PC Music Mixing program

[Vorpalbob]

Hey, playground! I have a question for all those home recording artists out there.

I'm looking for a program for my PC that would allow me to record vocal and instrumental tracks, then combine and mix them. Price is not really an issue, but a lower price would be preferable. I can easily get the 1/4 inch to 8 ohm cable, and I have all of the amps and mics I would need, but will I need anything else?

Thanks in advance, and if this gets happening I'll post links to the youtube videos I plan on making. (well, once they get made, that is :smalltongue:)

[kyoryu]

Reaper.

http://www.reaper.fm/

[Dispozition]

Audacity is the most thrown around free recording program. It has limited effects in built and can level fairly efficiently for low level stuff. I've never had a problem with it (except for that one time with two screens...).

Alternatively Fruity Loop Studio, but I'm not sure how suited that would be to simply recording and whatnot.

[Jimorian]

The program I use is N-Track (http://ntrack.com/). Fully functional multitrack recorder/mixer that you can run tons of effects and synth plugins through. Shareware that lists at $64 currently.

Possibly a bit much for a lot of projects, but if you plan to move to more advanced mixing, this will take you just short of the programs that cost hundreds.

What's really cool is that with a lot of the new mixer boards (even some affordable low-end boards) supporting USB output, you can simultaneously record several tracks at once without spending hundreds on specialty multitrack sound cards.

[Whoracle]

Under Linux / Mac OSX: http://www.ardour.org/
And, if price isn't the issue, try either
Cubase/Nuendo/WaveLab (Win, Mac OSX, http://www.steinberg.net/en/home.html)
or
Logic Studio (Mac OSX, http://www.apple.com/logicstudio/)

Those are professional tools, so expect quite some steep learning curve.
And I'd recommend buying a FireWire/USB audio bay for input. Simply putting a cable into your computers input jack won't do you much good beyond crude amateur recordings.

[toasty]

Hmm... I think Mixcraft is something my brother uses for messing around with his music (that and guitar pro) but I'm not sure if its really a "mixing program" proper.

[Lord Seth]

Under Linux / Mac OSX: http://www.ardour.org/
And, if price isn't the issue, try either
Cubase/Nuendo/WaveLab (Win, Mac OSX, http://www.steinberg.net/en/home.html)
or
Logic Studio (Mac OSX, http://www.apple.com/logicstudio/)There's also Logic Express (http://www.apple.com/logicexpress/), which is basically a cheaper but not as advanced version of Logic Studio. Having used neither, though, I can't comment on the differences, but if it's anything like the differences between Final Cut Express and Final Cut Studio, my advice is: Don't get the Studio version unless you're doing this relatively professionally OR have a great educational discount.

But Logic Express/Studio is Mac exclusive, and he seemed to be asking for PC programs. Though as long as we're on the subject of professional programs, don't forget what I've been told is the industry standard: Pro Tools (http://www.avid.com/US/resources/digi-orientation/).

[Moff Chumley]

ProTools requires to significant an investment to be any good, from my experience.


Reaper.

http://www.reaper.fm/

Kyoryu has it. :smallbiggrin:

[Emrylon]

Pro tools is a great program but yeah its expensive because you have to buy an M-box interface to use it, Its the standard in the industry though.

Cubase is a bit cheaper but needs a bit of getting used to to be proficient with, personally I don't like the interface but thats just personal preference.

Logics my favourite DAW at the moment but its mac only.

Reaper is a very good program for for a free program but doesn't stand up to the three above at all, and Audacity is again good for free but I personally don't like using it for recording. Theres also digital performer and sonar but I havn't really used them though I'm told they are good.