Mayday,M'aider etc etc. Recording system help please

[bazzrd9th]

Hi Guys
I'm looking for suggestions and any help regarding a simple and straight forward recording facility to put on my computer to then put tracks on and instruments on. I know this sounds a bit simplistic, but I'm not au fait with heavy and complicated audio systems like Cubase etc, nor have I the time or inclination to spend weeks trying to work out how to use the damn things. I'm using BIAB and a Roland DR5 and have out board comps, and effects units.
Would I be better buying a multitrack recorder as I'm more familiar with the workings of a mixer ?
Mayday, Mayday, Mayday , M'aider.
Barry

[Zebedee]

I use 'Audacity' version 1.2.6 for recording.

It is extremely simple to use, far easier than Cubase, one drawback is you have to keep scrolling down to work on any given track.

I usually make a BIAB track, and record it onto Audacity.

Then I record the steel on a separate track, edit out all my mistakes , and save the whole lot as a WAV or mp3 file

http://audacity.sourceforge.net/

[Graeme Jaye]

I appreciate many computer-based softwares are way too complicated for a lot of non-geeky computer nerds and I would recommend you go for a stand-alone recorder. Since buying one (and I probably would be classed as a computer geek) I have never experienced the numerous problems that computer based recording can throw up and it's a rare occasion for me to use a computer for recording any more.

That said, you already have a lot of the means for making recordings at your disposal and it seems your real problem is with complicated software, such as CuBase. If you are happy to continue with the computer route, I suggest you try and find a copy of Mackie's Tracktion - it has to just about the simplest and most intuitive audio (and midi) recording software ever devised. It would seem that this software is no longer being developed by Mackie, so its street price is hitting an all-time low. The caveat here is, don't expect any upgrades/bug fixes in the forseeable future. However, if it works for you, I guarantee you won't find anything easier.

[bazzrd9th]

Hi Guys
Thanks for the replies. I'll check them out and see how I get on with them. I'm still not sure about pc based recording, I think I'm a knobs and slider man ???
Cheers
Barry

[bazzrd9th]

Hi Richard
Is audacity only a two track facility ?.
Barry

[Zebedee]

No Barry,
It's as many tracks as you like.

I've found that if I have too many tracks, say about 10, then my computer memory can't cope.

It's very handy for isolating parts of a track, duplicating them, and then moving them to other places in the track, maybe to go over a bad take.

I've taught myself how to use Audacity (with the help of the FAQ Audacity pages)

http://audacity.sourceforge.net/help/faq

and I am not a computer whiz, by any standards