How do YOU record?

rickster1 · Post by **rickster1** » Sat Feb 07, 2015 9:44 pm

I've owned a "vintage" Kronos 73 for 3 years & have been using it mainly for gigging. I did record a demo 2 1/2 years ago using an old Boss digital recorder. I'm now in the process of updating my music studio so that I can do more recording with the K....
So my question is-
What do you all use to record? Do you do it all internally on the Kronos, mixing down to Audio Tracks, convert to your computer & burn a CD there?
Or do you use a DAW or VST on your computer?
Or do you use recording hardware like a Tascam DP 24 or something similar?
Also, does anyone have an opinion on whether it's better to record to a SD card or to Hard Drive? Are there any benefits / limitations to either?
Before I make any purchases I'd love to hear your expertise!
Thanks in advance.
Rick

SanderXpander · Post by **SanderXpander** » Sat Feb 07, 2015 9:53 pm

Quick sketches and mobility issues aside, I really can't understand why people would use anything but a DAW these days.

jimknopf · Post by **jimknopf** » Sat Feb 07, 2015 9:58 pm

I would even prefer Cubasis on my ipad recording directly with the Kronos over using the inbuilt sequencer.

It's still very useful as emergency recording device and especially as playback opportunity.

slowtrain · Post by **slowtrain** » Sat Feb 07, 2015 11:05 pm

Pro Tools is coming out with a free version soon: http://apps.avid.com/ProToolsFirst/

awyatt1 · Post by **awyatt1** » Sat Feb 07, 2015 11:07 pm

I'm far from a professional, but I do all of my music on the Kronos. I actually like the sequencer, but I've never tried a DAW so I have nothing to compare it to. Once I've done the music, I record it onto a stereo pair of tracks on a Tascam Neo 2488 and then do my vocals on other tracks on the Neo. The Neo has a built-in CD burner, so once I get everything mixed and mastered, I burn a CD.

SanderXpander · Post by **SanderXpander** » Sat Feb 07, 2015 11:10 pm

slowtrain wrote:Pro Tools is coming out with a free version soon: http://apps.avid.com/ProToolsFirst/

As I understood it, it's rather filled with limitations as incentive to make you pay, such as a maximum number of saves.

Regardless, I'm not a fan of ProTools for production work. Good for heavy multitracking though.

slowtrain · Post by **slowtrain** » Sat Feb 07, 2015 11:23 pm

SanderXpander wrote:
slowtrain wrote:Pro Tools is coming out with a free version soon: http://apps.avid.com/ProToolsFirst/
As I understood it, it's rather filled with limitations as incentive to make you pay, such as a maximum number of saves.

Regardless, I'm not a fan of ProTools for production work. Good for heavy multitracking though.

What do you think of Cubase or Sonar? I use a PC, so I can't use Logic. I like the chord tool in Cubase, but I like the pitch correction in Sonar. I guess I'm leaning toward Cubase because you have to upgrade the pitch correction in Sonar anyway. I can get a student discount on Pro Tools though, which makes the full version about half the price of Cubase. I won't be doing heavy multitracking.

SanderXpander · Post by **SanderXpander** » Sun Feb 08, 2015 12:22 am

I'm pretty invested in Sonar, I like it a lot. I did upgrade Melodyne and I have a lot of third party stuff. But I really do like the workflow. New Sonar Platinum can be gotten on a monthly deal, perhaps a good option if you're not sure yet. Logic is good too. I have used Cubase only occasionally. Note expression seems a nice feature. Jimknopf recently switched from Sonar to Cubase I know, perhaps he has some valuable insights.

enigmahack · Post by **enigmahack** » Sun Feb 08, 2015 12:55 am

SanderXpander wrote:I'm pretty invested in Sonar, I like it a lot. I did upgrade Melodyne and I have a lot of third party stuff. But I really do like the workflow. New Sonar Platinum can be gotten on a monthly deal, perhaps a good option if you're not sure yet. Logic is good too. I have used Cubase only occasionally. Note expression seems a nice feature. Jimknopf recently switched from Sonar to Cubase I know, perhaps he has some valuable insights.

I'm also another Sonar user - I've been using Sonar X3 since it came out and while I definitely don't use all of it's features, I do have a particular fondness for the Melodyne software, as well as some of the built in VST's which are always nice. Omnisphere is my favourite soft synth for sure.

The only complaint I have about Sonar is that it seems to be a little more "crashy" than the other ones I've tried (Pro Tools and Cubase in comparison) on Windows 7 x64.

Anyway, just my 2c on the matter, but I'm definitely a Sonar dude for sure.

JohnDonovan · Post by **JohnDonovan** » Sun Feb 08, 2015 3:57 am

Since I changed over to Mac a few years back I've mainly used Logic & occasionally ProTools, but before that on PC I really liked Sonar & the way it works - if there was a Mac version I'd probably still be using it!

jimknopf · Post by **jimknopf** » Sun Feb 08, 2015 9:38 am

Cubase 8 here, and very happy with it.

I used Cubase up to SX3, then switched to Sonar 6-8 and X1/X2 Producer, and am back to Cubase since Cubase 7. I switched to Sonar then after Cubase SX3, because it just seemed to have a more user friendly and flexible UI to me.

This is no place to do any in depth feature list and workflow comparison, and I know the present SonarX3 only superficially. There's obviously some things I like a lot in Cubase, to switch back after years of Sonar use, and yes, I faced more annoying little bugs and crashes in Sonar over the years than in Cubase, but not to a degree I couldn't handle. All in all both are very powerful and useable tools for sequencing.

What helped me with my choice, when I was reconsidering, was visiting friends with different software sequencers, and watch them using them in action. So I got a better impression of the basic layout, tools on board, and workflow, than any feature list could give me. I recommend that to everyone before any decision: you just get a feeling how you would probably like to work.

One important point besides liking Cubase in the newer versions very much is the fact, that - at least here in Germany - Cubase still is a qusi-standard. If I for example casually ask a friend to master a track for comparison, they normally work on Cubase, and can directly import my project. Same for tutorials, hints and tips: I just get more of that for Cubase.

The appearance of Cubasis on the iPad was another welcome addition for comfortable recording options: it offers me basic forms of the same sampling and VA softsynths which are implemented in Cubase (plus a lot of third party stuff): so it's easy to record with Cubasis on the iPad on the fly, and then import the result directly into Cubase. Both my Microkorg XL+ and the iPad run on accu power and can be carried everywhere: that's really fun to use wile sitting in the garden, or travelling, and visiting relatives or firends.

That said, use whatever you like! There are so many choices meanwhile (Cubase, Logic, Sonar, ProTools, Reaper, StudioOne, and then the non-linear tools like Ableton Live etc.). They all offer a lot of functionality, and the main point is much more to get used to the one you use, after choosing one, than doing much wrong with any choice. Today the danger of getting lost in the amount of functionality, virtual instruments and effects, is much bigger IMHO than the danger of facing limiting problems while recording.

SanderXpander · Post by **SanderXpander** » Sun Feb 08, 2015 9:47 am

The newest Sonar is actually Platinum, not X3. And I'm sorry to hear you switched after X2, Jim, but thanks for sharing your insights. X3 was a "hallelujah" release for me. Speed comping and ARA/Melodyne integration make for an amazing workflow. I suppose if you don't do a lot of vocal stuff they would be less significant. The inclusion of Addictive Drums is still killer though.

Oh and X3 has been very stable for me. I also had some crashing during 7/8 (V-Vocal) and X2 specifically.

Derek Cook · Post by **Derek Cook** » Sun Feb 08, 2015 10:06 am

Even the nice touch screen on the Kronos, doesn't compare to PC sequencing in Cubase 8 on two LCD monitors.

I do use the Kronos sequencer for playing backing tracks in one band.

jimknopf · Post by **jimknopf** » Sun Feb 08, 2015 10:11 am

SanderXpander, glad to hear that Sonar developed so well. It's good to have a lot of competition in that area to push the development of all of them.

As I said, I miss nothing in Cubase, and for keyboard recording I make much more use of the the meanwhile really sophisticated Cubase chord functionality, than I would actually make of Melodyne (which I regard as a great addition to Sonar). And the Cubase pitch correction is quite useable as well.

Concerning drums, Addictive drums are much better than anything Sonar had before. But my peferred drums are Toontrack since some years, with Superior Drummer (incredible sound quality along with a great UI and first class midi drum files) and EZDrummer 2 (with "taptofind" making the search for a groove ten times easier than anything before). And next to Toontrack I like to use NIs 60s and 70s libraries for some great vintage drum sounds.

As one of my sons, just recording his seond CD with his band besides his informatics study, always says, whenever I express how much I like my home studio equipment: "So now you got no further excuses for being slow with results!"

rickster1 · Post by **rickster1** » Sun Feb 08, 2015 2:05 pm

Thanks for all your input & a great discussion on various software programs for recording. A lot of info here, I have homework to do.. Sonar & Cubase look like the two leading candidates so far, based on the posts.

Results of poll so far:

22 total votes,

17 use DAWs

3 use the Kronos mostly or exclusively

2 use Hardware