Free software for Recording, Mixing and Mastering

[Thorolf]

For recording and editing, Audacity will fill most user’s needs, and with Audacity VST Enabler, which is also free, you may start to use it as a strictly audio based Digital Audio Workstation (DAW), as it has rudimentary multitrack capabilities as well.

Most Mac and Linux users (and GCC savvy Windoze users) will probably gain speed by compiling the source code locally on their native machines, hence getting faster and more compact versions than the readily compiled versions offered on the site (you’ll find the source code there for free as well).



Regards

[Bassoonery]

Audacity is awesome! Love it.

It hasn't really developed the MIDI side of things yet though. Waiting for the beta version to become proper.

[Boneman]

I shall have to have a go at audicity. I am still looking for a mixing desk that is cheap, can the team help?

[reith]

What sort of mixer: hardware/sofware; digital/analogue; with or without fx; how many channels in/out?

with hardware mixers, cheap usually means bad (=noisy/unreliable/poor sliders/no phantom psu).

[Boneman]

Originally Posted by reith

What sort of mixer: hardware/sofware; digital/analogue; with or without fx; how many channels in/out?

with hardware mixers, cheap usually means bad (=noisy/unreliable/poor sliders/no phantom psu).

I thought that I would need an external mixer to connect say 4 microphones to the into the input in the side of my lap top.

[Thorolf]

Originally Posted by Boneman

I thought that I would need an external mixer to connect say 4 microphones to the into the input in the side of my lap top.

You don’t. You can use a soundcard with four inputs, and mix it on the ’puter. If you don’t need phantom power, a budget external mixer solution could be Alesis MultiMix 8 USB Mixer


But as reith says, cheap is not always good enough.

There is the old proverb “Cheap, Good, Avaliable. Pick two.”

Back on topic, Ardour

is a free, full-blown Digital Audio Workstation that works on Linux and Mac OS X. Now beta testing the 2.0 upgrade…

Regards

[Boneman]

I take it that Windows XP is out then?

[Thorolf]

Originally Posted by Boneman

I take it that Windows XP is out then?

For Ardour, yes. Lest you have some GCC-savvy friends to help you compile Linux to .dll Windoze native code, and iron out the hardware issues… (I don’t know how to do this!)

Regards

[Boneman]

If you don't what chance have I got! Thanks anyway

[petite fleur]

Originally Posted by Thorolf

Most Mac and Linux users (and GCC savvy Windoze users) will probably gain speed by compiling the source code locally on their native machines, hence getting faster and more compact versions than the readily compiled versions offered on the site (you’ll find the source code there for free as well).

Is it quick and easy for you to explain how to do this Thorolf? I'm thinking of installing Audacity because I've just got an Edirol. (If not, I'll ask someone at work about it)