purchase an audio interface (such as an M-box, or one of many other interfaces that will work with Pro Tools - CHECK THEIR SPECS THOROUGHLY!)
*Buy a new drive, if you don't already have one
*Buy enough RAM (Two gigs might get you by, but will VERY likely NOT be enough - most I know use a minimum of four)

Thanks for the info, now I will defenitely stay away from PT for ever.

Nowadays, if a system gives me all those headaches and got absolutely no compability with nothing is asign that something is wrong.

Just my opinion.

Btw I am a PT user but not because I want. Studios I work have this system and they are stuck with the $$ they spent with this horrible system.

Nah I'm sure it works just fine. The gripe is money and the time it takes to get to know it really I think?

Sentient is right by the way. They only want these files if you want a Studio to edit or do something with them.

Depends on what you are doing, your goals and such forth, width, therefore and so on....

I went with pro-tools because I DID want the ability to send session files and what-not. I've built computers for years and there's NO reason why pro-tools shouldn't work on the rig I built. I'm troubleshooting it tomorrow with a couple of people and hopefully will have it up and running! I'll be sure to post the progress!

This was truly a great post, Sentient. Over the years, I have heard the pros and cons to Pro Tools, but never had it explained this way. Makes a lot more sense to me now. I may never have a need for PT, but if I do I'll know to check all the compatibility issues first and get a computer that is set up to handle it. I know it's the industry standard and I've heard the horror stories with it as well as from the people who love it and now I understand why. Thanks for opening our eyes to the pitfalls of buying it and then wondering why it doesn't work with our old PC.

To be completely honest the most I've heard of it isn't good but that's not from studios that is from people tying to use it as studio software at home or whatever?

To my mind you have to examine WHY you want to send a file?
What is the purpose of it? What are you trying to achieve be sending a file?

Is it for collaborative work? Get someone to play with it?

*** The major thing here is of course ARE YOU USING MIDI? If not and you are using analogue then when pay thousands of dollars?
When you record in Analogue that's it, you're done. Whatever you add cannot be changed at the other end (For the moment - that will change sometime).

For instance I can send anyone here an OMF file from Cubase which they can open in Pro Tools, A wave no problem, I'm certain the same is true for Ardour or other composites.

At the end of the day its about how much money you I suppose and WHAT you want to do with it?

For me I just need something to run both Midi and Analogue. Ardour looks like its going to do that for me at least. I'm just a nats hair from launching it frankly and I have to say I've learned more about Window through not using it than I ever have while it was my main machine..

Each to their own and if I had the money? Sure I'd buy it.

He's really smart!

How in hell did he get in here ?

If you look and read what I said Sentient?
I was talking about Wave files. There is something on the market created by a German chap that will change that sometime however.

In any case....
Aren't you supposed to be present with the Mixer/Studio guy to make sure he doesn't add too much of this and that? Since everyone puts something of themselves into a project there is no way on Earth I'd send something blindly in any case and hope for the best.

** I've been there and got burned a couple of times. Once they cut it, that's done too.
If its for collaborative work then yes I can understand that aright but there are so many flunks that talk and very few that do.

On both of the above counts I'd say creating what you want in the best possible way with a view to getting it done properly completed if you do get picked up is not only pragmatic but will also tell us (the creators) of what we are looking for as regards our sound. That then can be translated in person at the appropriate time. Seeing you might learn a lot more in any case than having someone drop a disc off to your house no?

Only my view of course Sentient.

If folks want to spend thousands to go pro and send a PT file then that's fine with me, From what I'm hearing its well worth it I'm not anyone's mother but at the end of the day its about a band/artist it's their music and frankly if its up to it?

When I release my stuff (properly) all anyone will hear is my songs, their levels and such. Most however will see if the songs grab them. It won't matter a hoot what I did them on though doing it through Linux would be an extra personal feather. In short it will take me 20 years to learn properly what I need to know about mixing and recording. I'd love to do that yes but there are professionals, hundreds of them out there who would do a better job any day of the week. When (If ever) the time arises I will be there to make sure that they don't move the mix beyond its original construction to make it too different.

Good luck with finding someone who sends plugins. Getting a damned recipe is bad enough

Actually Chip, I'm not sure what you mean by "Whatever you add cannot be changed." If you mean what I think you mean, yes, it can be changed, IF you send the PT file to your mixing engineer.

That's part of the advantage to exchanging the session files. You place settings and automation in however you want it, then send the session to me. I can then change any settings or automation I want to, totally changing the way the audio sounds. I huge advantage to doing so is the ability to learn from somebody who creates better mixes that you do. He sends it back, you go "Holy crap! Howdeedoodat?" Then you open up the plugins, and see what he did. That's way cool, but there is a caveat.

You gotta find somebody willing to send you the files with the plugins SHOWING you what he did. A lot of pros would rather not do that for obvious reasons.