Recommendations for New Recording Set-Up?

[RachelLeeWalsh]

Hi TAXI family.
I've been using ProTools/MBox2/Mac configuration for many years for my small home studio as a songwriter. It's done me well over the years, but I now need to upgrade. I've looked at the ProTools family of products since I'm so familiar with them, but am curious about other options. I think ProTools/Quartet combo is the most fitting for me, but curious if anyone has any recommendations on any less expensive options from other brands.
I generally need to record via 2-5 inputs at the same time and probably total on average about 10 tracks in a season. I mostly record acoustic instruments, vocals, and occasionally virtual instruments.
Recommendations?

Thanks,
Rachel

[Len911]

Rachel, $1,600. That's expensive, especially since pro tools went to the subscription plan. Because you already have pt, it looks like a 3 yr. instead of a 1 year subscription.
https://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail ... aQod6RoNkA

There are literally hundreds of options available for that money, depending on what you actually will use in the software. There are many interfaces that come bundled with for example Cubase Artist. If the lesser software would suit your needs, then maybe it's a question of what vocal mic do you own? What virtual instruments? And even digital mixers with...
https://www.sweetwater.com/c126--Digita ... 251cyJdfX0

A better description of what you have, and where you want to go, and what you want to do with it, would help give better suggestions.

[RachelLeeWalsh]

Thanks Len911.

Mics that I have include an SM58 for vox and instruments, Neumann TLM 102 Condenser Mic that I use for vocals, and a MXL 2006 that I use for my acoustic guitar and/or vocals.
I rarely use virtual instruments except basic percussion sounds and I use my digital piano via MIDI.
That's it.
The older PT with the Mbox family, hardware and software, was great and much less expensive at around $700 total if I recall correctly. That was years ago and of course PT has now gone to the subscription format.
I've also upped my needs a bit in that I'm recording more instruments at once with a band now instead of just myself.
Does this help?
Appreciate your insight.
Rachel

[Len911]

I generally need to record via 2-5 inputs at the same time and probably total on average about 10 tracks in a session.

I've also upped my needs a bit in that I'm recording more instruments at once with a band now instead of just myself.

https://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/UR44

comes with Cubase AI
https://www.steinberg.net/en/products/s ... se_ai.html

I would try this for $300. It may be all you need or ever want, but if not, there are upgrade paths.

[RachelLeeWalsh]

Thanks Len911.
I'll look into this.
Appreciate it.
Rachel

[mojobone]

The most meaningful upgrades you can make are to your transducers; monitors, so you can hear what's going to disk and what's coming back, plus any adjustments you're making, and microphones, which capture a sound in a room and turn it into a squiggly wave that we can toy with. If you're confident that the former and your room are not in need of improvement, yeah, the latest iteration of Apogee's (or I guess, Avid's; you might want to look into the details) Quartet should do just fine, but don't expect a stark contrast in the sonics. (unless your MBox is four or more years old) I don't know enough about the whole TDM biz to advise you about software, but if the main bottleneck is inputs, there's a lot of competition in single space racks with eight mic preamps and quite a few really good options in desktop format, as well. You might look at Apollo, Audient and Antelope as well as Apogee/Avid. That might have been the most alliterative sentence I've written all year, heh.

[RachelLeeWalsh]

Thanks Mojobone!
Alliteration abound!
I should have mentioned, another reason I have to upgrade besides needing more inputs is that now my Mbox 2 is too old for current OS. It's more than 4 years old. I do appreciate the thought about monitors and room though. Will keep that in mind and also look into the other suggestions.
Rachel

[Len911]

Rachel, I made a major mistaken assumption. It wasn't until I happened to be browsing the Sweetwater catalog that I found the truth, I had assumed incorrectly that because PT went subscription that you would lose your license when the subscription ended.

If you choose not to renew when your plan expires, the Pro Tools software and the upgrades you've received are yours to keep"

So yes, if you were to splurge on one of the expensive daws, PT would probably go to the top of the list for those because you are familiar , however, I would probably try Reaper first, full-boat daw, for an exceedingly long free trial and $60 license fee first, if you ended up with a free limited bundled software and wanted more.

[RachelLeeWalsh]

len911
Great update, thanks.
Was just talking to their customer service about this.
R

[Len911]

Thank goodness I caught it before you called me a liar!

Actually, I'm surprised no one challenged it. I wish they would, I do!