Best DAW to use with multiple synths

[steve_cromey]

Any suggestions for which DAW I should go for - I have a korg kronos (master) roland g8 (slave) plus roland tr8 and tr3 and want to record them (sometimes simultaneously) into a daw using a PC. Thanks

[mhaigh]

any standard DAW will be fine to record multi-track audio and midi, providing you have the appropriate soundcard.

[IAA]

You could use your Kronos if you just want to try out some ideas before embarking on a full DAW learning curve, plug-in lust, latency etc etc.
I use Logic but often sketch on my Kronos and record some other stuff on it too and its pretty neat - if something feels good I then export to Logic.
But to be honest for simple things - for me anyway - the K is v capable.
Depends I suppose where you want to get to.

Ian

[steve_cromey]

Cheers Ian

I really enjoy sequencing with the Kronos especially with the Karma options (arpeggiator on steroids) - I also sequence on the Roland G8 (mainly for sampling) and have both playing in sync - now that I trigger other stuff with them I want to capture full compositions using a DAW - have just been browsing through the free PC software posts and will give them a whirl before committing to buying ... My concerns are around being able to record multiple synths at the same time ...

[muzines]

My concerns are around being able to record multiple synths at the same time ...

Record as audio or record as MIDI?

[steve_cromey]

Hi Desmond - aim is to record audio from 4 different sources (3 synths and 1 drum machine)

[Scramble]

As mhaigh said, any DAW can do this as long as you have the appropriate audio interface that has enough input channels.

However, you won't be able to record all the synths from their digital outputs (assuming they all have digital outputs), because typically audio interfaces only have one S/PDIF digital input, and anyway you run into clocking problems trying to record more than one digital input at a time. But if you are happy to take the signals from the analog outputs of the synths into the interface then no problem (and you could record one synth digitally in that case and the rest analog).

Alternatively you can record track-by-track, which would allow you to record each purely digitally, but there's no great advantage to recording the digital output instead of the analog as long as you don't have any buzzing or excess hiss, etc. on the analog channels.

[The Elf]

The ability to record multiple simultaneous sources is a feature of the audio interface you choose. Pretty much all decent DAWs (Cubase, Logic, Pro Tools, Reaper, etc) will do the job - MIDI or audio.

[Dynamic Mike]

Some freeware DAW's & some Lite versions restrict the number of simultaneous inputs you can access, so you might need to check before you buy. If you just want to record a live performance & don't need to tweak it afterwards, then a cheap basic 8:2 mixer might be all you need.

[James Perrett]

If you want to use the USB audio options on the TR8 and TR3 you need to check that they can both be used at the same time with ASIO. If Roland have been sensible they will have designed the drivers to appear as a single multichannel device. If Roland haven't been sensible and they require separate drivers you will be limited in your choice of DAW to those that can use alternatives to ASIO. Since Roland own Cakewalk, they will almost certainly work with it while Reaper is another DAW that can use multiple devices with different drivers.

[mhaigh]

erm...Roland don't own Cakewalk...

[Scramble]

True, but they only sold it 3 1/2 months ago.

[hollowsun]

erm...Roland don't own Cakewalk...

I think you'll find they do...

Roland acquired a majority stake in Cakewalk in early 2008, they jointly created a new ‘Cakewalk by Roland’ brand

The may not 'own' it but as a major stakeholder, they pretty much control the shots!.

Unless something has changed.

[hollowsun]

True, but they only sold it 3 1/2 months ago.

Aha!

[Scramble]

Did you forget all the ruckus recently over the fact that it was useless Gibson who bought Cakewalk?

[hollowsun]

Forget? I didn't even know!

[James Perrett]

True, but they only sold it 3 1/2 months ago.

I had a funny feeling when I was typing that my info was out of date but didn't have time to check...

[Scramble]

Here.