xfer: When you're right, you're right

aaron: That is honestly almost exactly what I would do (if I had a mac). The emi 6|2 is a soundcard, so it is not just for hooking up a keyboard. It is 6 inputs and 2 outputs... that seems pretty useless in your situation. You'd be better off buying logic gold 6, the exs24 sampler (much better than the exsp24, from what I've heard), and the synth collection. Buy a midi keyboard, and don't buy a soundcard until you get monitors. I'm pretty sure the built-in sound on apple computers is good, and the latency is incredibly low, by default, because mac osx was built with audio in mind.

That's enough to get an incredible studio, imo. Most definitely NOT the wrong stuff. I've used everything, and I make prog house and breaks, with some trance here and there... that setup is what I would choose.

But if only it were that simple (for me)! I really just want to buy a sequencer and really start working on tracks... however, there's so much choice. Apple's acquisition of emagic compicates things to no end. I'm willing to buy a powerbook, but I'm not sure if it makes sense. Compatibility is a factor, as is price and performance. They are so expensive, so if I buy one I'm stuck with it for a long time. This wouldn't be an issue if they weren't so slow

So I may buy a pc laptop... but then what host on the pc do I use? Cubase? Definitely not. Reason? No thanks. Sonar? Nope.

I do like Fruity Loops though. I haven't tried FL Studio, but it looks like it addresses many of my major gripes. The workflow in Fruity is very quick, very streamlined, just like with logic. But then I give up all of emagic's brilliant plugins, and linear sequencing...

Or, I could get a pc laptop and use it for fl studio, then a cheap desktop mac later down the line, and sync my pc to mac. That way I could use logic as my main sequencer, and my pc for other stuff like softsynths, fruity, buzz...

So many options. Wow, I rambled... but this is just what's running through my mind. If anyone wants to comment, please do so

I also need to be able to record demos on my setup so I should get a soundcard for this? My mixer by the way is the pioneer600.

logic 6 platinum is what you want, logic gold is like steinbergs cubasis to CubaseSX. Platinum comes with everything except the soundcard for about $599. Goto www.emagic.de for the huge differences between gold and platinum, hehe and russo the sound cards that come with macs are usually a creative chipset :P

Last edited by xfer on May-03-2003 at 05:34

xfer: now I have to disagree with you

If anything, Platinum is to SX as Gold is to SL as Silver is to Cubasis.

I don't know how the built-in soundcards sound, but I do know that the latency is very very good.

So yes, a soundcard would help, especially when recording, but my point was that without good monitors, you may not notice the difference when playing back. Regardless, I wouldn't recommend the 6|2 for your setup.

xfer, do you have a mac?

Xfer so are you saying that platinum already comes with synths and different samples like drums,percussion,ect.? or should i still get the synth package and other sample cds? You both say apple comes with a soundcard so will I be able to just take some rca cables from my rec out on my mixer and just plug them into the soundcard?

Russo, no i dont have a mac yet. My friends studio he uses one had to, buy a sound card for low latency.

Aaron, yes platinum comes with exs24 mkII sampler wich is awsome, and es2,es1 wich is are the best soft synths in my opinion. Gold only comes with ESP, ESM and ESE, also the sampler it comes with it is weak

Thanks for answering xfer. My last questions I will ask for a while, what are some good plug ins for percussion that will work well with the mkII sampler? What do I need to be able to record my own sets? Like any other software, if so what are some suggestions.