Help me outfit a Macbook Pro with the ideal software

[Basschair]

In around September/October (with the next assumed upgrade) I'll be picking up a near maxed-out Macbook Pro, and will be loading up with recording, composition and sound design software. I've got a short list, and am looking for suggestions on software that may augment the collection.

Current list:
Logic Studio
Peak Pro
ProTools LE (redundant, but a good alternative)
Sibelius
Reason (with Record...if you haven't heard of it, check their website)
Final Cut Express HD (the previous version with the extra Soundtrack and Live Type stuff)

Hardware:
MBox Pro
Apogee Duet


I've been using the Duet for the last month and its pre's and A/D blow the Digidesign's right out of the water. I'm curious if anyone has a suggestion for a frontend strip (Saffire Pro, perhaps?) that comes close to the same quality? I can't afford an Apogee Ensemble, but something bigger than the Duet would be nice.

So, any suggestions on software/hardware?

[Mads]

Unfortunately I have to give you the awful news that anything less than Apogee will be a let down after using the Duet.
(Atleast for me)

I have a MOTU card in my studio (it's been there for ages), but after getting the Duet it's all been kind of a let down.

A/D and D/A is what Apogee does more than well...

With my next studio computer purchase Apogee Ensemble is a "must have" on my list.

Sorry...

(This is my opinion, YMMV)

[D.A.R.K.]

i'd ditch reason for ableton live...
i like being able to use 3rd party vst and vsti in my sequencing/sampling software. it will re- wire fine, plus you will have max for live coming out
this year. more compatability than reason(if you like the reason sounds, i understand, but even better imho is my next suggestion)...
i also suggest native instrments reaktor.
if you are going for logic, and willing to deal with the learning curve, i'd divert the pro tools funds to a better interface.
you'll have garage band as a simple alternative daw already anyway.
interfaces...i'm an rme fan, use a fireface 400 and am going to add an express card and multiface soon.
it was a stretch, but after many cheaper tries including digi002 rack, edirol fa101, motu 828 and ultralite, it was well worth the extra dough in sound quality.

[uaudio]

+1 to Ableton Live over Reason, for reasons discussed.

[Basschair]

Thanks for the info so far guys

Yeah, I was considering Reaktor (or perhaps Komplete) as the way to go for soft synth-ing. I'm going to keep Reason as a backup, mainly because my copy was free...not hacked, but bought for me through my teaching budget to use as a teaching tool.

I'm completely naive regarding Ableton simply because I've never had the opportunity to use it: I'll have to check on a demo and see what it does for me.

Regarding the Apogee Ensemble: ARGH!!! Well, it doesn't surprise me much. I'll give it some serious consideration, as well as the RME. The only thing I don't like about the Ensemble is the lack of 8 mic pre's. I guess I'm part of the generation that has been convinced that the more pre's, the better.

D.A.R.K: I'm not new to Macs, but will be new to the Macbook Pro...I know it has an express card slot, but what type of connectivity is that going to provide for the Multiface?

Cheers,
Paul

[OrionManMatt]

I had been thinking of going to Reason but thanks for those insights.

Subscribed (as I have a new MBP 15 just begging to be outfitted).

[StarbucksStew]

I like my Lexicon Lambda as a decent interface...

I also just bought Logic Pro. It seems to have a big learning curve but pretty much all the features one would want.

[D.A.R.K.]

the reason i'm adding the express card is two fold...
rme uses a firewire cable, but has it's own protocol for data transfer
so it can run at extremely low latency, and will function best on it's own buss.
as you know, the firewire ports on macbooks share a buss. i'll record up to 16 tracks at a time... at 24 bit, sharing the firewire buss between storage and interface isn't ideal.
i've been using a firewire 800 express card to run external drives but
want to expand and won't need any pres for this rig. (having a variety of externals has been so much better on so many levels for me, and i'll have the ff400 still for a backpack solution).
one more important thing about rme is the superior clock/ jitter control, this comes into play when using other interfaces connected digitally... for example external pres connected via spdif, or an adat optical connection (i sometimes use this aphex 142 unit for clean, cheap conversion in a small package: http://www.aphex.com/142.htm).
reaktor is awesome, but one word of warning, it is a resource HOG...
plenty of great, reasonable vsti synths out there, but you need a platform that will support them... thus, the ableton suggestion.
well worth a spin with the demo.

[Luther Blissett]

+ 1 on using protools funds for other means.

I use protools, but now which I had bought cubase instead (actually, i've bought it and am installing cubase 5 now).

Don't get me wrong, protools is great, and is the industry standard. i bought it because I could get a program + an interface for 284euro.

which is a great price (i bought it in the us). But then it begins: for every expansion you need to pay extra. and you can only use the digidesign interfaces. I' would like to have some more out and in's, but i would need to buy the digirack which is way too expensive. (it's for live installations, so it doesn't need to be the best quality).

So I'd go for Logic or cubase (or if you can afford it, nuendo).

Now I bought the cubase 5 for less than the production expansion of pro tools...

Also + 1 on ableton

For the rest, your list of programs looks impressive. I only think you are missing a synthesis program (genre max/msp, pure data, supercollider)

[Basschair]

Alright, you guys have talked me out of PTLE. To be honest, I've felt the need to make a clean break from Digi for a while. Nothing against them: it's a great product, but it seems that on the consumer end of the spectrum (the LE versions), the hardware just doesn't cut it when compared to others, and for years it seems to have been the case.


Regarding Reaktor and Ableton Live, let me make sure I have this right: Reaktor (and the Komplete programs) can stand alone as a synth/sampler etc. similar to Reason, but in order to use it as a real-time, manipulable sound source, I'll need to incorporate it into a DAW and Ableton Live is the recommended choice. Is this right?

[D.A.R.K.]

you can rewire reaktor into ableton or logic.
ableton can rewire into logic, as well.
reaktor can stand alone, no need to rewire to use.

[Basschair]

Originally Posted by D.A.R.K.

you can rewire reaktor into ableton or logic.
ableton can rewire into logic, as well.
reaktor can stand alone, no need to rewire to use.

Thanks D.A.R.K.

I've been all about recording and plugs that I never actually learned about the virtual rewiring . Using Reason has got me hooked on computer synths and such, so I've got to get off my butt and get to work.

[kevinmoore73]

Subscribed because I just bought my first Mac (an eight core Mac Pro) on Saturday.

[Basschair]

Originally Posted by kevinmoore73

Subscribed because I just bought my first Mac (an eight core Mac Pro) on Saturday.

Nice!

I was looking at those that same night at an Apple store in Modesto. Absolute beast, and I'd be all over one if my needs required a home unit. As it is, I need a laptop for absolute on-the-go work...all my location stuff has got to fit in a backpack (albeit a big backpack).

[boylebass]

Once you have Logic, you'll never open PT again.

[synaesthesia]

Can you import PT files multitrack files to Logic? It's been a while since I looked into all this....

[Jason Hollar]

Subscribing too.

Looking in to a Mac Book (white) w/4GB ram...Duet...Logic Express...M Audio Oxygen.

Trying to make it sound like a million bucks while coming out under $2,000!

J

[kevinmoore73]

Originally Posted by synaesthesia

Can you import PT files multitrack files to Logic? It's been a while since I looked into all this....

If PT can export OMF, then you'll have no issues.

I just exported all of my stuff from Cubase on Windows to OMF for import into Logic. Smooth sailing.

[lm183902]

I wouldn't give up on Pro Tools entirely.


If you have the money for a Digi002R/003R, You can get an amazing mod from a company called Black Lion Audio. I've heard a few of these with the mod, and they sound incredible. Black Lion Has a few packages ranging from between $600 to $1200 that, depending on which package, replace the stock Pres, A/D converters, master clock and power supply.

The difference made my jaw drop. With the mod, the sound quality rivals HD systems (Seriously). The only thing holding you back is your comp's processing power.

[svtb15]

resurection thread... How does the FA101 compare to the Presonus Fire Studio Project