Multitracking using hardware

[Sam Spoons]

I'd say you are embracing reality (whatever that is) once again Eddy, you know it makes sense........

[Albatross]

I think that you should stick to your guns Eddie. You've decided you want away from the computer and you have the Tascam. I'd say you're better digging out your old timecode reader/generator (Philip Rees TS1 was my choice but its long gone) stick a timecode track on your Tascam (you can generate one in your DAW and export it to the Tascam and re-use it of course.) And poke that timecode out of one of your two fx sends.

Its no different to having a DP32 (not the SD model) with a bit of midi cable hanging out the back just another wire.

Just my two €.

[Kwackman]

I think that you should stick to your guns Eddie. You've decided you want away from the computer and you have the Tascam. I'd say you're better digging out your old timecode reader/generator (Philip Rees TS1 was my choice but its long gone) stick a timecode track on your Tascam (you can generate one in your DAW and export it to the Tascam and re-use it of course.) And poke that timecode out of one of your two fx sends.

Each to their own.
I did the multitrack/sync SPMTE route for many years, and if I never see it again that's fine by me!
NOT having to stripe timecode unto tape(real or virtual), then having to use one of those sync boxes and their menus & buttons depending on whether is was writing timecode, or reading it, and then deciding the tempo for MTC etc. is one of the reasons I now happily use a computer!
Many swear words were used on a Fostex R8 and it's demonic side kick, the MTC-1 with a manual that the enigma machine would have struggled with.
Much quicker (for me) to boot up a computer!
YMMV!

[OneWorld]

There would be nothing to stop you configuring something like Reaper to work and appear like a hardware multitracker.

Hmmmmmm...........thinks, because I am getting fed up with Cubase, and piled on top of that Win10 sticking its chozzer in every other week. Thing is, even with the exhalted Win7, even though I had my Music PC disconnected from the internet (well the NIC disabled) I still got update notifications for Win7, how could that happen if the thing was disconnected?

But your suggestion gives food for thought, but then again I suppose Carillion tried all that?

[James Perrett]

But your suggestion gives food for thought, but then again I suppose Carillion tried all that?

Carillion just sold PC's optimised for music. I'm thinking more along the lines of iZ's Radar where the operating system is invisible and you just see the recording application. Have Reaper start automatically with a multitrack recording template and resist the temptation to use it as a general purpose computer. In fact, you could go as far as making the OS/applications disk read only so that you can't add any more stuff to the system without a great deal of effort.

[Dave B]

It might be worth pointing out that Harrison MixBus runs under Linux. Having great eq and dynamics might be a nice way to worry less about plugins - although Harrison will sell you some more of those.

Just saying..

[Eddy Deegan]

I think that you should stick to your guns Eddie. You've decided you want away from the computer and you have the Tascam.

If I could find the right hardware setup that cost less than a couple of new cars, I'd prefer it but having scoured all over, there is a lot of live recording out there, but nothing I like the look of that can do decent editing as well sadly. The other dawback is that I would almost certainly need to upgrade the desk as well, which adds a lot of money to the equation, plus I rather like the Qu and can use it as an interface to a DAW of course.

I did the multitrack/sync SPMTE route for many years, and if I never see it again that's fine by me!

Yep - me too. I used to use an SMTPE device with an Akai Professional MG614 (which was an epic 4-track cassette recorder) and got great results but with a lot of work - the other issue with SMTPE is the fixed nature of the stripe once laid down, making it rather inflexible. Additionally, some older synths have trouble syncing properly if you start off in the middle of the timeline in my experience, which is rather limiting also.

I still got update notifications for Win7, how could that happen if the thing was disconnected?

Yeah, I've seen that too (not specifically Win7). They just have a threshold of time after which if no updates have been done the OS decides it must be out of date and starts nagging you regardless. OS X is better in that regard (or at least it used to be) but I'm sworn off Apple now

Have Reaper start automatically with a multitrack recording template and resist the temptation to use it as a general purpose computer.

Pretty much I've come to this conclusion!

It might be worth pointing out that Harrison MixBus runs under Linux. Having great eq and dynamics might be a nice way to worry less about plugins

Interesting - MixBus definitely looks worth checking out. I see some people complain about high CPU usage but the spec of the system I'm (almost certainly) going to get should handle that without issues (big thanks to Pete from Scan for some additional input).

Given I've not used Reaper before so I've got to learn a new DAW, I'll be sure to check out MixBus as well - it looks in theory like it may suit my needs rather well but I'll have to look into it more of course.

Thank you to everyone for all the input, it's been very helpful as always

[CS70]

But your suggestion gives food for thought, but then again I suppose Carillion tried all that?

Carillion just sold PC's optimised for music. I'm thinking more along the lines of iZ's Radar where the operating system is invisible and you just see the recording application. Have Reaper start automatically with a multitrack recording template and resist the temptation to use it as a general purpose computer. In fact, you could go as far as making the OS/applications disk read only so that you can't add any more stuff to the system without a great deal of effort.

If one wants to go to these lengths, Windows comes with a nice "kiosk mode" which can be set up to single-purpose a pc.

[Sam Spoons]

Is it optimised to work with an Android tablet running 'Ice Cream Sandwich' by any chance

[Wonks]

With extra nuts?

[CS70]

No, but comes with free cinema tickets

[Wonks]

I think that's a remake. I saw the original film and it was much better.

[Eddy Deegan]

I have a little collection of photos I've taken of broken kiosks and public displays over the years. Failed reboots, auto updates, BSODs ... It's quite common!

Just to underline the outcome of this thread, I bailed on my resolve to wait for NAMM and pulled the trigger on a fairly decent spec audio rackount PC from Scan. Big thanks to Pete Kaine for holding my hand as I'm not familiar with some of the aspects of modern PC builds.

It's pretty much down to MixBus and Reaper now, a task I'll complete when I receive a big package, hopefully in a few days time. Still gonna treat it like a kiosk once set up though

[Sam Spoons]

Since my studio rebuild my old studio Mac Pro has booted straight into Reaper, I occasionally started iTunes for learning tunes but it was never connected to the internet. Since I 'upgraded' to El Capitan Reaper no longer boots at startup (despite it being the only app in the 'startup' folder ). I will get around to fixing it but it isn't high on the list of priorities (list of priorities :- One Synth Challenge, make wife tea, develop new Gypsy/Jazz/Fusion tune, make wife more tea, do income tax, more tea, tidy workshop, more tea, get on with building banjo-bass, more tea, play some guitar, more tea, fix studio computer.... oh hang on a minute, more tea required........ and I don't even drink tea..... you see what it's like, and I haven't even mentioned sailing.......)

[Eddy Deegan]

Not a bad to do list, but it needs more tea

[ManFromGlass]

Your missus must be so calm and mellow and sleep well at night. . . . . . . .

If I have 1 tea after lunchtime then by 2am I am still lying awake in bed wondering why I can’t sleep until I remember the tea.

[The Elf]

Just to underline the outcome of this thread, I bailed on my resolve to wait for NAMM and pulled the trigger on a fairly decent spec audio rackount PC from Scan.

If your experience of Scan's machines is like mine you can forget all this nonsense and just get on with making some music!

[Eddy Deegan]

Just to underline the outcome of this thread, I bailed on my resolve to wait for NAMM and pulled the trigger on a fairly decent spec audio rackount PC from Scan.

If your experience of Scan's machines is like mine you can forget all this nonsense and just get on with making some music!

Can't wait

[BillB]

Eddy, thanks for sharing your adventure, very instructive. I particularly like your idea of occasional updates, having taken full system/disk backups, so you can roll back if any issues.

This might be a dumb question. Can a PC be connected to a local network, but not to the internet? Is there a setting anywhere that would disable internet access? I find I am quite often sharing files between the music and other PCs over the network, so ideally don’t just want to unplug it from the network.

[The Korff]

Very easily — you might even be able to do it using the Windows firewall, but safer still (and immune to Windows trying to sneak its way back online) would be to do it through the router itself (you should be able to block your music PC's access to the internet by giving it a static IP address and fannying around with the router settings). I think even a bog-standard 'Home Hub' type router should be able to do that, if you go to its advanced settings.

Cheers!

Chris

[OneWorld]

Eddy, thanks for sharing your adventure, very instructive. I particularly like your idea of occasional updates, having taken full system/disk backups, so you can roll back if any issues.

This might be a dumb question. Can a PC be connected to a local network, but not to the internet? Is there a setting anywhere that would disable internet access? I find I am quite often sharing files between the music and other PCs over the network, so ideally don’t just want to unplug it from the network.

I don't know about my current router but in almost every other case you can include/exclude devices on a LAN at the router. A facility a parent of young kids should be aware of when they say their kids are on Fortnight 24/7 - turn off the WiFi access!

[Eddy Deegan]

Yeah, it's pretty easy to disable internet access for specific PCs on just about any router. You might need to configure a static IP address on the PC, but it's also quite possible that it can be done via the MAC address. It depends on the router.

[BillB]

Thanks, folks, I'll look into it.

[OneWorld]

Thanks, folks, I'll look into it.

I find some apps seem to need a connection, certainly from time to time. I have a shortcut link to the NIC (Network Interface Card) or if on WifI to the WiFi interface on the desktop, right click on it and disable it. That way when I need to do updates for software I right click, enable again, do the download, right click, disable.

By the way, I was having latency problems, even to the extent of crackling in the audio, even when just dragging within Cubase as a file was playing, I had to work at something like 256 samples if I had more than a couple of VSTi open and I read on the internet "disable the NIC" what that had to do with audio and DAWs I cannot fathom, all I do know is that it worked, now I can to happily work at 32 samples nay problem.

[BillB]

Thanks OneWorld, that performance hit/fix is interesting.

Disabling the NIC has the disadvantage that you not only can't connect to the web, you also can't connect to the local network. But maybe that's why it helps!